The Canaves Oia Epitome Resort, which is designed by K-Studio,  brand is well established and extremely successful on the island of Santorini. The Canaves Oia Epitome is the first hotel in this part of the island to offer open, light-filled space with unrestricted views. K-Studio’s first task was to find a way to work with the imposing concrete and brick structure that already existed on the site, without affecting the overall built area.
The planned hotel was relatively big for the island, with 24 rooms arranged, along with a restaurant and reception, in 3 linear blocks that together created a U-shaped plan. The massing felt awkwardly big and disconnected to the landscape. So they began breaking it up into several smaller parts and then redistributing them around the site, allowing them space to breathe within their surroundings. This approach totally re-set the design of the rooms and the arrangement of the program across the site.
In designing the rooms K-Studio’s aim was to increase the perception of space without actually making them bigger. By breaking up the buildings they created an opportunity for a characteristically Cycladic choreography of enclosed and semi-enclosed space to provide a comfortably cool lifestyle suited to the heat of the Greek summer.  Their palette is dominated by the extensive use of heavy, black local Santorinian stone. The hotel is a subtle blend of local textures and traditions, with a laid-back generosity, comfort and sense of private, personal space rare and valuable within its very special location.