Dominic and Claire Skinner guided by their “lifestyle by design” philosophy, restored a derelict 200-year-old village in Corfu retaining its original charm to a 21st century private luxury resort that seeks to offer the very best.
Dominic Skinner, director and founding design partner, with his Dutch wife Claire Skinner, Interior designer, have created an award-winning design and lifestyle company, Skinner and Skinner Design, based in Corfu, Greece.
The British architect behind the restoration and development of the Rou Estate is Dominic Skinner. After graduating from the Architectural Association, Dominic worked for 8 years with Lord Norman Foster on a number of residential and high profile commercial projects in the UK including the Swiss Re tower in the City of London and Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire. Dominic currently works in Corfu and Athens and has a number of projects across Greece and other Mediterranean countries. Dominic’s family has a long association with the island. As a boy, over forty years ago, he was passionate about the local architecture when he helped design his parents’ beach villa by Kalamaki. Dominic and his family currently live in England and Corfu.
The Rou Estate enjoys stunning views reaching out over the sea towards Albania and Northern Greece and lies on an East West orientation with morning sun rising directly in the view over Albania. Evening sun can be seen behind the village causing the view to change in character and colour. When within the village the view is a crucial part of the design, as the view and light is always changing throughout the day. Each principal room within the houses will have a direct relationship to this view.
The luxury development of 16 private houses, are set within extensive wild flower gardens designed by Jennifer Gay and Dominic Skinner.
The Rou Estate is the perfect place to unwind and to restore your senses, refuel your soul and mind with nature in full bloom and nourished by the sunlight, colour and warmth. If guests wish to stay put there is every incentive to do so – by relaxing within the privacy and beauty of your own house and gardens or exploring the various terraced gardens of the Estate; enjoying a long leisurely afternoon by the Rou Pool, an energetic work out in the gym or a relaxing and reinvigorating spa treatment.
The Rou Estate is intended to recreate the calm, timeless atmosphere of an old village, with the skillful and unobtrusive use of such modern amenities as are desirable. The old buildings have been restored with respect for the environment, and new buildings have followed the traditional patterns.
