the parasite

ARCHITECT:

• Iosif Dakoronias-Marina

The abandoned white cube, with its foreign to the land of Santorini characteristics, stands in the middle of the village like a white parasite, stressing out its presence on the small path. Its provocative whiteness comes to a total contrast to the prominent colours of the pumice and the red and black volcanic stone. The window with its french-style blinds takes us to an era before the homogenization of the architectural production to the traditional modes, emphasizing the Greek reality.

The audacious proposal comes to challenge the traditional setting of Mesa Gonia, trying to re-evaluate the notion of architectural incorporation. Through the values of contrast and difference, a cube made out of weathering steel acts as a privacy shield, keeping out passers-by.

The parasite will re-emerge in its place, through a new form in order to remind us the decline of the built environment of the traditional settlements hidden behind the scenography of the pseudo-traditional.