Project: JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa
Architecture: Block722
Leaders: Sotiris Tsergas, Katja Margaritoglou, Christina Kontou, Elena Milidaki
Design Team: Apostolos Karastamatis, Eirini Tsakalaki, Danai Lazaridi, Electra Polyzou, Marilena Michalopoulou, Xenia Bouranta, Georgia Nikolopoulou, Tzemil Moustafoglou, Gregory Bodiotis
Location: Crete, Greece
Area: 13600 m2
Year: 2025
Photo Credits: Ana Santl, George Pappas
JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa by Block722 sets a new standard for sustainable luxury on Crete’s rugged Akra Pelegrí headland. Framed by Souda Bay to the south and the Taygetos mountains to the north, this 59,700 m² resort of 160 rooms and suites immerses guests in the island’s wild beauty and age-old traditions, all while offering five-star comfort and cutting-edge environmental stewardship.
Arrival and Communal Core
First, upon entry, visitors step into a spacious forecourt planted with native shrubs that unfold toward panoramic sea views. Moreover, inside, the lobby’s sunlit atrium integrates plantings beneath a skylight, forging an immediate bond with the hillside. Subsequently, a sequence of calm, earthy indoor volumes—the bar, main restaurant, and JW Market—opens through grand pergolas onto a reflective pool. Here, raw boulders and clean geometry mingle, and Doric-inspired columns paired with shifting lattices of reeds filter Mediterranean light to create a meditative interplay of shadow and sun.
Seamless Indoor–Outdoor Living
Next, across multiple terraces, covered dining areas and sunken seating “islands” float above water, inviting guests to lounge amid natural rock outcrops. Furthermore, shaded pools and wellness pavilions transition gently into private villa clusters. Consequently, guests experience both community and solitude. Each pathway, pergola, and platform is calibrated to reveal the landscape in stages—from the olive groves to the sparkling bay—thereby immersing guests in Crete’s slow-living ethos.
Accommodations in Harmony with Terrain
Meanwhile, the resort’s 160 rooms and suites occupy one- and two-story pavilions that follow the natural terrace lines. In addition, cantilevered private pools appear to hover over the hillside, while green roofs and planted terraces blur the boundary between built form and forest. Inside, floor-to-ceiling glazing, locally quarried stone walls, and materials drawn from the site—washed linen, terracotta, rattan, and timber—dissolve walls and anchor interiors in place.
Regenerative Design and Local Craftsmanship
Furthermore, Block722’s commitment to “architecture of the land” shines through in every detail. For instance, stone walls rise from on-site excavations, and concrete mixes include local aggregates. Likewise, furnishings of raw linen, earthenware, and woven fibers echo the bay’s hues. Meanwhile, native, drought-tolerant planting supports local biodiversity, and green roofs restore cut terraces. Additionally, passive strategies—solar orientation, natural cross-ventilation, and deep pergolas—reduce energy demands, while photovoltaic panels, on-site wells, and high-performance insulation deliver true off-grid performance.
Ultimately, JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa offers more than a stay: it invites guests into a living ecosystem. By weaving contemporary design, traditional crafts, and regenerative principles into every pavilion and pergola, Block722 has created a blueprint for responsible hospitality—one that celebrates Crete’s elemental beauty and honors its timeless spirit.
