Opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, a hotel in central Athens uses vertical façade elements, framed balconies, marble, oak and integrated greenery to establish a contemporary dialogue with the city’s classical context.

 

Anthology of Athens by Elastic Architects is located in the historic centre of Athens, in direct visual dialogue with the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. The design draws on the city’s classical references without reproducing them literally, translating proportion, verticality, materiality and views into a contemporary architectural language.

The concept also takes inspiration from the myth of Deucalion, in which stones thrown upon the earth become human beings. This relationship between matter and transformation becomes a recurring theme throughout the building, from the rhythm of the façade to the tactile treatment of the interiors.

 

A façade structured by proportion

The main elevation is organized through new balconies and a system of vertical elements that give the façade its principal rhythm.

Their spacing follows proportional relationships based on the golden section, establishing a clear grid across the elevation. These elements perform both functional and compositional roles, framing the balconies while controlling the visual relationship between the guestrooms and the surrounding city.

Rather than directly imitating classical columns, the vertical members abstract their linearity and rhythm. The reference to the nearby Temple of Olympian Zeus therefore operates through proportion and repetition rather than ornament.

 

Framing the Athenian landscape

The façade functions as a series of filters between interior space and the urban landscape.

The projecting balconies create depth and shade, while their vertical frames structure views towards the archaeological monuments and the wider city. From the upper levels, these openings become architectural devices for observing rather than simply overlooking Athens.

Light and shadow continuously alter the perception of the elevation. The vertical elements cast changing patterns across the balconies, reinforcing the depth of the façade and giving the building a different appearance throughout the day.

The architecture is therefore shaped not only by its physical form, but also by the changing relationship between material, daylight and view.

 

Classical references through abstraction

The project interprets its historical surroundings through contemporary geometry.

The rhythm of ancient colonnades is translated into slender vertical forms, while the orthogonal organization of the façade provides a controlled framework for the different openings and balconies.

This grid also influences the organization of the interiors, extending the logic of the exterior into the spatial structure of the hotel. The reference remains abstract: the design does not reproduce classical motifs, but reworks principles of proportion, repetition and structural rhythm.

 

A more expressive interior

Inside, the architectural language becomes more tactile and expressive.

Marble, oak, glass and textured plaster create a layered material environment, while integrated planting introduces a contrasting natural element. The interplay between mineral, timber and planted surfaces gives the communal spaces greater depth without departing from the restrained palette established by the architecture.

The use of natural materials connects different areas of the hotel while allowing changes in texture to distinguish individual spaces.

Curved elements appear alongside the more orthogonal geometry of the building, introducing a softer counterpoint within circulation areas and shared interiors.

 

Marble, oak and textured surfaces

Materiality becomes particularly important in the guestrooms and communal areas.

Marble provides the principal mineral surface, while oak introduces warmth and a finer texture. Glass with decorative treatment and fluted plaster add further variation, creating different responses to natural and artificial light.

The colour palette remains controlled, with off-white, beige and earth tones extending across both interior and exterior surfaces. These restrained colours reinforce continuity between materials and allow the architectural elements, vegetation and views to remain visually prominent.

 

Architecture as a filter of views

Anthology of Athens uses its position within the historic centre as a central component of the design.

The façade mediates between the intimacy of the guestrooms and the monumental scale of the surrounding city, while the interiors develop the same concept through changes in material, texture and light.

Elastic Architects translate classical references into proportion and rhythm rather than direct quotation. Vertical elements, framed balconies, marble surfaces and greenery establish a contemporary architectural identity whose relationship with Athens is defined primarily through what it frames, filters and reveals.

 

The project was first published in print in ek302 | November 2025.

The historic Electra Hotel on Ermou Street is comprehensively redesigned around the concept of urban rhythm, introducing four new room typologies, publicly accessible social spaces and a reworked ground-level façade connected directly with the pedestrian life of central Athens.

 

Electra Rhythm Athens by Mutiny Architects is the new incarnation of the historic Electra Hotel Athens at 5 Ermou Street. The project uses the notion of rhythm as the organizing concept for the architectural and interior design, translating the pace, repetition and movement of the city into spatial sequences, material choices and architectural details.

The redesign addresses the hotel as a whole, from guestrooms and shared interiors to the entrance and lower section of the façade. A central objective was to create new room typologies for contemporary travellers while opening parts of the building to the wider public through spaces for coffee, work, exercise and dining.

