The post Myran Apenanti was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The post Apartment 13 was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The post The Back Yard was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The project involves the redesign of a 1960ies, 80m² Athenian apartment in the neighborhood of Pagkrati. One major issue of the old spatial arrangement was the compartmentalized plan and narrow circulation spaces, that did not allow the desirable amount of light in the apartment.

Layout design

The aim of the proposed redesign was to allow more light in the apartment and also manage to respond to the contemporary inhabitation needs of its future users. A ‘wooden box’, which is placed as a new distinct entity in space, becomes the core of the composition, enclosing the kitchen space from the inside, while creating a dialogue with the living spaces from the outside. Moreover, the birch plywood cladding of the box, achieves visual unification and continuity between the main and secondary spaces.

The distinct urban planning of the area was important from the start of the project, as it has largely defined the geometry of the building and the apartment itself. The aim of the redesign was to embrace these existing angles, to achieve a connection between the scale of the city, the building, the apartment, and the details.

Material and Color Palette

The existing hardwood floor, which was a characteristic element of the apartment was maintained and extended, while the new materials and colors work in harmony with it, creating a bright yet peaceful environment. The pastel green bathroom tiles and the marble countertop are a discreet reference to the Athenian apartments of the 1960ies, while the concrete floor tiles attempt a connection with the urban fabric.

The post Apartment Renovation in Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Maya is a 97m² holiday apartment at a modernist office building with unique view of the Acropolis, the Benizelos mansion and the famous Athenian sky. These characteristics brought together some of the most important movements in architecture and the arts in present-day Athens, to sum up the culture of the city inside the apartment in the heart of it.

Layout design

The floor plan consists of a master bedroom, a small second bedroom, a comfortable lounge and a series of custom-made furniture created from local manufacturers that can be adjusted considering the need of the guests. The creation of a light construction divider in the middle of the apartment smartly separates the full of light public spaces from the quiet private areas.

Material and color palette

At the entrance, a wooden box is placed, referring to the 30’s “polikatikia” luxurious entrances. In the kitchen, a divider was created with parts from Athenian neoclassical glass doors while contemporary design and marble were used at the furniture. Arches and bricks on the central divider correlate the apartment with the Ottoman era building across the street. In the second bedroom, a functional built-in furniture with bed, alludes to the traditional “sofàs”.

Old fashioned cement tiles in modern shapes were selected for the kitchen and bathroom floor. Attention was paid to the overall color palette to enhance the Athenian experience. Finally, materials and colors create a modern main lounge and work as a frame that highlights the unique view, creating an uplifting feeling.

KN Group

George Sfakianakis

The post Holiday apartment design in the Center of Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The 65m² apartment is located in a block of flats built in the 60s in the area of Zografou, Athens; it was fully renovated to accommodate present-day ways of living.

Layout design

All the existing interior walls were removed, to reconfigure anew the zones of the apartment. It was thus decided to unify the living areas, which become the showcase of the apartment, as opposed to the private bedroom area. 

Flexible functionality

Due to the limited surface, the living areas were designed to serve double purposes. The office space can also serve as a dining room, being near the kitchen. The living room can also turn into a guest room by using an opaque curtain thus obstructing the view. This very curtain creates a protected environment with special lighting and heating conditions. The curtain fabric with its repeated folds adds theatricality while serving as an independent decorative element. When it is not used, it can slide into a hidden recess in the wall. 

Built-in storage space

Special attention was given to the design of storage spaces, to upgrade and multiply the apartment’s functionality. A storage zone was created between the living room and the corridor, which serves multiple purposes: it can be used as a closet, a linen closet, a laundry closet, and a storage room. 

Color palette, lighting design, and conservation of the floors

The dominant color palette includes shades of black and white. The oak floors were preserved as a link to the past, while modern materials of minimal aesthetic were chosen for the kitchen and bathroom small areas. Lighting was also designed keeping in mind the modern aesthetic of the apartment as well as the elements from the past.

Arch-Interact

The post Apartment Renovation in Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The property is located on a typical North London residential road of terraced and semi-detached houses. The clients are a young couple who had purchased the property to live in, however it was in need of a lot of work. The proposal was really very different to what they had initially considered they wanted to do, however they had faith in the design and the vision. Now they are very thrilled with the final outcome.

Architectural concept

The architects wanted to create something rather striking once you walk into this otherwise unassuming property, whilst keeping it fairly compact and straightforward from a home renovation perspective. Finding the right balance between old and new, simple materials and bespoke craftsmanship can be just as impactful on the small scale as on larger projects.

