Human Ingenuity: Οία, Santorini
Search for Oia, Santorini, and you’re often met with results related to tourism and photography. There’s more to this iconic island getaway than just its stunning scenery though. I wanted to talk about and shed light on the design behind this place and how it came to be.
The Greek village of Oia sits along the northernmost edge of Santorini, in the south Aegean Sea. Embedded into the cliffside of the island, the village is widely known for its unique location which has made it into a world famous destination.
The greater context of Oia includes both Santorini island and its neighboring islands, which together were born out of a natural disaster; a volcanic eruption taking place during 1500 BC. To fully understand the form and function of this village in the present day state, it is important to first briefly establish how this ancient event informs the area’s geography and material limitations.
As result of a volcanic explosion, mass quantity of magma was released at once and left behind a hollow crater. This hollowed out crater is also known as a Caldera. The water surrounding the mouth of the crater filled up the crater to produce a natural archipelago and one of the world’s natural wonders.
Likewise, the architecture of Oia is fairly organic in nature.
Its stone buildings were originally the product of heavy limitations and natural forces. Sailors traveling within the Mediterranean trade routes between Russia and Alexandria chose to create their settlement on this island. Upon their arrival, they would create an enclosed system of homes called “cave homes” as they are now commonly known by the locals today.
Dwelling space was carved into the cliffside and structurally supported by timber framing. This vernacular was determined in large part by the availability of materials on the island, as well as the knowledge that sailors brought with them from abroad.
“…old settlements of Santorini…are placed far from the shore: the fear of pirate assaults forced the locals to settle on steep cliffs or hidden valleys that offered better defense or were harder to spot from the sea”¹
The decision to build their settlement on the cliffside was motivated by dangers on the shore. Cave homes blend right into the cliffside, helping to obscure them from danger. And the inclines of the mountain make it difficult to climb upward.
Recall as well that Santorini was once a volcanic island. Volcanic ash, known in these parts as “Theran Soil”, was used in the same way that we might create mortar using cement in masonry.
Since plantlife isn’t too well supported, wood material was delegated to structural support. Sailors were familiar with the value of wood for building given their experience with building ships.
As for the island’s beautiful, white-washed surfaces, they were covered in plaster o help reduce the heat gain by absorbing it. The white plaster was also employed as a way of protecting their buildings from decay caused by the local winds.
If I might leave you with anything, it’s that this place is more than a lovely tourist spot. This Greek village has made a place in history as a natural marvel. Beneath its surface beauty lies an impressive architectural history. Adapting to a harsh environment to produce something which ultimately stands out to the day.
[1] Stasinopoulos, Thanos N. “The Four Elements of Santorini Architecture”. 2006.
