When it comes to Greece, what comes to mind is its long history and the brilliant artistic achievements of that era. Architectural achievements are one of its hallmarks. The white villages of Greece are simply dreamlike under the blue sea and sky, providing immense space for imagination and reverie. Many people now love the Greek Mediterranean style; let us take a closer look at it.
Explanation of the Greek Mediterranean Style
Architecture along the Mediterranean coast is like the waves of the Mediterranean—free, flowing, and well-proportioned. The distinct colors within rows of free-flowing curves present a rhythmic vitality; this is the residential style of countries along the eastern Mediterranean coast characterized by mountainous and hilly terrain. Cities and villages are mostly situated on hillsides by the sea, where buildings and streets are built into the mountains in a well-proportioned manner. The beautiful Apennine Mountains serve as their most solid backdrop. To this day, the olive, which has been endowed with numerous spiritual factors by the Greeks, has become a universal symbolic icon; this is undoubtedly a continuation of the Greek reverence for nature. Walking on the sunny beaches of Nice, France, full of Mediterranean brilliance, you will inadvertently be attracted by the natural scenes in a family's courtyard and living room, and feel an immediate sense of brightness. The layout of the living space is extremely "exquisite." Although it is a small indoor suite, it exudes a natural and simple temperament. Various furnishings are arranged in a generous and elegant manner, and the interior decoration materials are natural and high-quality, creating an elegant style that highlights both national characteristics and a shared Mediterranean flair. Handmade decorative items fill every corner of the room, and various character figures and clay-fired pottery—with exaggerated shapes, strong decorative qualities, and bright colors—are full of a primitive, simple beauty. This is the complete interpretation of the Greek Mediterranean style.
Origins of the Greek Mediterranean Style
Athens, Greece, is an important birthplace of human civilization, possessing countless cultural and artistic treasures, and its architecture is even more magnificent. When we observe carefully around Athens, we can discover that the lives of the people under the sacred Greek mythology are both simple and natural. Houses with white walls and gray pointed roofs have colorful windows filled with a wide variety of flowers; people place sofas and chairs among the plants and set dining tables in courtyards where they can enjoy the sunshine and sea breeze—what a picture of returning to nature, what a scene of Mediterranean-style scenery. The hometown of the immortal artwork "Venus," and also the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, should be considered a prime example of the Greek reverence for nature. Its fascination lies in the extraordinary experience brought to people by the beautiful Athenian urban environmental art and decoration. These environmental art decorations reflect both the sacred style of Greek tradition and the material characteristics and spiritual temperament of the Mediterranean region. Although Greek history has undergone changes in different periods such as Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire (Byzantine), and the Ottoman Empire, leaving behind traces of various ethnic cultures, the pursuit of simplicity and nature seems to have become the unchanging cornerstone of this land. The choice of materials, the depiction of patterns, and the mode of composition all show reverence for natural attributes, leading to the birth of the Greek Mediterranean style.
Aesthetic Characteristics of the Greek Mediterranean Style
Greek Mediterranean-style homes are deeply loved for their pure colors, smooth lines, natural materials, and distinct national character. Antique floor tiles are in earthy, rustic tones, and the slight warmth gives people a sense of stability and comforts their spiritual needs. The wheat-yellow diatom mud walls, made of pure natural base materials, seem to breathe the simple fragrance of grain amidst the deep and shallow concave-convex textures. Large areas of blue and white, clear and flawless, interpret people's endless longing for blue skies, white clouds, blue seas, and silver sands. The spatial layout with a sense of mystery provides residents with different psychological experiences.
Greek Mediterranean Style Coordination
1. Greek Mediterranean-style decoration will have many marine-style ornaments; small stones, tiles, shells, glass shards, glass beads, and other materials can creatively decorate your small corners, while vases, tableware, and flower arrangements can decorate corners of the home.
2. Indoors, the Greek Mediterranean style generally uses curtains, tablecloths, sofa covers, lampshades, etc., mainly in low-chroma tones and cotton fabrics. Simple and elegant small floral, striped, and plaid patterns are the main style.
3. Technical treatment must be done for waterproofing and moisture-proofing.
Spatial Characteristics of the Greek Mediterranean Style
1. In terms of furniture for space decoration, try to use wooden furniture with low chroma, simple lines, and rounded edges. The floor is mostly paved with terracotta or slate.
2. The architectural feature of the "Mediterranean style" is arches, semi-arches, and horseshoe-shaped doors and windows. The circular arches and corridors in the architecture are usually connected in series or intersected vertically, creating an extended sense of perspective while walking and viewing.
3. Lines are the basis of structural form and are therefore very important design elements in the home. The lines of houses or furniture along the Greek Mediterranean coast are not straight, appearing more natural; therefore, whether it is furniture or architecture, a unique rounded shape is formed.
Color Application in the Greek Mediterranean Style
Blue and white are typical Mediterranean color combinations. From the coasts of Spain and Morocco to the eastern Mediterranean coast of Greece, the white villages of Greece connect with the beaches, the blue sea, and the blue sky. Even door frames, windows, and chair surfaces are in blue and white color schemes, combined with walls mixed with shells and fine sand, pebble floors, mosaic collages, and gold, silver, and iron metal utensils, bringing the contrast and combination of blue and white to the extreme. Most countries in these regions believe in Islam, and the main color tone of Islam is blue and white.
Design Elements of the Greek Mediterranean Style
White Walls
Large areas of white walls are an indispensable part of Greek Mediterranean-style design elements, extending from the coasts of Spain and Morocco to the eastern Mediterranean coast of Greece. The white villages of Greece connect with the beaches, the blue sea, and the blue sky. Even door frames, windows, and chair surfaces are in blue and white color schemes, combined with walls mixed with shells and fine sand, pebble floors, mosaic collages, and gold, silver, and iron metal utensils, bringing the contrast and combination of blue and white to the extreme. Most countries in these regions believe in Islam, and the main color tone of Islam is blue and white.
Sea-Blue Roof Tiles and Doors/Windows
Color is the language of architecture and the embodiment of its image; it can directly reflect the overall style of the building and embody the atmosphere of the era. As an important means of shaping architectural image and beautifying the environment, the color of the building's exterior plays an extremely important role in reflecting architectural characteristics and beautifying the environment. The colors of the ancient Greek orders are mainly in the gray-white series, using elegant and simple colors to express their purity, elegance, and sanctity. Therefore, when using ancient Greek column elements to build structures, it is essential to ensure that the gray-white architectural tones are unified with the colors of the surrounding buildings, and one or two main color tones should be determined for large building areas to make the building colors unified and harmonious.