 

 

Four room typologies

The hotel contains 101 guestrooms, completely redesigned according to four principal types: Nest, Slow, Cozy and Active.

Each typology, together with its variations and suites, responds to different room sizes, patterns of use and requirements of individual guests. Despite these differences, a common architectural vocabulary gives the accommodation a coherent identity.

Timber and marbles associated with the Athenian urban landscape form the principal material palette. Curved forms appear in ceilings, lighting elements and selected architectural details, while repetition provides the most direct spatial expression of the overall concept.

Vertical members, horizontal planes and recurring architectural elements introduce rhythm at different scales within each room.

 

Opening the hotel to the city

Three principal spaces extend the programme beyond conventional hotel functions and are also accessible to the public.

Rebels Brew operates as a curated coffee shop and bar directly facing the Ermou pedestrian street. Collaborative Studios provide spaces for professional meetings and flexible work, while Focal, on the highest accessible level, functions as both the hotel restaurant and an independent bar-restaurant.

This mixture of hospitality and public uses establishes a more porous relationship between the hotel and the surrounding city.

The shared areas are not treated as isolated amenities for hotel guests, but as spaces that participate in the everyday activity of central Athens.

 

 

Reinterpreting the Athenian arcade

At ground level, reception, lounges, a library, kitchen facilities and Rebels Brew are organized in direct relationship with the principal circulation areas.

The redesign of the entrance draws on the Athenian arcade, a characteristic element of the city’s modern urban fabric. Rather than creating a sharply defined threshold, the entrance supports a more fluid transition from the Ermou pedestrian street into the hotel.

The concept of rhythm therefore extends beyond decorative repetition. It becomes part of the movement through the building, connecting the pace of the street with the organization of the internal spaces.

 

Work, exercise and hospitality

The first floor accommodates the Collaborative Studios together with the Electro Studio Gym.

Both programmes introduce uses that move beyond the traditional division between guestrooms and hotel amenities. The workspaces respond to hybrid modes of professional activity, while the gym adds another outward-facing programme within the building.

Guestrooms occupy the second through ninth floors. On the tenth floor, Focal forms the uppermost public destination of the hotel, with three terraces, two of them offering unobstructed views towards the Acropolis.

The programme consequently develops vertically from the most urban and publicly accessible functions at street level towards accommodation and, finally, the rooftop restaurant.

 

 

A new base for the existing façade

The main part of the existing façade, including the openings of the guestrooms facing Ermou Street, was retained.

The lower part, however, was completely redesigned to reinforce its relationship with the pedestrian street. A new olive-green zone extends across the ground and mezzanine levels, visually establishing a base for the composition.

Arches articulate this lower section, while an illuminated entrance canopy projects towards the street. Its geometry deliberately contrasts with the linear direction of the pedestrian route, marking the entrance while introducing a more dynamic element into the existing elevation.

The intervention therefore concentrates the most visible external transformation at the level where the hotel meets the city.

 

Rhythm as an architectural system

Across the guestrooms, shared spaces and façade, rhythm is interpreted through repetition, sequences, curved forms and movement.

Rather than applying the concept as a graphic theme, Mutiny Architects use it to connect different scales of the project: the vertical elements within the rooms, the circulation through communal areas, the reinterpretation of the arcade and the new architectural base facing Ermou Street.

Electra Rhythm Athens consequently transforms an established city hotel while retaining much of its existing urban presence. The new interventions focus on the relationship between hospitality and public life, extending the internal programme towards the rhythms of contemporary Athens.

 

The project was first published in print in ek302 | November 2025, in the CITY section.

A listed 19th-century residence in Vaporia, Syros, is converted into a five-star hotel through the restoration of its stone fabric, painted ceilings and marble surfaces, while former cisterns are repurposed as wellness spaces.

Argini Hotel Syros, with interior design by Costas Gagos Architecture & Design and Tree Company, occupies a listed neoclassical residence in the Vaporia district of Ermoupolis. Originally built in the 19th century as the home of Grigoris Paikos, a member of the Filiki Eteria, the building was restored and adapted into a five-star hotel while retaining significant elements of its historic fabric.

The programme comprises seven rooms and four suites, together with a restaurant, a bar overlooking the Aegean and a wellness area with a hammam, jacuzzi and indoor swimming pool. The intervention is structured around the relationship between the existing masonry, restored decorative elements and new hospitality functions.

 

Preserving the existing stone structure

The original masonry remains one of the defining elements of the hotel.

