GEORGIOUPOLIS RESORT, HOTEL IN GEORGIOUPOLIS
The plot of about 12.5 acres is located in Varia, outside the limits of Asproulianos settlement, Municipality of Georgioupolis, Apokoronas Chania. The area is accessible by a sideway of Chania-Rethymno Highway, approximately at an equal distance between the two main urban and tourist centers of western Crete. The nearest settlement is that of Georgioupolis.
The distance from the sea is about 300 meters and the slope is a minimum of about 5% on the north-south axis to which the new building volume is oriented.
The activity and therefore the construction of the wider area mainly relates to tourist units, operating mostly in summer.
The plot will also receive tourist use, namely a 5-star hotel facility. To the west of the plot there are existing tourist units, with public areas that the new facility is invited to interact with.
The building volume is organized in 2 basic units, scaled in 3 levels.
The lower level comprises a main building unit with a restaurant and a semi-open area with access to a swimming pool, a reception and administration offices, a semi-open bar-restaurant, a basement and other ancillary areas.
The second level receives the hotel room units which are detached buildings with separate access for each one of them, located in the continuation of the main building, south of it. The design includes three two-storey units (about 100 rooms), with easy access through open-air staircases on each side (north and south) of each of the three.
Adjacent to the room units, at the southern end of the plot, there is a natural wetland with rich aquatic vegetation and characteristic landscape. The area is approached with particular respect, carefully placing free-shape swimming pools and “water park” facilities, while maintaining the natural ecosystem intact.
Although the building volume occupies a large area of the plot, the work is carried out with minimal disturbance to the existing natural environment, which is further boosted as the building volume is surrounded by extensive planting of endemic species. This ensures the creation of a harmonized microclimate of natural cooling, shading, light filters and sound, in accord with the principles of bioclimatic design.
