Commissioning a bespoke villa can cost huge amounts of time and money. But in Greece, Laura Latham of the Independent, finds an exception. A three bedroom detached villa with a pool, such as this traditionally designed property, costs from around £350,000. Of all the sun-soaked destinations in Europe, Greece is among the cheapest in which to buy property.
Of course, on some islands, the reasons for this are all too clear: a villa next door to a brash resort complex is not many people's idea of bliss. But on other islands, the story could not be more different. Sure, property is still cheap. But on many of the Cyclades, for example, it's the isolation that keeps the prices down. And that's where the notion of a Greek hideaway gets very interesting indeed.
Of the 39 Cyclades islands, only Naxos, Mykonos, Paros and Santorini have really appeared on the tourist map. Islands such as Andros and Tinos are still largely undeveloped but have pretty beaches, ancient villages and decent ferry and hydrofoil connections to Athens and the neighbouring islands. They offer peaceful, natural surroundings and outdoor pursuits.
In such destinations, where there are no large developers to hold your hand during the process of buying a home, Greece's strict laws governing what and where you can build can easily catch you out. Land may have been handed down through so many generations it can be difficult to establish land ownership. It all puts off many buyers. Hence the low prices.
Yannos Hadjiioannou chose Tinos, one of the largest of the Cyclades, as the perfect location for his new holiday home. "I'm Greek, and I can tell you that even for Greeks, the purchase and planning process isn't straightforward," he says. "There was no service to help buyers find a suitable building plot, or advise on location or style of property."
His pretty three-bedroom villa was stunningly situated with ocean views, but the finished property didn't turn out as he had envisioned. The former banker realised that there was a niche for someone with local knowledge to help those who might otherwise be put off buying in Greece by the complex laws and construction issues.
So he started Greek Archipelago, a small-scale development company, to help those wanting to build their dream home in the Cyclades. The London-based firm has a portfolio of land plots for clients to inspect on the islands of Tinos, Naxos and Paros and employs experts to do all of the legal searches and paperwork. This means building permission is in place before purchase, and planning applications should go through smoothly.
Hadjiioannou favours low-key, individual designs that fit seamlessly into the landscape. The bespoke properties are also as eco-friendly as possible and use local materials and techniques. "We're not geared to golf-course-type buyers," he explains. "We have to take into consideration the impact of building on the local community."
Though the simple "sugar-cube" style comes to mind when thinking of Greek homes, Hadjiioannou's architects aim to incorporate elements of traditional and contemporary Grecian design, while ensuring the property fits the owner's vision – if you want a character villa, Greek Archipelago will build it; if your dream hideaway is a hi-tech bungalow built from natural stone, then it's yours, along with 21st-century technology and an infinity pool.
Hadjiioannou's plan is to encourage clients to install geothermal energy for heating and cooling, tanks to harvest rainwater, wind turbines and solar panels. "Greece is blessed with sun and wind," he says. "I want to use sustainable sources wherever possible." In addition, locally available materials, such as wood, slate, limestone and marble, are incorporated into the designs.
Across the parts of Greece where holiday homes are frequently sold, average prices vary from around £50,000 for a studio or £160,000 for a two-bedroom villa to £450,000 for a house with four bedrooms. Because there's a large supply of affordable land, many opt to build from scratch. In comparison with these standard figures, buyers who let Greek Archipelago take care of everything should really expect to spend upwards of around £500,000 for a good-size detached property. A little more than taking on the challenge yourself, but still less than you might pay for a similar high-end home in many parts of Spain, Portugal or Italy.
Hadjiioannou can work to smaller budgets if requested, but he points out that the price includes land, purchase services, architect's plans and construction costs. Plus, buyers are getting exactly what they want, built from the best materials.
The company is currently working on several new properties, one of which is for Andrew Smith, a UK businessman, who was looking for somewhere he could escape the British winter. Tinos seemed perfect, so he settled on an 8,000-square-metre plot and commissioned a home that, despite its modern lines, will blend into its surroundings and echo traditional Greek styling. "The location is stunning," says Smith, "with no neighbouring houses and uninterrupted views of the sea and Mykonos in the distance."
The property will cost £1.5m, and the rooms will be divided into several separate open-plan units, offering seclusion while maximising the use of available space. In addition to large living and dining areas, four en-suite bedrooms and a wine cellar are planned. An infinity pool and landscaped grounds will complete the mini-estate.
The extensive use of natural stone in the building was important to Smith, as were the eco-friendly elements of the design and the fact that it doesn't stand out like many new-builds. "The house folds into the landscape, following the contours of the land," he says. "Although it's relatively large, it isn't a McMansion, which was very important to me."
Greek Archipelago: 020-7266 5600; www.greekarchipelago.com
13.05.2008
