”An abandoned Santorini Cave House, uninhabited for more than 50 years after a devastating earthquake with no drainage, electricity, or water is transformed into a luxury, bijou bolthole for 2.”
Where it all began
The story begins in the early 1900s. Like most cave houses on Santorini, they decide to burrow deep into the volcanic rock and earth to create a cheap and solid dwelling. It needs to withstand the harsh conditions of living on the world’s only inhabited volcanic caldera, not to mention frequent earthquakes.
In a design that exists nowhere else on Earth, they excavate tonnes of earth, pumice stone and volcanic rock, burrowing deeper and deeper into the hillside village of Pyrgos.
The vaulted ceiling and walls are then plastered using a mixture of pumice, limestone and black igneous rock, stone built-in benches are added as well as recessed shelving carved into the thick walls. The exterior façade faces south to catch the sunlight and provide protection from the strong Northern winds; the walls are white-washed. In this way, they create a perfectly ecological abode, which is naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter. ‘Remember there was no heating or air conditioning back then’ explains Mr Antonis Ksagoraris, the neighbour who lives next to Demeter Cave House.
He proudly shows us his 30-year-old bucket attached to a rope. ‘We even collected rainwater which we used to drink, cook, and wash’’. Every house had its own sterna or underground water storage carved into the rock. Rainwater which fell onto the roof was guided into the sterna. A bunch of twigs was used as a raw way of filtering the water before it went into the sterna.
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Pyrgos Village
The Cave House had 2 rooms, an area for living and a space for sleeping plus a small storage room at the far end of the cave. Ventilation and light came through a skylight and through the door and windows on the front of the house. Outside in the courtyard was a small building which was used as a kitchen and toilet/bathroom. There was no sewerage system back then, no electricity and no running water.
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The original skylight which not only provide light but ventilation -
Demeter Cave house used to be the home of grocery store owner Dimitris Nomikos. The store was located just below the terrace of Agios Dimitrios Church. It went by the name of Benizeladikis and was one of 5 grocers in Pyrgos. The grocery stores at that time had rare products and were important meeting places for the locals.
Benizeladikis had drinks like cognac which did not exist in other stores. Locals went there for needles and threads for sewing, chewing gum, sweets, mints and such like. The store also had games and school children would go there to see the games such as wind-up toys and buying sweets at the same time.
The 1956 Earthquake: The Day Santorini Literally Fell Apart
In 1956, a major earthquake rocked the island of Santorini. Many buildings collapsed and those that didn’t were condemned as unsafe for use. Locals fled the island going to Mainland Greece. Houses were abandoned, possessions left behind. Santorini was once again gripped by destruction, despair and poverty.
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Devestation from the Earthquake in 1956
Maybe a miracle gifted from Agios Dimitrios Chapel
Fast forward to 2019, more than 60 years later and we decide to purchase the ruin. This heritage property captured our hearts immediately. It oozed character, had bags of historical features and was right in the heart of Pyrgos, the island’s most authentic village. Why on earth had no one bought it already, we pondered?
The building was in an advancing state of disrepair. The roof was intact, maybe a miracle gifted by the Agios Dimitrios chapel which adjoins the property. We are not superstitious but every year we paint the exterior of the church as a thank you, just in case!
Windows and doors were rotten, the years of humidity and harsh winter weather showing their toll. Walls were crumbling and the original stone-built outdoor kitchen a mere pile of black volcanic stones. We peaked behind old furniture and under ceramic pots and pans, flipped through old cartoon magazines and newspapers and climbed onto the dilapidated outbuilding. There was a lot to be done here.
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Entrance to the Cave House -
Aerial Shot of the Cave House which is to the right of Agios Dimitrios Chapel -
Storage room at the far end of the house
A Cave House treasure-trove crying out for renovation
Our goal was to renovate the Cave house retaining original features, using local materials and techniques, and make the house energy efficient and as sustainable as possible. This was a treasure trove crying out for a sympathetic renovation. We cannot mess up!
After a number of architect plans, numerous visits to the Archaeological Society in Athens quotes from builders, electricians and plumbers we were ready to start the transformation. Having never attempted doing anything like this before, we reckon we’ll need to employ local experts, and that’s what we did…
Cave House Renovation Step 1: The Big Clear Out
The first part of the renovation involved emptying the property of furniture, personal items left behind and rubble. Where possible items such as old pots and decorative items kept, others were offered to locals or some was thrown away. The cave had to be stripped back, removing all old plaster, rotting window frames and doors. Non of the original windows or doors could be saved. During the removal of the plaster we uncovered original alcoves that had been filled in with cement. We carefully removed the cement revealing 4 beautiful alcoves cut into the rock.
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We uncovered original built in alcoves when stripping off the old plaster
Cave House Renovation Step 2: Installing drainage, electric and water & making it earthquake proof!
The work was only just starting. We now had to install the basic provisions of electric, water and drainage and tonnes of steel reinforcement to make the house earthquake proof. The property was starting to look more like a war zone than a house.
Cave House Renovation Step 3: The Origins of The Design + Finishing Touches
Our end goal with Demeter House was to maintain the humble roots of the traditional cave house, but with the quality and comfort of the luxury dwellings found on the island nowadays. We’ve taken the idea of modest interiors and simple living and elevated it, so our guests can experience a true slice of Santorini whilst also providing the design and luxury fittings the discerning traveller will have come to expect. To the impoverished cave owners who created shelter for themselves and their families so many years ago, we hope that they would still recognise Demeter House today and give their approval for what we have achieved.