Material palette

The material palette was kept to a minimum; Tiles, Timber & Steel. Timber slats provide a permeable partition between the living area and the kitchen dining area, helping bring proportion to the open plan space, whilst still allowing the residents to see through to the garden and also communicate with each other.

The main feature of the design is the bespoke joinery wall panels to the staircase wall. These panels provide hidden access to the downstairs WC and storage area whilst also doubles up as protection from falling on the stairs themselves.

The black stained oak veneer panels sit in contrast to the burgundy-coloured structural steels supporting the 1^st floor.

The floor tiles add a further layer of interest to the scheme with the ‘pixelated’ chevron pattern blending from timber effect to white as you move from the living area to the kitchen.

Studio VA

Anna Stathaki

The post Apartment Renovation in London was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

This 2-bedroom apartment is organized around a central diagonal axis pointing to the sea view, which is the main highlight of the house. Initially it was a vacation home which later became a primary residence, after complete renovation.

The client wanted a house which could feel summery and relaxing all year-long, but remain sleek, elegant, and very functional. 

For this reason, the design concept is defined by the seafront textures, colors, and light, but interpreted in a more subtle, minimal way, to avoid usual narratives.  It could be described as “seaside chic”. 

A very important tool in the design was the use of perspective: Color harmonies and use of large frescoes on the walls make the spaces appear larger and connected to the exterior views. Other optical refinements such as the Frame TV (a tv set which looks like a work of art when not in use) add to the general feeling.

Georgios Kontaxakis

South Space for Photography

The post Apartment renovation in Chania was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Upper Brook Street is located in the heart of Mayfair, within walking distance of both Oxford Street and Hyde Park.

The client had approached the architects to design and renovate two apartments to a ‘Mayfair Rental’ standard. High-end finishes were used throughout, with bespoke joinery and smart lighting control systems also installed.

Flat 9/10, at 170m², includes three bedrooms, three en-suite bathrooms, one WC, kitchen, living room, and study; flat 11, at 110m², includes two bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, one WC, kitchen, and living room.

The design aim was to carefully modernise the flats, whilst refreshing and celebrating some of the original heritage design features found in the property.

Studio VA

The post Upper Brook Street was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Located in an early 70s residential building in the center of Athens, on Didotou street, this project is about converting an apartment previously used as an office space, back to its original purpose, this time functioning as a short-stay apartment. Natural lighting enhancement seemed like an essential parameter of the re-design, and it was achieved by combining the kitchen, entrance hall and living room into one unified space, while artificial warm lighting compliments each separate room. The addition of an extra bathroom seemed necessary to serve the apartment’s needs as well as the creation of a master bedroom including the previous bathroom as ensuite. Bespoke structures that combine steel frames and lacquered wooden doors create additional storage spaces. The design approach references the character of the building while the colour and material palette, textures and shapes used, recreate that retro ambiance in a contemporary way.

Ghost Designers

The post Apartment Renovation on Didotou Street was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The apartment in the southern suburbs of Athens, with a total area of ​​165m², was a spacious typical apartment, built during the ‘90s. A basic design requirement was the remodeling of its functional structure, based on the needs and lifestyle of the new owners. At the same time, the main issue was the creation of a new Mediterranean character. The design has references to the landscape of the Greek Cycladic islands discreetly adapted to the urban environment to which it belongs.

The main idea was based on architectural simplicity, with clear, geometric lines, shaped by simple, imaginative, and functional customized structures. The reorganization of the floor plan of the living spaces of the apartment, through the demolition of selected walls, aimed at softening the boundaries between different uses. The new solution achieved the unification of spaces, visually and functionally, creating a common experience through the sequence of movements. At the same time, the uniform diffusion of natural light, contributes to the unification of spaces, allowing to increase the brightness in the apartment.

The choice of materials follows and consolidates the design idea. The choice of a wooden oak floor throughout the apartment, except for the bathrooms, in combination with the monochromatic walls, provides an excellent background for the handmade wooden structures in the kitchen and bedroom closets. The thematic curtain in the kitchen, the handmade knitted lamps from natural materials and the panoramic wallpaper in the dining room, enhance the composition.

The architectural gestures contribute to the creation of a new habitation experience, in a bright, natural, handmade, familiar environment with references from the habitat and landscape of the Cycladic islands.

