A contemporary urban residential building in the heart of Heraklion, designed around compact living, natural light and a refined hospitality experience.

Year: 2020

Location: Almyrou Street, Heraklion, Crete

Area: 1374 m²

Status: Completed

Located in the heart of Heraklion, Metropole Urban Hotel occupies a privileged position next to the Metropolitan Church of Saint Minas and one of the city’s most recognizable public squares. The project reintroduces an existing urban building as a contemporary four-star hotel, creating a refined hospitality experience deeply connected to the everyday life, views and atmosphere of the historic centre.

The architectural identity of the hotel is defined by clarity, proportion and urban presence. The façade is organized through a restrained composition of vertical elements, balconies and linear lighting, allowing the building to stand with subtle confidence within the dense city fabric. At night, warm integrated lighting outlines the geometry of the elevations, giving the hotel a soft yet distinctive presence on the square.

The interior design follows a language of warmth and simplicity. Natural wood surfaces, soft textiles, neutral tones and carefully placed lighting create rooms that feel intimate, calm and elegant. The guest experience is shaped through a balance between comfort and visual restraint: large openings frame views toward the church, the city and the mountains, while the interiors remain composed, tactile and quietly luxurious.

In the common areas, the hotel extends its relationship with the city. The reception, lobby, breakfast area and lounge spaces are designed as transparent, welcoming interiors that open toward the public square and the surrounding greenery. Botanical motifs, soft seating and warm lighting introduce a relaxed atmosphere, allowing the ground floor to operate as a threshold between urban movement and interior calm.

The project combines the efficiency of a compact city hotel with the atmosphere of a boutique stay. The hotel has a capacity of 37 rooms and 74 beds, is classified as a four-star hotel, and includes guest rooms, lobby, reception, bar, restaurant, breakfast facilities, auxiliary spaces and accessible accommodation.

Metropole Urban Hotel is conceived as a contemporary urban retreat: a place where the historic centre of Heraklion becomes part of the hospitality experience, and where architecture, light and materiality create a quiet pause within the city.