Elastic draws on Santorini’s volcanic landscape for design of Villa Aegean
Greek design studio Elastic recently unveiled its redesign of Mandarin Oriental’s new Villa Aegean.
Set atop the cliffs of Santorini, the villa subtly balances influences from the island’s landscape with a contemporary interpretation of its traditional architecture.
Through a close collaboration with Mandarin Oriental and Vertus Santorini, Elastic was at the helm of the complete renovation and redesign of the existing villa, drawing inspiration from Santorini’s dramatic rocky formations, natural openings and subterranean canaves – elements deeply rooted in the island’s architectural heritage. The design concept re-imagines these morphological characteristics into a bold yet elegant narrative, maintaining an intrinsic connection to the surrounding volcanic terrain.
At the heart of the villa’s design is the volcanic rock basalt, whose textures and colours change as it transitions through stages of its life cycle. This geological transformation, from the stone’s birth during the volcanic explosion to its weathered beauty, served as the metaphorical foundation for the villa’s design.
“Our inspiration was the island’s distinct volcanic stone,” says Ria Vogiatzi Xenou, co-founder and CEO of Elastic. “We sought to craft a journey that flows with the fluidity of lava while narrating the timeless story of Santorini’s rich history.”
Each phase of the rock’s evolution is mirrored in the villa’s material palette, textures and structural elements. The material composition of Villa Aegean strikes a delicate balance between strength and softness. Natural tones, stone, metal and wood create a tactile richness, while earthy textures and volcanic hues interplay with sleek, symmetrical lines.
Vogiatzi Xenou adds: “The distinction lies in our approach – we have designed every aspect with a cohesive narrative and deliberate architectural vision. The villa holds unexpected surprise elements, cultural references and a rooftop that frames breathtaking sunsets. Most of the projects here in Santorini adhere to traditional architectural norms, we chose to chart our own path.”
While traditional Santorinian homes feature small openings and narrow entrances designed to maintain cool interiors, Elastic re-interpreted this vernacular through a sculptural design approach that introduces voids reminiscent of natural rock fissures, which draw light and air into the interiors.
The villa’s signature arches, both within and outside, are a deliberate nod to the island’s architectural tradition, re-envisioned to evoke depth and accentuate curvature. Inside, vaulted ceilings rise above contemporary interiors that exude the sophistication of an urban hotel suite. Outside, the black-stone pool reflects the sky like liquid glass, creating a striking visual dialogue with the volcanic landscape.
