Paradoxical as it appears, today we find ourselves more "connected" to one another, yet we feel more isolated – statistically more of us so than ever before the invention of the global communication gadgetry. In the world of collective solitude and atomized togetherness, what a friend is worth? We know that strong relationships are vital for both individuals and society as a whole. Good ones bring about higher levels of well-being and self-confidence. Friendship is that potency gaining us a pass through good times and bad. The quality of a relationship counts for a lot. It's above luxury – above absolutely anything under the Sun: "Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend..." – confirms Plautus.

With so much of the social sphere in the modern world fragmented and often antagonized, we are searching for new forms of identity to signify who we are. Many find themselves in the brands of their choosing, in the the logos they sport... Their consumerism runs amok.

At Scorpios we have something else in mind as a solution. Genuflecting to the communal wisdom of our distant ancestors while exploring classical antiquity, we take it upon ourselves and invite our guests to reinvent the ancient socio-cultural concept of Agora. A central space in ancient Greek city-states, it literally means "gathering place" with its function to galvanize artistic, philosophical, spiritual and political life of the community, to imbue it with meaning, to tighten it from within and expand it to the benefit of civilization. In a sense, Scorpios is following Socrates walking around the public square and questioning his fellow citizens on their understanding of the more important aspects of life. Human-to-human relations, friendship beyond all ill-imposed boundaries is one such point. Building our modern Agora as a site for culture and meaningful interaction, our advances along this path are encouraged by the likes of Zeno, Pythagoras, Euripides, Aristotle who have elevated friendship to one of the foremost human activities that deserves to be cultivated: "Life has no blessing like a prudent friend."

When it comes to transcending the boundaries in the dialogue across cultures, it is tempting to interpret our Greek – quintessentially Western – project in the aesthetic categories of Zen, in terms of the ancient wisdom of the East. In some measure, the sensibility is there and more than anywhere else on the island touched by restlessly self-indulgent tourism.

Although given to senses most instantly as an uber-stylish construct and remarked most eagerly in reviews on this particular account, Scorpios is not about showing off – its materials being natural, shapes and surfaces imperfect, craft-work vernacular, objects taken from farm households, art found, naive, colors subtle, nothing that strikes one as non-essential. There is no hint of affectation in its design. It exhibits itself without boasting. Simplicity is its ultimate sophistication.

Above all, Scorpios is a state of mind the beauty of which is accessible through learning to feel the immaterial, see the invisible, hear the inaudible… Hence, the ceremonies, rituals filled with music that reaches to the eternal, sound that captures the fleeting moment… in order to let it go.