IOANNA DOROVINIS is an architect (M.Sc. Columbia Un. NYC), specialist in Conservation of Historic Buildings and Settlements (M.A. York Un.UK), with a PhD in History of Architecture (Athens Polytechnique Un.).
The village of ANATOLI in Ierapetra, Southeastern Crete, was the last stop in her long journey for the safeguard of Cretan Architectural Heritage, for which she has devoted the last 20 years of her career by the Ministry of Planning, Department of Traditional Settlements.
When she first visited the village, in 1997, in an autumn rainy day, the ruins and the landscape around exerted such strong influence to her that she decided to buy a house in Crete, the Pasiphae, and convert it into a family resort. Another house, the Kallirhoe, followed soon, and as the merits, beauty and diversity of local architectural patterns were revealed, more ruined houses were added to the family’s property, while other owners were inspired to save and restore their houses. Today the family Dorovinis owes 3 houses, PASIPAHE, SMARAGDA and the recently renovated PERSEPHONE, while a 4th house the KALLIRHOE has been sold.
She is the writer of many articles concerning architectural heritage, while her doctorate thesis will soon be published under the title “The Domestic Architecture of Mytilene, Lesbos island, (1830-1920) Historical background-City Planning-Architecture”.
Ioanna Dorovinis purchased this house in 2006