Stone walls, in some areas reaching 1.20m in thickness, are retained and left visible, allowing the construction and scale of the former residence to remain legible. Natural stone is combined with marble throughout the communal spaces, circulation areas and guestrooms.

Rather than covering the historic structure with a uniform contemporary layer, the intervention preserves differences in texture, material and ornament. New elements are inserted within this framework while maintaining the presence of the original building.

 

Marble throughout the interior

Marble provides a recurring material connection between different parts of the hotel.

Geometric marble floors in the common areas refer to the original character of the residence while introducing a more contemporary composition. The approach continues through corridors and shared rooms, establishing a consistent material language.

Different varieties are used in the guest bathrooms, including white Dionysos marble, green Tinos marble and dark Grigio Carnico. Variations in colour and veining distinguish the individual spaces while retaining continuity across the project.

 

Restoring the painted ceilings

The restoration of the painted ceilings in the guestrooms and suites was among the most demanding parts of the renovation.

The surviving ceiling and wall paintings, produced by Italian and local artists, include folkloric references, figures associated with the Greek Revolution and Renaissance motifs. Their conservation allows these decorative layers to remain central to the identity of the rooms.

Contemporary furniture and lighting remain comparatively restrained around them, allowing the original proportions, high ceilings and painted surfaces to retain visual prominence.

The contrast between restored decoration and simpler contemporary interventions avoids the literal reconstruction of a historical interior.

 

Shared spaces and the internal courtyard

The communal programme unfolds through a sequence of interiors where historic architectural elements coexist with new uses.

Exposed stone, timber floors, marble surfaces and existing openings remain visible, while contemporary furniture and lighting support the hotel programme without obscuring the original fabric.

The internal courtyard extends the communal areas outdoors. Its exposed masonry façades frame a protected exterior space and reinforce the continuity between the different parts of the historic building.

 

Wellness spaces inside the former cisterns

The building’s old cisterns acquire a new function as wellness and relaxation areas.

Their vaulted geometry accommodates the hammam and the heated indoor swimming pool with jacuzzi. Stone and marble surfaces are combined with indirect lighting, emphasizing the enclosed character and curvature of the existing volumes.

The intervention therefore makes use of the spatial qualities of these former service areas rather than erasing their previous character. Their mass, materiality and vaulted construction remain visible within the new programme.

 

Adaptive reuse of a historic residence

Argini Hotel Syros is defined by the coexistence of preserved architectural elements and contemporary hospitality functions.

Stone masonry, painted ceilings and geometric marble floors retain the connection with the building’s history, while guestrooms, restaurant, bar and wellness areas accommodate its new use.

The project approaches restoration as a process of selective preservation and adaptation. Historic materials, ornament and spatial proportions remain visible, while contemporary additions are integrated without attempting to imitate the original architecture.

 

The project was first published in print in ek292 | November 2024, in the CITY section.

At Somanou, in Koufonissia, two single-level vacation homes by GFRA Architecture unfold across a landscape with uninterrupted views of the Aegean and a nearby traditional Cycladic settlement. The principal design strategy was to organize the programme in close contact with the landscape without altering the natural topography of the site. Instead of concentrating the functions within large continuous forms, the complex is broken down into smaller volumes. Protected courtyards and semi-outdoor spaces emerge between them, bringing the scale and intimacy of a Cycladic neighbourhood into a contemporary residential setting.

 

 

A small settlement within the landscape

Access is provided from the eastern side of the property, where a shared parking area serves both residences. From there, two separate paths lead to the houses, reinforcing their functional independence from the outset.

Each residence is entered through a low, discreet volume that acts as a distribution corridor between the principal and auxiliary spaces. The open-plan living, dining and kitchen area occupies the main façade and projects slightly beyond the other volumes, establishing its central role within the composition.

The primary bedrooms are also positioned towards the front, taking advantage of the views across the Aegean. Between the principal volumes, a private courtyard is created for each residence, forming a protected centre of calm and privacy.

Additional bedrooms are placed towards the rear, where their more secluded position is reinforced by independent access to small sheltered courtyards. The spatial organization therefore alternates between open views and protected outdoor rooms rather than treating the landscape as a single uninterrupted panorama.

Courtyards between the volumes

The fragmentation of the complex allows the spaces between the buildings to become as important as the interiors themselves. Courtyards, pathways and shaded thresholds regulate movement through the project, while the transition between shared and private areas takes place gradually.

The arrangement draws on the spatial logic of Cycladic settlements without directly reproducing their forms. The experience is based on a sequence of separate volumes, narrow passages and protected places where the architecture offers shelter from the sun and wind.

