Interventions: A Modern Take on Mountainside Design

Natalia Kokosalaki's Innovative Approach to Chalet Interiors

The design strategy for Interventions was to avoid traditional chalet cliches and instead introduce a fresh perspective on mountainside residential design. This was achieved by incorporating textures and materials commonly found in industrial design, juxtaposed with rustic wood and traditional construction methods. The result is a contemporary urban design that harmoniously coexists with the natural landscape.

Interventions is a redesign of an existing chalet, with Kokosalaki Architecture tasked with balancing the dynamic exterior design with a new interior. The team altered the original plans and modified some of the openings to better frame the spectacular view of the forest and create cozy window seats. The residence, situated on the side of Mount Parnassos, offers an unlimited view of the valley to the south.

The design vision was a contemporary yet warm space that respects the existing shell and integrates well with the extraordinary surroundings. The concept was to elaborately combine natural materials, like rustic woodwork, with finishes and textures typically used for more industrial design. This mix of urban loft typology with the traditional chalet resulted in an open, versatile space filled with natural daylight, offering the warmth and traditional look a mountain hub aspires.

Key features of the house include perforated corten steel, laser cut metal work, wood grid, and 3D mosaic tiling. The minimal kitchen features floor-to-ceiling cupboards, eroded re-used metal sheets, black lacquered finishes combined with rustic pine wood. The perforated corten steel sheets act as a lightweight divider between the two levels, allowing light to pass through the uneven circular cross-section holes. At night, when the mezzanine space is lit, it diffuses soft light through the perforation to the entire space like a giant lighting fixture.

The project faced the challenge of using modern industrial technologies such as laser cutting steel in contrast, yet in harmony, with natural materials and timber construction methods. The result is a cozy yet contemporary mountain residence that redefines mountainside design in Greece. The project started in 2016 and was completed in 2017, earning a Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019.