The project deals with the restoration and the interior design of a three-story residence dating from the early 19th century in the Old Town of Rethymnon. The listed building is located just behind the Rimondi Fountain, the emblematic monument of the Cretan Renaissance. The three levels of the stone house with a total area of 192 sq.m. were constructed in two different historical phases. The first, concerning the construction of the ground floor, dates back to the Turkish occupation (~1800), while the latter dates back to the post-war period in 1950. The restoration of the historic building was carried by preserving all its morphological elements to their original form.
Externally, the old, eroded coatings were replaced with an earthy-colored water-based pozzolanic mortar and all external walls were reinforced with grout. On the facades, the openings were kept in the same positions and proportions, with the exception of just two openings for natural lighting, which face the inner courtyard of the building. The window frames were replaced with modern wooden panelled frames with a subtle variation in colouring. Finally, the building’s three-pitch roof was repaired by installing wooden trusses, beams and tiles in the exact same arrangement as in the pre-existing structure.
The simple rectangular doorway of the entrance from the courtyard to the house , has an external triangular masonry triangular cladding and is the main morphological feature highlighted in the restoration work. The surface of all the floors of the house is covered with beige limestone similar to that of the Rimondi Fountain. Earthy and light colours have been chosen for all non-moving elements of the interior. The furniture were selected to add a fresh and vibrant atmosphere in the restored spaces.
