He usually has a bundle of keys clutched in one hand and a sprig of jasmine or basil tucked behind an ear. Although 70 years old he is quick on his feet and I had trouble keeping up as he strode up the steep cobbled streets of Sikinos. Markos Zagoraios is the island’s traditional builder and the locals love him since he has built or renovated pretty much all their homes, and he even looks after them during the winter as if they were his own. I first met him in 2017 and we have been friends ever since.
He is a rare breed of person, one who has learnt to build using natural materials and in absolute harmony with nature. “Listen how a good builder works,” he explains. “First of all, I don’t only work when I am awake but also during my sleep. I go to bed and think. What does the land look like? Where will I put the house? How will it be oriented so it can have natural ventilation and protection from the wind and sun? In doing so, I sort everything out in my mind, so when I get to work there are no questions. Today everyone works with plans. I don’t get that.
