The project began when a young couple, one Greek and one Singaporean, approached the studio with a clear and uncompromising vision: to create a fully sustainable boutique hotel on a privately owned plot of land in the westernmost part of Crete. From the outset, sustainability was non-negotiable. The ambition was to develop a hotel with the lowest possible carbon footprint and a deeply responsible relationship with its natural and cultural environment.
The brief extended far beyond branding alone. The founders requested a holistic approach, asking the studio to shape the project in its entirety — from naming and identity to architectural direction, materials, signage and overall experiential philosophy. Every decision needed to align with principles of sustainability, longevity and respect for place, avoiding superficial eco-claims in favour of meaningful, embedded practice.
Tella Thera was conceived as a five-star boutique eco-hotel, designed for conscious travellers seeking slow living, understated luxury and genuine connection. Rather than offering excess or spectacle, the hotel would focus on quality, calm and intention. The experience needed to feel organic and rooted, allowing guests to slow down, reconnect with nature and rediscover a sense of balance and presence.
A deep respect for the land and local culture was central to the brief. Architecture, materials, food, rituals and spatial flow were to be treated as inseparable elements of a single narrative, shaped by the climate, landscape and traditions of Crete. The hotel was not to be imposed on its surroundings, but to grow from them, reflecting the rhythms of the place and the passage of time.
Overall, the project aimed to create a sustainable hospitality model where luxury is defined by restraint, authenticity and care. A destination that offers comfort and refinement while remaining environmentally responsible, culturally grounded and emotionally meaningful — a place designed not only for rest, but for reconnection.