Architecture and design have been synonymous with Greece since ancient times, when landmarks such as the Acropolis of Athens rose to form monumental citadels, with their distinct structural and decorative features going on to influence structures in the modern-day.

While the mainland is home to temples and amphitheatres, the Cyclades are better known for their whitewashed houses and blue-roofed churches, with the island of Mykonos a striking example of this architectural style. Nicknamed The Island of the Winds due to the seasonal gusts that whip up over the Aegean, the island has gained popularity in recent years, with tourists flocking to visit its famous windmills, sandy shores and ever-growing collection of beach clubs, bars and restaurants.

As such, the island has become a hotspot for investment, welcoming dozens of luxury hotels. In the past, the market has primarily been dominated by local operators and small independents, however major international players are increasingly entering the mix, seeking out prime seafront sites to plant their flags. A fitting destination, then, for the first instalment of Sleeper Sessions – a bi-annual design forum that provides a new opportunity for specifiers and suppliers to share ideas and collaborate on active hotel projects. The event was first announced in the midst of the pandemic, when it became increasingly apparent that the sector was in need of a new style of event, one that would serve their business needs and take care of their wellbeing.

The resulting Sessions has been designed around connection, with scheduled meetings that enable delegates to do business on a more intimate scale, and a programme of artisanal experiences that get the creative juices flowing.

For the inaugural event, attendees headed to the south of the island to Royal Myconian, where suites cascade down the hillside towards the crystal clear waters of Elia Beach. “Well, we made it!” said Matt Turner, Sleeper’s Editor- in-Chief, as he welcomed the crowd from the hotel’s Sunset Terrace against a sparkling Aegean backdrop. “Even during the darkest days of the pandemic, we were steadfast in our belief that real-life hospitality events would return, holding more intrinsic value than virtual alternatives. But we also felt that people were going to want to do things differently.”

Elevating the traditional conference format, the Sleeper Sessions agenda was split into four elements: Symposium, a talks programme hosted by Sleeper’s Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich, which saw design visionaries and thought leaders from across the region and beyond take to the stage for debates and deliberation; Sync, a meetings schedule powered by an algorithm matching specifiers with suppliers; Sustenance, a celebration of authenticity and connection through local crafts and artisanal activities like yoga, pottery and sketching; and Social, bringing people together in informal settings to strike up new friendships.

The Symposium programme saw the notion of old meets new emerge as the overarching theme of conversation, a narrative that took attendees on a journey from Ancient Greek architecture through to modern day design. The voyage began with an insightful presentation from Dimitris Karampatakis of Athens-based K-Studio, who put contemporary hospitality in context by discussing the inspiration for his landmark projects across the South Mediterranean, from Kalesma in Mykonos to Dexamenes Seaside Hotel in Kourouta, winner of the AHEAD Global Ultimate Accolade in 2020.

Speaking on Dexamenes, Karampatakis explained how his studio transformed the former wine factory into a hospitality venue, complementing the brutality of the derelict structures with contemporary interventions: “If a project has a story and layers of meaning, there’s immediately an attractiveness to it. A renovation usually involves returning to the glory days of a property, but with Dexamenes we aimed to retain much of the original site.”

Applying a philosophical lens later that afternoon, philosopher and author Massimo Pugliucci discussed why Stoicism – which teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming emotions – is experiencing a renaissance post- pandemic and how it can benefit architects and designers. “Stoicism is about redirecting our inner dialogues to make them more rational, reasonable and efficient – creating a serene mindset,” he revealed, before sharing anecdotes from his books The Stoic Guide to a Happy Life and The Quest for Character, which reinterpret life lessons given by Epictetus – a philosopher and former slave in Ancient Greece – and provide leadership ideas.