LIKNON

An unusual project can be discovered somewhere on the Greek islands, which puts as much effort into aesthetics as it does into ethics. LIKNON was created out of the desire for a fertile present and future, a museum to be enjoyed at leisure, to the rhythm of the vibrations of the Aegean Sea. 
The natural landscapes, wooded terrain and supreme beaches are what ensure the reputation of Samos, the island that is said to be the birthplace of the mythical goddess Hera and the brilliant philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. Since time immemorial, it has shown potential in its fertile lands, home to a long tradition of winemaking. In fact, K-Studio had its eye on the project when it decided to bring the LIKNON idea to life in an area of 100-year-old vineyards. Through the lens of Nikos Daniilidis, Claus Brechenmacher and Reiner Baumann, we can today witness a museum hidden among the bright green of Salmo, which blurs the distinction between architecture and Mother Nature. 
The idea was to not put the project in concrete boxes, quite the opposite. It was designed as a pastoral refuge that operates as a laboratory for creating happy, ecologically and socially balanced landscapes. Due to its «omnipresent» form, we don’t always even notice that it’s all around us. Indeed, that was the aim from day one: a sponge-construction that absorbs the surrounding natural landscape and uses it as an asset over 380 m². Quite a challenge, considering that the museum is set in a centuries-old vineyard whose speciality is sweet muscatel. 

The museum is set in a centuries-old vineyard

The small village of Vourliotes embraces this project, which is positioned 800 metres above sea level and is exposed to the winds from the north. The surrounding landscape is characterised by the local stones, which give volume to the plateaus and create the terraces that yearn to be cultivated. It is within these perimeters that LIKNON operates, within long, discreet stone walls sculpted into various parts of the land. The walls are inspired by the existing topography and are a good starting point for entering the contemplative dimension. It’s only a matter of seconds before you realise that the essence of the project lies there. Cross-sections that give way to paths and steps that connect consecutive terraces. Wide openings of translucent glass that allow you to see what the naked eye can see and what the earth holds beneath it. Terraces that hover in the air and underground tunnels that provide mystery. All brought together in three buildings - TOPOS, CHRONOS and the Metaxa Bar – whose functions vary and are united in a single purpose: to bring together the five senses around vineyards full of history. From the process of growing the vines to the final product, the museum offers an intimate experience, with no filters or artificialities along the way. Outside, the cypress trees guard the property with their elegant narrow canopy and coniferous nature, at the behest of landscape designer Petsagoura Michalis. A graceful touch, when combined with the unmistakable scent of the sea and the soft breeze that gently lulls you.  
With its simple features and perfect synergies between shapes and colours, this museum, the LIKNON, could be a possible antidote to modern anxieties, since only natural elements and sometimes ordinary mortals pass through it.