From a disused winery, a head-turning hotel

Date 29 March 2019

Opening in May, Dexamenes Seaside Hotel offers an architectural slice of Greek trading history on the mainland’s western Peloponnese coast. Carved from an abandoned wine factory set directly on the Ionian Sea, the hotel affords guests the singular hospitality experience of sleeping inside old wine tanks from the 1920s, which have now been reanimated with steel, engineered glass, timber, and a clean-lined, sublime aesthetic.

Conceptualized by K-Studio—known for upping the Greek design game with their unique contemporary take on traditional design—the designers knew from the start that “the strong history and raw beauty of the existing buildings should not only be preserved, but be delicately showcased in a design that would breathe new life into their walls, compliment their brutality with elegant interventions and so transform their austere functionality into a place of calm, comfort, and relaxation.” To that end, many of the wine tanks also boast a private canopied patio, while a bar-lounge, a taverna, a history room, and a boutique “Bakaliko” store selling local produce all bring the location to the forefront. Set on Kourouta beach, the hotel puts guests in a secluded spot that’s also an ideal springboard for regional exploration.