The Spa Hotel in Heraklion, a 5-star luxury establishment, features 190 rooms and is designed to harmonize with the surrounding landscape, ensuring a seamless connection between built spaces and nature. The architectural design emphasizes the human scale and offers stunning views of the Aegean Sea. Located at the highest point of the complex, the main building houses the reception, lobby, and main restaurant. This structure serves as a belvedere, offering guests panoramic views where they can observe both the sunrise and sunset. The central part of the complex hosts the gym and spa facilities, including baths, massage areas, and a sauna, along with the second restaurant, the main pool, and a pool bar. These amenities are organized on two different levels, utilizing the natural slope of the site to enhance the overall experience.

The design of the hotel’s elevations is centered around the use of stone as a “rock slice” that structures the semi-outdoor spaces of each room. These stone elements provide privacy, protection from the sun, and shelter from the strong winds characteristic of the area. The “rock slices” appear in various forms throughout the complex, both vertical and oblique, solid and as wall cladding, creating refined cuts in the otherwise heavy volumes. On the first floor, partitions define the outdoor space of each room. The top end of these stone elements is capped by a wide wooden surface, functioning as a handrail and counter. Between the partitions at the floor slab level, “hanging” planters are designed to ensure unobstructed views from the rooms.

Additionally, gaps on both sides of the rooms and a pergola penetrating the volumes create a light and airy feel, contrasting with the compactness of the ground floor. This design achieves standardization of each wing without the monotonous repetition of identical units. The ground floor rooms, closer to the sea, are among the most privileged. These rooms feature planted roofs for better integration with the landscape. The main design concept here involves the pool penetrating the semi-outdoor space of the room, creating a private water zone. This water strip forms a large courtyard, planter, and sunbed, encouraging guests to spend more time outside, in line with the Mediterranean lifestyle. A pergola resting on the stone partitions offers protection from the intense summer sun.

The hotel masterfully combines luxury and nature, offering guests a unique and harmonious experience. The thoughtful use of materials, strategic placement of amenities, and innovative room designs ensure a connection to the landscape and the sea, creating a serene and inviting environment. This architectural approach not only respects the natural beauty of the location but also enhances the guest experience through its careful attention to detail and emphasis on outdoor living.