ONE&ONLY AESTHESIS REVIVES MID-CENTURY GLAMOUR ON THE ATHENIAN RIVIERA One&Only’s first resort in Greece, One&Only Aesthesis is situated on the Athenian Riviera, just 30 minutes from the centre of Athens. Set within a 21-hectare reserve on a 2.2-kilometre beachfront, the resort occupies the original site of the iconic Asteria beach club, dating back to the 1950s. At the height of its popularity in the 1960s and ’70s, Asteria, meaning ‘stars’ in Greek, was a magnet for filmmakers, movie stars, artists and musicians. Now, Grivalia Hospitality and Kerzner International have come together to revitalise this fabled property.
A STAR IS REBORN Three acclaimed architecture firms – AUDO, A6Architects, and K-Studio – along with interior design studio Muza Lab, were commissioned to bring One&Only Aesthesis to life. Their brief was to stay true to Asteria’s roots while bringing the brand’s unrivalled levels of ultra-luxury to the development. The result is a 127-key resort where exceptional design is driven by the highest levels of aesthetics, sustainability and execution, grounded in a respect for the past. “Our concept for One&Only Aesthesis draws from the Asteria history as the epicentre of Greek modernism, elegance and luxury,” says Costis Skroumbelos, Partner at AUDO. “Our mission was to design an original resort that expresses a strong cultural link to Asteria and the Athenian landscape, engaging all the senses, and fostering a sense of wellbeing for guests, while setting a new standard for experience-based ultra-luxury resorts.” Central to the development of One&Only Aesthesis was the requirement to adhere to the historic layout of the Asteria site. Not only is the design inspired by the mid-century glamour of the beach club’s heyday in the 1960s but the resort’s structures themselves are situated in the precise locations of the original bungalows and communal areas. Nasos Antachopoulos of A6Architects says, “If you take a look at the original plans and drawings of Asteria and see the simplicity, the authenticity of the ideas, in its prime era, it was a kind of a magical place because it had a magnificent interplay between the technique, the artificial environment, the built environment and the landscape.” At the heart of One&Only Aesthesis and Asteria is a blurring of the lines between the interior and external environment. Dimitris Karampatakis, Co-Founder of K-Studio, says, “We had to be very, very careful about using the exact same footprint for internal spaces, but the freedom that we had with that in-between space, that Goldilocks moment between indoors and out, was what gave us the opportunity to stitch the architecture into the surroundings, and kind of elongate that moment of stitching.”
THE ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE
Taking its cue from Asteria’s original open-air restaurant, the curved central building sets the mid-century tone for the resort’s arrival experience. The slatted exterior is inspired by traditional Greek claustras (screens), which allow for privacy and a filtered flow of light and air. Two skylights bathe the interiors in sunlight, while the guest’s eye is drawn to panoramic windows that frame the main pool below and the Aegean Sea beyond. A winding staircase leads down to the lower level, where Alelia bar, Ora by Ettore Botrini restaurant, and the pool terrace are located.
REIMAGINED BUNGALOWS, RESIDENCES & VILLAS
One&Only Aesthesis’ collection of Bungalows, Residences and Villas has been based on the original footprint of Asteria’s iconic beachfront dwellings. In order to extend the layouts of the bungalows beyond the internal spaces, the architects created expansive outdoor areas that connect seamlessly with the interiors. Sliding glass doors at the front and rear of each bungalow encourage a flow of light, energy and activity, as guests move fluidly between the bedroom, gardens and pool.
ATHENIAN INTERIORS
Inge Moore, founder of Muza Lab, worked closely with the architects to create that sense of effortless flow between the interiors and the outside spaces. Native timbers and local marble in shades of pearly white and sand form the basis for the construction and the coastal colour palette, with stone feature walls and slatted timber pergolas a signature of the structures. “We wanted to create a sense of soft luxury that specifically spoke to the Greek Riviera. It has that nostalgic touch, with the use of blue and white, the warmth of the marble and the olive wood, and the beautifully textured linens hand-designed in Greece,” says Inge.
