“ The environment is the source of a project’s poetic sense. Every site has its own character; the challenge is to capture that character and translate its spirit in to architectural poetry.”
Robert Harvey Oshetz.......................................................
The area of the chosen site is 27,650 sq.m. it is accessible by two main roads, one from the South and the other one from the North. It is a quiet place away from the overcrowded beach and also is the first place that you can see when you arrive in Karfas from the main road; (north to the south) there is the City of Chios, the Port and the Airport..............
The snake and ladders concept:
The site is amphitheatrical with steep banks, deriving from the organic form of the site. The conceptual ideas were formed in a shape of a snake allowing a continuous connection between the banks..............................................
To be in touch with local architecture, the buildings in the complex incorporate the following design features:• the external walls are made of local stone;
• the buildings are in a different levels;
• open-air staircases relate to and give emphasis to the different volumes;
Artificial lake ,water canal, swimming pool, paved roads, steps and staircases are also made from the same local stone........................................................................................
Environmental Aspects
Thermal Mass: All the buildings are constructed with local Karfas stone, This prevents the build-up of high temperatures in the buildings.
Oasis Effect: Special attention has been paid to landscaping in order to create a favourable microclimate on the site. The trees and water bring about a reduction in air temperature from water evaporation. This pre-cools ventilation air for the buildings. The planting on the steel support component protects the buildings from direct solar energy in summer and offers protection in the winter from rain.
Green roof not only makes the buildings look natural and beautiful but provides insulation in the summer time as well in the winter time.
High level windows allow natural day lighting thus reducing the chance of over heating and glare. These windows are also open which in enabling natural ventilation and fresh air.
Under floor water pipes for heating and cooling are installed in every building – Heated floor to reduce heat loss in winter and a chilled floor to remove the heat loads in summer. In both cases we have to provide fresh air.
Roof lights also allow natural day lighting as well as natural ventilation and fresh air.
All the window glazing is tinted to reduce heat gain.
Photovoltaic and Solar collectors are included in the roof lights providing and reducing the cost of the hot water, the heating and the electric of the buildings.
Heat pump system and solar collectors to assist the system............................................
To create a Health farm village thus offering an opportunity for the people to explore the place and themselves through the process of taking part in various activities, this will equate to both a satisfying and interesting journey................

On the lower part of the site, there is the main entrance, the car parking, the swimming pool, the picnic area and, in the middle, the fish pond, plus the reception. All of the above comprise the meeting point for the people when they first enter in the site from the south to the north. Various fruit trees are also have planted throughout the area, in order to provide a healthy and fresh meal to the people and also to provide an attractive, natural shelter for the cars during hot periods....................................................................................

The trip continues on the next level with the visitor’s centre - the familiarization area, followed by an introduction to the health farm, a description of the history of the place and the importance of the mastic tree, its pr

2006

2007