A contemporary Grecian village along the Argolic Gulf, Porto Cheli is punctuated by coastal architecture and the bucolic Mediterranean landscapes that inspired Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Porto Heli—Nikki Beach Worldwide’s first hotel in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. In partnership with Greek firm Arch Group, Beirut-based Gatserelia Nawar & Associates converted the property from a former 1970s hotel that’s now imbued with regionally inspired materials to create a balance between maritime glam and the brand’s signature modern-luxe identity.
“The existing building was treated as a landmark by locals,” explains Gregory Gatserelia, co-founder of Gatserelia Nawar & Associates, who aimed to maintain the structure’s cultural integrity, while adding locally inspired island finishes. “Being in Greece, it was only natural to use white for the entire volume, which is what typically makes a Nikki-branded property—a combination of white finishes with light and untreated wood.”
The walls of the 66-key hotel are primarily painted a bright white complemented with a blend of powdercoated aluminum, wood, veneer elements, and reflective surfaces, including mirrored-glass elevator interiors. Various shades of blue and gray reflect the beach and water, visible from the open lobby.
“The arrival experience immediately takes the visitor into vacation mode,” Gatserelia explains. “The view of the beach behind the foreground of white and light with a touch of greenery reflects this state of mind from the onset.”
Unique lighting applications set the mood with “changes of intensity that are reminiscent of the sea floor throughout the day,” says Gatserelia. In the lobby, for example, a thick column features deconstructed algae-inspired panels. These ascend to sprawl across the ceiling, where they form a backlit, tree-shaped silhouette over curvaceous lounge seating. The open vestibule is also home to reflective art and a signature bar concept, creating “a destination and not a transitional space,” Gatserelia adds.
In reference to the lobby’s beachy design, minimalist guestrooms boast views of the gulf and Aegean Sea, mirrored walls, and white metal and sanded glass table lamps. Suspended rattan lights and wood-colored ceramic flooring lend a feeling of warmth. “Ambient lighting and décor create a modern-ethnic mood, a sort of cozy feeling that you could find in a typical Greek beach house,” says Gatserelia, who created a slatted wall installation behind the beds in certain rooms that serves as art in its own right with integrated lighting arranged at alternating heights. While a selection of guestrooms and suites feature their own miniature pools and Jacuzzis, a special grouping of six first-floor guestrooms share one large private pool that overlooks the hotel’s larger beachside pool, accessible to all guests.
Public and outdoor spaces are similarly filled with furnishings in the brand’s simple signature style, along with a mix of sleek and natural accents.
“From rough tree branches to pebbles and algae, every piece seems to be derived from nature with a focus on relaxation and creating a feel-good mood,” says Gatserelia. “Even if guests are experiencing every space for the first time, the transition is not shocking. They will always feel the same frame of mind but within a different context.”