INSiDE Architects

Ioanna Roufopoulou

The post Apartment renovation in South Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

EKEP was founded in 2018 as a transmitter of high-quality cultural commodities on the field of books and visual arts.

Located in Athens opposite the Kallimarmaro Stadium in a 1960’s high-end apartment, EKEPs space should reflect its high-quality background while at the same time propel an equal dialogue with the unique vintage qualities of the existing space.

Programmatically apart of the required offices, the new space should mainly house the 20.000+ books of EKEPs special book collection and create old paintings archive, preservation & restoration lab, a reading/studying room, a meeting/dining room, and a display corner for its limited book editions.

Minimal, full height libraries with continuous linear shelves running from on room to the other offer the illusion of a large, unified space while creating a warm atmosphere through its layout and materiality.

High quality craftsmanship and passion was a key role to this project as the contradiction of the contemporary design with the top-quality vintage architectural details was a real challenge. All the new furniture were designed from scratch in high construction detail to meet in balance with the existing vintage furniture of the foundation.

Athens Creative

The post EKEP was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The gradual ascent through the main staircase leads the visitor to the main open space facing the Amvrakikos gulf. The alignment and unification of the interior and exterior surfaces “opens up” the house to the unrestricted view towards the sea and the city of Amfilochia in the northwest.

The unobstructed and continuous connection with the horizon was the main principle towards the design and placement of the openings in the shell of the building. At the same time, the use of rectangular glass frames creates a transparency that aims to unify rather than separate.

The external space develops linearly as an extension of the internal space and the landscape develops linearly as an extension of the external space. The creation of spatial depth redefines the concept of interior – exterior, thus providing the feeling of being in a floating boat, constantly in motion.

The fragmentation of the clarity of the spatial boundaries and the integration of the movement of the elements of nature, frees the built space from the fragmentary perception of static points (corners, landscape, view) while the daily family activity is integrated and unfolds in a parallel way along with the alternations of the natural landscape.

This perpetual alternation of landscape, colors, light, shadows, shapes, led to the design attempt of integrating the space in the environment and not following a design approach towards a strict creation of visual frames, following a clear separation of private – public space.

The landscape is not approached as an exhibit in the eyes of visitors but the built space itself acts as a complement and is modestly exposed to this constant and alternating movement of the sea and the sky.

In this spirit, the main materials used were wood (oak), glass, metal, following a strict logic incorporating the concepts light – shadow (black – white).

Eliza Papadopoulou, Georgios Pontikas

The post Loft Design in Amfilochia was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The housing block built in the 70’s on Joan Margall Street in Madrid, replicated the distribution paradigm of the time, managing to fit two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a living room and a kitchen in 40m2. The independent rooms strictly complied with the necessary functional minimums, reducing each one’ s potential size

The proposed transformation is radically opposed to this principle, dismantling the divisions between spaces and dissolving the limits of the uses associated with each of them. A central core integrates all the facilities of the house, being the toilet the only element that can be isolated. The rest of materials, uses and rooms merge and contaminate each other, so that the tenants sleep in the bathroom as well as they shower in the living room. A piece of white tiling symbolically marks the wet uses that are present throughout the house, completely coating the central piece and the floors near it.

BURR

The post JM55 was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The 130m² apartment is located in Papagou, a suburb of Athens. The apartment features large floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides of the living room, creating a space where natural light is predominant. The main brief requirement was to create an open, integrated space that could accommodate social gatherings.

For this reason, the existing partition walls separating the kitchen from the living room were demolished, creating an open floor plan for the living room and the kitchen. New white cabinets and a lapitec countertop were installed in the kitchen, emphasizing daylight and its interior reflections on white lacquer. The entire floor was dressed in American hard maple hardwood. All millwork details, including closets, cabinets, and small furniture were designed by the architect.

For furnishing, the open space and the white color were used as a background for a two-seat sofa and classic paintings from the owner’s collection, combined with contemporary design furniture.

Minas Konstantinou Architecture

The post White Box Apartment was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

In downtown Athens in the Exarchia district, Arcore engineers designed and carried out the refurbishment of an 75m² apartment.  The flat lies on the second floor of an early 70ies apartment block.

