The legendary seasonal resort Club Med Gregolimano in Northern Evia received the Best Resort (Re)Opening award at the Hospitality Awards in Paris in November 2025. A key role in this international distinction was played by both the upgrade of the resort’s central facilities and its expansion — a project implemented by the Greek design and construction company TechKM, led by Michalis Michopoulos and Afroditi Kartelia. As Chief Architect, Afroditi Kartelia signed the architectural study and oversaw the management of the overall project.
The Hospitality Awards, held in the French capital for the 25th consecutive year, are among the most recognized institutions in the global tourism and hospitality industry, honoring projects that stand out for their design, innovation, sustainability, high quality and overall guest experience. Following a €30 million investment and two years of work (winter 2022–2023 and 2023–2024), Club Med Gregolimano, which has been operating in Greece since 1977, has been extensively upgraded and rightfully reintroduced as the group’s flagship resort in the Mediterranean, earning international recognition.
The redevelopment of Club Med Gregolimano by TechKM was carried out with deep respect for the natural landscape of Evia, placing particular emphasis on sustainability across all aspects of the project. For this reason, it is among the few developments in Greece to have received BREEAM environmental certification.
“This is a unique landscape, located in one of the most beautiful places in Greece,” said the project’s Chief Architect Afroditi Kartelia. “We approached the architectural design with absolute respect for nature, aiming to integrate the requested structures into the natural environment in the most harmonious way possible.”
The total area of Club Med Gregolimano in Northern Evia covers approximately 216 acres (around 87 hectares). The resort’s new extension was developed between its 1,100-metre beachfront and a lush pine forest. Within this setting, 58 new rooms were created across 24 bungalows, along with a Zen adults-only pool, a mini club and a beach bar.
The bungalows were designed with clean, minimalist lines and large openings, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. The intention was to bring nature into the rooms and allow the presence — even the scent — of the surrounding pine forest to be felt throughout the space.
The exterior façades reflect the natural tones of the landscape, while selected sections are clad with locally sourced stone. The interior design of the rooms was curated by interior designer Jean‑Philippe Nuel.
“The distinction awarded to Club Med Gregolimano is a great source of joy for everyone who took part in this project. The architectural design was developed with the aim of strengthening the resort’s unique identity in this magical location in Greece and supporting its new era,”
says Afroditi Kartelia.
The Zen pool is framed by olive trees, serving as a natural reminder of the human scale in contrast with the surrounding pine trees that rise more than 10 metres high. Internally, the pool’s lining materials were carefully selected so that the water acquires a subtle green hue, appearing to merge with the surrounding landscape while enhancing the feeling of a lagoon beside the sea.
The surrounding landscape, designed by the French studio JBS Associés of Philippe Somm and Hubert Somm, forms an alternative garden composed of aromatic plants and herbs native to the Greek landscape. Clean pathways made of compacted earth alternate with more natural, untouched trails, creating the sensation of wandering through organic forest routes.
The mini club — a favourite spot for younger guests nestled among the pines — consists of seven wooden houses, each painted in a different colour. Their circular arrangement evokes the Gallic village from the world of Asterix.
The beach bar is an iconic open-air space set directly on the sand along the resort’s beach and oriented toward the sunset, marking the final point of the project as it meets the sea. Its main architectural and functional feature is a curved wall that supports the entire wooden structure of the bar, appearing to dissolve naturally into the surrounding sand.
It is worth noting that the project’s design studies follow the principles of sustainable architecture and are characterized by the extensive use of sustainable energy sources.
For this project, in addition to the architectural design and project management, TechKM was also responsible for the structural and mechanical engineering studies.
About TechKM
Based in Athens, TechKM was founded in 1990 by civil engineer Michalis Michopoulos and architect Afroditi Kartelia. The firm operates in the fields of architectural and technical design, construction and project management.
The company specializes in high-end hospitality and tourism infrastructure projects, private residences, commercial spaces and office developments, offering integrated solutions from concept and design through to implementation, both in Greece and internationally.
