Traditional Biothermal Architecture in Santorini

Most of the houses in Santorini island-or at least most of the old buildings around the caldera-where built inside the volcanic sand. The "Yposkafa" (underdug) as they are called is an ingenious, bioadaptive way with wich centuries of generations have coped in an enviroment of litited space and resourses. Dry as it is, the island lacks of trees and firewood. Perched on the steep slope of the iland's caldera, most of the settements face the archipelago's conditions and the need for house developing in almost vertical terain. Therefore, the proverb "things are not as they seem" is very true here, as the houses and warehouses extend inside the volcanic rock, invisible to the eye that wonderes on the surface. But the most amazing thing is how the natural materials of this earth, along with the traditional architecture (it's most apparent feature being the arched roofs)create a natural air-condition. Without the use of any energy whatsoever, only by desingning in wisdom and unity with nature, these houses warm up in winter and cool down in summer. The first time i visited my good friend Dayadan in Megalochori village during January of 2010, i was amased to enter from a cold outside into a non-heated room and feel a very convinient warmth to sleep with! Here i post some photos from 2011, that show a part of this unique architecture, as well as the inspirings desing and decoration with wich Dayadan creates his Santorini villas (www.santorini-villas.gr)

FurRide, Megaloxori, Santorini, April 2011

Fury rides in Santorini with beloved friend's Dayadan dogs. From my visit in April 2011.