August is that month when life settles down before work and school begin again in September - at least in the northern hemisphere. For many people, especially those seeking a sunnier climate, the Mediterranean is an ideal destination. A place with a magical allure, "Mediterranean" is in many ways a synonym for slow living - the region's influence permeates architecture, design, lifestyle and culture. Twenty-one countries on three continents (Africa, Asia and Europe) border the Mediterranean. While each country has its own unique way of life, they share common characteristics that embody the spirit of the Mediterranean.
Modern Mediterranean-style architecture often combines contemporary building design with a nod to traditional Mediterranean architecture: arched windows and doorways, curved enclosures, natural stone walls and stucco. Open living areas and a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces are also characteristic features. In addition, the use of natural materials such as wood, rattan and ceramic creates a sense of earthiness and rusticity.
The Mediterranean approach to architecture and design is timeless and effortless in execution - the homes you see here exude Mediterranean style.
In Marrakech, Morocco, architectural firm Bergendy Cooke designed the boutique hotel Maison Brummell Majorelle. The building's massive mass is inspired by Moroccan vernacular and carved with a number of "incisions and voids" that offer a variety of spatial experiences. The project uses traditional construction techniques, local materials and artisan craftsmanship.
2. Casa Palerm
Casa Palerm is a vacation home in Lloret de Vistalegre, a region in the center of the Balearic island of Mallorca. The discreet single-story home, designed by OHLAB, is an elongated volume with concrete terraces on either side of the indoor and outdoor living space. A pergola of woven wood (mostly made of posts interwoven with slender branches, twigs or reeds) extends across the ceiling and provides shade in the outdoors.
3. Villa Cava
In Tulum, Mexico, Espacio 18 Arquitectura designed Villa Cava. The architecture was inspired by a cave - some of the villa's interior spaces are illuminated by a glass-bottomed pool. The structure is built of wood concrete and blends into the surrounding mass of vegetation. The house combines natural tones with a playful mix of light and shade.
4. Baleares
Baleares is a family home on the Balearic island of Menorca. The large volume, designed by OOAA Arquitectura, overlooks the bay of Mahón. The somewhat monolithic exterior of the house is softened by the use of an earth-colored facade, greenery and a harmonious succession of walls and patios. The minimal design is a tribute to light and space. The minimal design is a tribute to light and space.
The terracotta house in Grândola, Portugal, has a close symbiosis with the surrounding arid landscape. The house, designed by Bak Gordon Arquitectos, consists of several rectangular volumes arranged in a pixelated T-shape. Light penetrates the building through a small courtyard and the structure "emerges" from a water tank on the south side. The walls are finished with lime mortar and insulated with cork.
6. O Lofos
The tranquility of Mediterranean island life is embodied in the O Lofos residence of Block722. Located in the northern foothills of Mount Thrypti on the Greek island of Crete, the natural setting of the house combines pleasant views on all sides. O Lofos consists of several smaller volumes, connected by circulation routes and between indoor and outdoor spaces (in a style typical of Block722). The house is filled with neutral, earthy tones and local, natural materials.
The town of Quesa in the province of Valencia is characteristic of Moorish Spain. La Casa en los Olivos (The house with the olive grove) was designed by Balzar Arquitectos with a touch of Moorish architecture. Terracotta tones can be found throughout the house, especially in the facade and floors. The connection between inside and outside is especially remarkable, extending through the pool into the neighboring olive grove.
Arcari Cimini Architettura renovates a small house with an ancient morphology. Located in the historic center of Frisa, Italy, adjacent to an urban micro vineyard, the studio is working to enhance the identity of the house while reinforcing its unique position. Recent additions were removed, giving the living area access to a large terrace. The house exudes a simple and rustic Mediterranean charm. Arcari Cimini Architettura is currently restoring the first floor, an area more characteristic of rural architecture.
Casa Barón 39 is a Mediterranean village house located in Godella, a residential neighborhood in the Valencia metropolitan area. Built in 1949, Paco Oria Estudio renovated and expanded the house internally, preserving its original facade. The studio reduced the amount of reinforced concrete and steel and instead used wood for pillars and beams, ceramic blocks for load-bearing walls and terracotta tiles for floors.
This summer loft in Berlin's suburbs was renovated by Loft Szczecin. The interior design is reminiscent of traditional Mediterranean architecture. Loft Szczecin removed all the plaster from the walls and exposed bricks that were then painted white. Original threshing floors were covered with bricks and wooden planks. The studio removed many of the interior doors to create an open effect.
La Muralla Roja (The Red Wall) is an impressive and iconic residential project atop a rocky cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Designed by renowned Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill and completed in 1973, La Muralla Roja departs from the common architectural practice of separating public and private spaces and instead reinterprets the Mediterranean tradition of the kasbah. Its complex form combines a series of interlocking staircases, platforms and bridges that provide access to apartments and shared facilities. Bofill's use of color in La Muralla Roja is undoubtedly its most striking feature.
