COYEVINAS BEACHFRONT HOUSE

The house is set right on the sea, on one of Corfu's most prestigious beaches, Coyevinas, between Kassiopi and Avlaki. Recent planning rules have halted all new construction so close to the water, so that right-on-the-beach properties are limited to those already in existence.

The mansion-style house is semi-detached with its mirror image, the two evidently having been built at the same time and sub-divided at a later date. Entry is from the rear, over a wide, covered veranda supported by shaped stone columns, into the upper level. Double doors lead into a hall from which opens an old kitchen. Straight ahead, another set of doors opens into the main room, stretching across the whole width of the house with the sea visible through the window. To one side are two large rooms, and to the other an additional large room (this arrangement of rooms opening from a central one is a traditional feature of houses of this era).

The lower floor comprised the storerooms of the estate. The two areas, one slightly larger than the other, have separate access from the small garden in front, and are both floored with beautiful square stone flags, in perfect condition.

The property includes a large plot of land to the rear, well demarcated with walls and a stream bed, and rising in gentle terraces. A stone ruin of 100 sq.m. stands at the highest point. The land falls partly within the Town Planning zone and is therefore buildable to an additional 450 sq.m., plus the ruin, making it a superb prospect for development if desired.

At present, the road onto Coyevinas Beach runs right through the property, but this is a temporary right-of-way, and plans have been made by the local council to redirect public access so it does not cross the land.

The main house, though long abandoned, is in reasonable condition, having been constructed well originally. As all old houses, it needs a new roof when the concrete ring beam is installed (required as an anti-earthquake measure). Inside, the house is dry, and much of its fabric, like the lovely timber floorboards and the flagstones on the ground floor, can - and should - remain. Otherwise, it needs full modernization to cater for today's requirements while preferably maintaining its traditional 'footprint' and style. Any new development on the land at the rear would be enhanced if it reflected the design and character of the beautiful old building.

Features

Extra Features