Motel at Herakleion, Crete

The motel complex is situated some 10 klm outside Herakleion, near the main road to Aghios Nikolaos. The architect's intention (the motel was designed in 1962) was to ”construct” an oasis in this barren, treeless desert of sand. Α new road branches off the main road and leads to a ”piazza” with an open view toward the sea. This road divides the motel complex into two sections:
a)   On the right-hand side we find the restaurant (with three covered verandas facing east, north and west), the kitchen, the laundry, staff accommodations and the mechanical plant, b)  On the left-hand side there are seven small buildings (each containing six double bedrooms) around a central court. The reception building is situated between the courtyard and the road and includes of fices, a large covered lane for cars and a lodge for the motel manager.
ΑΙΙ buildings are correlated on the basis of a 4.00x4.00m grid, which doubles as a structural grid. The skeleton is of reinforced concrete, while both internal and external walls are of plastered brickwork. Each building also has a few reinforced concrete walls to meet building regulations. The central part of the courtyard is planted with trees and bushes and has a copper sculpture by C. Loukopoulos. Α covered gallery gives access to the bedrooms, which open out to individual covered verandas.


Text from the magazine: «architecture in Greece» Νο 6, 1972