This Greek Island House Doesn't Have a Single Right Angle

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Photo Credit: Lorenzo Zandri

There isn't a single 90-degree corner in this 115-square-meter house on the Greek island of Tinos. Rather than fight the building's irregular geometry, architect Kelly Spanou made it the defining feature of a renovation that gives an old rural structure an entirely different life.

The property began as a keli, a modest agricultural outbuilding typical of the island. Years of alterations had buried much of its original character beneath newer finishes. Spanou stripped those layers away, exposing stone walls, concrete beams and the marks left by successive generations of construction. Cracks and imperfections were kept rather than concealed.

At the center of the ground floor sits a substantial kitchen island made from concrete and stone. Wooden partitions separate living areas while providing storage, and reclaimed marble introduces a quieter contrast to the rougher surfaces. An additional bedroom and bathroom were incorporated without forcing the unconventional floor plan into a conventional layout.

Outside, a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen and planted terraces follow the natural slope of the terrain. Completed in 2025 with design collaborator Penny Alevizou, the project makes a convincing argument for keeping the peculiarities that give old buildings their personality.

Check out the full details at Kelly Spanou.