The Semeli Hotel Magazine - www.semelihotel.gr Semeli The Hotel - Magazine | Page 88

Measure of Man.
Measure of Architecture
Molded by historical circumstances and natural constraints,
the humble creations of simple craftsmen in Mykonos are
nowadays considered to be world class, inspirational
architectural masterpieces.
Small, irregular, cubic whitewashed houses and church-
es with colorful domes, on maze-like cobblestone streets
basking in the Aegean’s striking sun. This is Mykonos’
trademark, photogenic image.
One that circulates around the globe and lends the
island of winds a reputation that exceeds the Greek bor-
ders. It is no wonder. Harmony, plasticity, measure and
balance. An architecture which serves the needs of men
without opposing nature. These are the traits of the Myko-
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nian settlement. And this is why although humble, it has
gained the respect and admiration of the international ar-
chitectural community.
“Unless you have seen the houses of Mykonos, you
can’t pretend to be an architect. For whatever architecture
has to say, it is said here”, even Le Corbusier, one of the
greatest representatives of the Modern movement, admit-
ted during his visit to the Cyclades in 1933.
Survivor
Newcomers today may also think that they have stepped
on an intrinsically constructed cinematic set. What they
may not realize however is that this picturesque, postcard
perfect effect is the result of a lengthy process of adap-
tation and survival under severe conditions: the potent
winds, the cold and the heat, the extreme natural phe-
nomena and peculiar morphology of the Aegean, and the
catastrophic rage of the various prospective conquerors
throughout the ages.
With these considerations in mind, the Mykonian set-
tlement, “Chora”, was built by untrained laymen guided
solely by their instinct and their love for their land. These
simple craftsmen, wisely utilized the available local materi-
als –timber, for example, is sparse in Cyclades– and clev-
erly capitalized on the ground’s inclinations and character-
istics, to create an architectural amalgam that nowadays
commands the respect of experts and non experts alike.
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