Mani Developments - Stephan Kaske - Houses for Sale in the Mani, Peloponnese, Greece

The house used for this example is on the side of hill outside Proastio. The house consists of a basement area with a garage & utility room and a self-contained, one bedroom apartment. The main access to the house leads into the kitchen and living area on the first floor where there is also a guest bedroom with wc/shower facilities and a study. Stairs lead up to the master bedroom with wc/shower facilities and french windows opening on to the large terrace with a partial pergola. There are external stairs from the courtyard to the terrace for visitors.

The hillside location means that we had to cut into the slope during the digging process and back-fill the basement level to the base of the first floor level where the main entrance to the house is accessed from the courtyard. This in turn means we had to provide extra insulation and moisture proofing where the back-fill occured.

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The Building Process

Excavating the hillside for the foundations. The stones are 'harvested' for the building.

An extensive lattice-work of steel forms the skeleton of the building.

Wooden shuttering is used to encase the steel

Concrete is then poured into the shuttering, blending with the steel for a rock-solid foundation.

The solid concrete walls will support the 'back-fill' of earth.

A stone wall is built outside the solid concrete with a layer of insulation - blue - in between......

..... and coated with a water-proof rendering.

In the meantime, stonemasons have been dressing and preparing the stones - especially the hand-shaped corner stones.

It's hard, dusty work!

Authentic traditional Mani stonework. (This end is the garage and the far end is a studio apartment)

The stones are 'tied' to the reinforced concrete supports

The ground floor exterior walls completed. The next stage is the foor for the first floor.

The shuttering, steel reinforcements and mould (blue) for the balcony edge ready for the concrete.

The 'backfill' to first floor level with steel to reinforce the courtyard pathways.

The concrete is poured. A 'vibrator' ensures there are no air pockets to weaken the mix when it sets.

The first floor walls are now raised. Note the protruding balcony with its moulded edge.

The second floor (master bedroom and terrace) is raised after the concrete floor is laid.

The house takes shape

Interior walls - first floor - with stairs to master bedroom. Note insulation on ceiling that stops heat transfer from the terrace above.

Interior walls with what will be a sliding door.

Interior walls

The ceiling of the master bedroom.

Windows, shutters and balcony railings are now in place.

Marble-tiled terrace and master bedroom

The balcony

Interior walls plastered & painted and floors tiled

Privacy behind surrounding wall and gates

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To see photos of the finished house and the plans go to

Examples of our work - M&A's House