Kythera House

The brief

Transform the dark traditional office space into a highly flexible light filled space for the descendants of the Greek island of Kythera to gather, connect and engage with their cultural heritage.

The result

A light bathed stair leads to a backlit onyx reception desk- a subtle nod to Greek heritage. Detailed perimeter joinery both conceals and provides; meeting tables, theatre chairs, compactus, open bookshelves and working kitchen reveal themselves as panels fold back.

A blackened ‘pod’ defines and conceals amenities, allowing the remainder of the space to be open plan and defined by flexible furniture arrangements and movable joinery on castors.

Placing the community at the centre of every design decision, and with a deep commitment to ensuring their needs were met, the space is rationalised to allow it to effortlessly operate in three distinct modes; Library, conference room or theatre.

The feeling

 A place born from community – a place for family;  to gather, to remember, to understand, to grow and to celebrate culture. A light bathed vessel for Kytherian memory and future.