THE DESIGN OF THE RESTAURANTS
The resort’s signature all-day dining restaurant, Ora by Ettore Botrini is located on the ground floor of the central building. Backdropped by an open kitchen, the dining room is decorated with warm timbers and olive green accents. Glass doors fold back to create an indoor-outdoor space overlooking the main pool and the Aegean Sea. Also on the ground floor, Alelia bar is inspired by a Greek garden, with sculptural blue and green pendant lights and olive trees replanted here from the original property. Positioned between the pool and the beach, with views of the Aegean Sea’s iconic sunsets, Thimisi bar channels the cosmopolitan spirit of the Athenian Riviera’s golden days. Meaning “memory” in Greek, Thimisi echoes 1950s design with a curved timber bar and mid-century-style stools. Meaning “message” in Greek, Minima pool bar promises effortless relaxation. The nautical decor features rattan lanterns, woven chairs, and a pergola that filters the Attican sunlight. Set to open in 2024, Manko promises an elevated dining and beach club experience at the northern end of the resort. Inspired by the vibrancy of Peru, Manko features three bars and a restaurant centred around a celadon-coloured swimming pool. Carved archways, marble, timber screens, ropes and rattan give each space a distinct vibe, from toes-in-the-sand cocktails to chic dining in the Peruvian restaurant.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Sustainability is embedded into the design of the resort, with both LEED and SITES certification. The original architecture has been renovated using locally sourced materials, with the majority of the buildings constructed from timber. The natural surroundings have been protected by the careful removal and replanting of any existing trees during the construction process. In addition, 200,000 Mediterranean and native species have been planted throughout the resort, chosen for their low water requirements. The Epos and Topos Residences have been planted with living green roofs, providing an insulating effect to the dwellings below while aesthetically helping to ‘stitch’ these larger structures into the landscape. Energyefficient heating, cooling, lighting and taps further boost the resort’s sustainable credentials. One&Only Aesthesis is conveniently located just 30 minutes by car from the centre of Athens and the Eleftherios Venizelos Athens International Airport, which is served by all major airlines, and well equipped to handle private jets. The resort’s world-class restaurants and beach club are also open to outside guests with prior reservation. For reservations or more information, please visit oneandonlyresorts.com/aesthesis
About One&Only
The pinnacle of ultra-luxury design, authentic experiences and genuine hospitality, One&Only is an exceptional collection of one of-a-kind resorts and private homes located in the world’s most inspiring destinations. Designed in harmony with nature and immersed in local culture, each remarkable, one-off resort has its own distinct narrative and charisma. The exclusive collection includes destinations across the world, from Greece and Mexico, to Mauritius and Rwanda, with future resorts in Big Sky, Montana (USA) and Half Moon Bay, Antigua. One&Only Private Homes are currently available to purchase in Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Montana (USA), Greece, and Dubai (UAE). More information on One&Only is available at oneandonlyresorts.com.
Kerzner International Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, is a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, ultra-luxury hotels and residences and innovative entertainment and hospitality experiences. Kerzner’s flagship brand Atlantis includes Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis, The Royal Resort & Residences, both in Dubai, as well as Atlantis, Sanya Hainan in China. Under the One&Only brand, Kerzner manages some of the most top-rated ultra-luxury resorts in the world, located in Greece, Montenegro, Mexico, Mauritius, the Maldives, South Africa, Dubai, Rwanda and Malaysia. Kerzner’s newest hospitality brand is SIRO, the ultimate hotel for an active lifestyle. The first SIRO is open at SIRO One Za’abeel in Dubai, with additional hotels announced in Montenegro, Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Rare Finds, a collection of resorts that celebrates the essence of a place and authentic, soulful experiences, launched in February 2023 with the re-opening of Bab Al Shams in Dubai. For more information on our brands, please visit: atlantis.com, oneandonlyresorts.com, sirohotels.com, www.rarefindsresorts.com. For more information on Kerzner International, please visit Kerzner.com.
