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Project Name: Cretan Malia Park

Location: Malia, Crete

Date Completed: April 2019

Interior Designer: Vana Pernari

Architect: Vana Pernari

The renovation of Cretan Malia Park brings bright spaces with relaxed, earthy and slightly boho tones with a touch of colour and elegance. The brief was to bring inside the colours and joy of the hotel’s amazing gardens as well as the colours found on the murals and artworks of Crete’s Minoan palaces presented in an exotic Mediterranean way.

Cretan Malia Park incorporates the Mediterranean colour palette as described in Van Gogh’s quote – “The Mediterranean has the colour of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don’t always know if it is green or violet, you can’t even say it’s blue, because the next moment the changing reflection has taken on a tint of rose or grey.” – as found in the murals of the ancient Minoan cities in Crete as well as in the local folk art. Natural materials were used, such as marble, cotton, wood and brass; avoiding artificial materials while aiming to bring the essence of the hotel’s gardens to the interior.

Cretan Malia Park’s original form as a late 70’s camping site provided the initial idea to create spaces where people will experience the outside, inside. Indoor and outdoor living should blend in a harmonious and natural way for people to experience a new slow-paced lifestyle and authentic unassuming luxury.

The amazing gardens and the sweet spot between the sense of memory and the familiar inspired the architect to keep the design traditional but unique, filled with materials, textures, colours of the Cretan land, curious objects, carefully curating a warm atmosphere that will seduce and enchant the visitors.

The beauty of Crete’s nature and the local flora are reflected in the outdoor spaces of the environmentally conscious resort. Cretan Malia Park spreads amongst beautiful gardens which were meticulously planted over the last 40 years. As part of the resorts dedicated to the Mediterranean Responsible Living and regeneration practices, a conscious effort has been made in the last 2 years to replace any non-endemic plants and trees with native to the eastern part of the island species.

The design of the resort incorporates different colours, materials and styles of several design eras while maintaining a strong Cretan identity.