Marbella Elix Hotel
The newest addition to the Greece-based MarBella Collection portfolio, MarBella Elix opened in the Spring.
MarBella Elix is an inspirational new 5* property in a striking under-developed area of Greece.
As the third hotel to join the MarBella Collection portfolio and the brand’s first property outside of the island of Corfu, MarBella Elix perches above the beautiful, Karavostasi Beach in the Parga region, looking West towards Corfu and Paxos.
The brand new hotel is built into the sloping mountain with every room looking out over the ocean.
The architecture is designed to reflect the natural location, mirroring the sandy cliffs and the surrounding area of astounding natural beauty.
The architectural inspiration was to create a hotel with contemporary simplicity, paired with breath-taking views.
The project was spearheaded by Konstantinos Kydoniatis of F&K Kydoniatis & Partners, whose idea was to blend the existing landscape into a premise built with tiered levels suitable for couples and families alike.
The existing traditional Greek building was radically redesigned, in order to serve the contemporary needs of a 5* hotel.
The designers used high-end technology to ensure the building was constructed with the needs of a luxury traveller in mind, whilst at the same time achieving a high level of sustainability.
“Blending the architecture with the bordering landscape, whilst building on a steep-sloped plot was a challenge, but it is what makes this hotel so magical.” says Konstantinos Kydoniatis the Architect and Engineer for MarBella Elix.
“A combination of old and new and a touch of Greek flair now serves the needs of a 5* hotel that is contemporary, chic and peaceful.”
Designed and created by Dimitris Thomopoulos of Dimitris Thomopoulos Architects and Konstantinos Kydoniatis, the style focuses on three key elements; the breath-taking ocean-view scenery, the proximity to the once-inaccessible vast coastline, which is now easily reached by a small path, and the local architectural elements of stone, marble and wood.
Adding a twist of something rare and unique to the area is accomplished by redefining the traditional architecture of Epirus through minimal and clear lines.
A key feature of this design are the natural materials sourced from the local area.
Using these natural elements adds a sense of place throughout the 146 spacious and contemporary guest rooms and suites.
The lobby and dining area was conceived as a viewpoint.
An uninterrupted line of vision flows directly from the entrance of the restaurant to the vast sea views, with a green filter created through a structure of plant life, to emphasise the natural synergies and surrounds.
The main restaurant follows the design approach of the lobby area, with natural light and plant features throughout.
The à la carte restaurant is unique with its luxurious and distinctive darker tones, creating an elegant and authentic feel.
MarBella Elix uses typical Epirus traditional architecture, where the buildings follow the natural landscape.
The property blends into the surroundings using built-in tiered levels that appear to come out of the steep slope landscape.
This creates unobstructed views to the forest and Ionian sea. The rooftops have been used to create large private pools for guests staying in upper-level rooms, tying in natural elements such as stone claddings to reflect the architecture of nearby towns.