Antiparos: Cycladic island balances bohemia, architecture, and restrained luxury

Antiparos, a quaint island in the Cyclades, has transformed into a hub for architecture through its emphasis on private residences rather than extensive hotels. Since 2001, developer Iasson Tsakonas, the mind behind Oliaros, has constructed over 55 homes, partnering with notable architects such as Nicos Valsamakis, Sou Fujimoto, Bjarke Ingels Group, and Atelier Bow-Wow. Strict planning laws ensure that over half of the island remains forest-protected, requiring substantial minimum plot sizes. Athanasia Comninos, who established The Rooster hotel near Livadia beach and owns The Beach House on Apantima, arrived 15 years ago to escape Mykonos. The Rooster includes 16 low-profile Cycladic guesthouses. Last summer, Eva Papadak, founder of 10AM Apotheke, hosted a pop-up in a 1970s home. In 2024, restaurateurs Thanasis Panourgias and Harry Spyrou, along with architects Andreas Kostopoulos and James McNally, will expand Bardot into a multidisciplinary exhibition space. Tsakonas, also a co-founder of the Cyclades Preservation Fund initiated by Ben Goldsmith, highlights the need to present Antiparos authentically as a new generation emerges. The island maintains its charm while establishing itself as a notable architectural destination.