The initial layout was totally reorganized to suit the needs of a young couple and meet their aesthetic criteria. The original floor plan consisted of an entrance hall, a closed off kitchen, a living room, two bedrooms and a bath.  In accordance with the proposal, the new layout includes an open space kitchen -living room, one bedroom and a bigger bathroom. The living room is separated from the bedroom with the use of steel frame & glass sliding doors, which, when left open can add up to the open space of the living room. Moreover, through the glass doors, natural light can flow through and give a uniform level of light in the living spaces. The final proposal was based on the initial concept, which was the creation of an open living space, where there are no limits depending on the use of each space. The wooden floor is preserved and is combined with grey and wooden elements. Bicolored walls are proposed as an abstract reference to the aesthetics of the 70’s. Colour is also chosen for the bathroom. As for the furniture and the frames of shutters, natural materials and simple lines have been selected.

Arcore Engineers

Manolis Symeonidis

The post Apartment Renovation in Exarchia was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The project, as a response to the challenges of residing in an apartment in Madrid, is a comprehensive reform required by the client’s lifestyle. The reform is defined by a single central geometric wooden volume strategically located, creating a division between the day and night areas. The project creates wide spaces that communicate with each other in a fluid movement, free of obstacles. The kitchen, living room and office are distributed along the perimeter of the central volume, and these spaces can be separated or connected to each other as desired through glass doors. The result is a continuous space uninterrupted and bathed in natural light.

FH2L Arquitectos

The post The Box was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

INSiDE Architects have recently renovated an existing residence in Nea Erythrea, giving contemporary use and style.

The architectural organization is maintained and improved with small -scale interventions. The apartment is given a new layout inspired by the new owner’s living requirements. The interventions were made with the basic principle of unifying the spaces and simplifying the movement, with the light flowing unhindered.

The intense presence of linearity, which is attributed two-dimensionaly in selected textile surfaces and three-dimensionaly in custom-made fittings from natural wood, provides a continuous geometry in the space on a background of white and grey, complementary to the overall style of home.

The open space: entrance – living room – dining room – kitchen, is indirectly divided by wooden fittings, combined with hidden lighting. The aim was to redesign, simplify and integrate the individual spaces, greatly improving the functionality and aesthetics of the apartment. In this “open plan” design, the decorative details acquire the significance assigned to them as touches of interest in the geometric background that they receive.

INSiDE Architects

Michail Damaskos

The post Apartment renovation in North Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The apartment was created for two people and their beloved dog, and this friendly triangle schematically dictated the design concept, and the individual elements of each space in particular. The entrance to the residence leads to a small hall illuminated by glass partition panels to its left, behind which lies the unified space containing the sitting and dining areas, as well as the kitchen. The master bedroom with the en-suite bathroom is situated behind another glass partition. The harmony and balance of the triangular shape are mirrored in every corner of the apartment, from the door leaves and cabinets to the very ceiling. As in tailor-cut garments, the designers created several folds like “turndown collars” on the kitchen cabinet door leaves that are used as handles, reflecting the owners’ preference for everything handmade.

Their homogeneous silver surface turns a corner and extends to the master bedroom wardrobe, where the folds are used in the same way. The master bedroom’s glass partition which recesses towards the corner, includes a small triangular opening on the bottom of the glass door, so the house owner’s loyal friend can run in and out freely. The also triangular false ceiling cleverly softens the visual tension brought by beams and pillars, while directing the eye to the large window and the unobstructed view. Finally, the grey shade on the walls combined with the wooden floor allow the harmonization of the colorful decorative elements with the furniture’s varied materials, creating a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Ganna design

The post Triangle house was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The project consisted of the remodel of an apartment located in a modern residential building inside the Diagonal Mar Park, a few meters from the beach. The owners wanted to convert their two-bedroom apartment into a comfortable and functional one bedroom home while having the main areas connected and open to the terrace through a spectacular window with views to the park and the sea. The architects proposed a completely new layout, prioritizing the communal space formed by the kitchen and the living room, aligned with the master bedroom along one large window. The apartment achieves maximum storage due to the large floor-to-ceiling cabinetry along the perimeter and in substitution of the partition walls.

The oak wood cabinets alternate with white lacquer wall cladding, that allow for a flush installation of the swinging doors and hide the sliding doors. The white lacquered cladding starts at the entrance and connects with the kitchen, separated by a pivoting door. The kitchen extends to the living room and the terrace, separated by a central element that hides a structural column and frames the sea view at the rear. The living room is aligned with the master bedroom along a large window consisting of several windows cladded with a perimeter graphite frame.

YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona

The post Llull apartment was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.