 

 

Shared and private outdoor life

The principal outdoor areas are positioned along the front of the residences, facing the sea. Each house is provided with a pool, a hydrotherapy area and generous outdoor sitting spaces.

At the same time, a shared area with an outdoor dining table and bbq creates a place for gathering between the otherwise independent residences. The project balances these communal uses with a series of more secluded courtyards and sitting areas associated with individual rooms.

Outdoor life is therefore organized through different degrees of privacy. Open areas directed towards the Aegean coexist with enclosed courtyards, shaded patios and protected spaces between the volumes.

Materials rooted in the Cyclades

The landscape design follows the same principle of restrained integration. Mediterranean species are introduced through limited interventions that enrich the existing vegetation, while local rocks are retained as active elements of the composition.

The façades are finished in light earthy tones drawn from the natural palette of the Cyclades. Wood, stone, marble and cane establish a tactile material language that links the new architecture with the island landscape.

Rather than relying on the conventional white image of Cycladic architecture, the project uses colour, texture and natural materials to establish a quieter relationship with the terrain. Stone walls and planted areas extend the buildings into the site, while cane pergolas filter the strong sunlight and create changing patterns of shadow.

At Somanou, the two vacation homes and the converted structure form a small architectural ensemble in which buildings and outdoor spaces are closely interwoven. Through the fragmentation of the programme, the creation of protected courtyards and the restrained use of natural materials, the project interprets the scale of a Cycladic settlement while maintaining the independence of each residence.

 

Originally published in Maison de Campagne 2025, an annual edition by ek Architectural Publications.

Somanou by GFRA Architecture is featured on the cover.

Historical contrast

Perched on the hillside above Vourni Beach, the hotel is an architectural intervention that harmonizes with its surroundings, appearing to emerge organically from the earth. The design fosters a continuous dialogue with the landscape, respecting and enhancing the island’s unique beauty while seamlessly blending the built and natural environments.

 

Context Integration

The design pays homage to the island’s unique beauty, fostering a seamless connection between the built environment and the natural terrain. During the project’s excavations, archaeologists unearthed the remains of a classical-era tower, constructed around the same time as the Parthenon. Further up the slope, remnants of a late Byzantine cellar and scattered Ottoman-era structures were also discovered. These findings reveal a rich historical tapestry, with thousands of years of human presence etched into the very rocks of the hillside.

 

Morphology & Layout

Today, Odera leaves its mark on this historic landscape. The building’s form embodies a fusion of the harmony of ancient Greek classicism and the strength of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture. The simplicity of the volumes, inspired by Cycladic tradition, coupled with the use of local materials and forms, ensures that the resort blends seamlessly into both its natural and built surroundings.

The complex draws inspiration from the traditional layout of Cycladic villages, known for their dense clusters of residences and narrow alleys that often lead to breathtaking openings toward the rocky terrain and the vast expanse of the sea. Odera’s design echoes this layout, with winding pathways and hidden passages that reveal unexpected vistas and tranquil spaces. A series of arches form a side corridor that extends from the reception area, creating a sense of mystical depth. This architectural gesture draws on Byzantine influences and evokes the transcendent atmosphere characteristic of Orthodox church design.

 

Materials & Natural Light

Streams of light filter through the windows, illuminating the interiors and creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The design, featuring white stone, wood, and native vegetation, captures the very essence of Tinos. The sculpted volumes of the rooms evoke the organic charm of traditional settlements, seamlessly merging with the surrounding natural landscape. Meanwhile, the infinity pools -reminiscent of small lakes formed by sudden rainfall- blend harmoniously with the boundless Aegean horizon in the distance.

Opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch, a hotel in central Athens uses vertical façade elements, framed balconies, marble, oak and integrated greenery to establish a contemporary dialogue with the city’s classical context.

 

Anthology of Athens by Elastic Architects is located in the historic centre of Athens, in direct visual dialogue with the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. The design draws on the city’s classical references without reproducing them literally, translating proportion, verticality, materiality and views into a contemporary architectural language.

The concept also takes inspiration from the myth of Deucalion, in which stones thrown upon the earth become human beings. This relationship between matter and transformation becomes a recurring theme throughout the building, from the rhythm of the façade to the tactile treatment of the interiors.

 

A façade structured by proportion

The main elevation is organized through new balconies and a system of vertical elements that give the façade its principal rhythm.

Their spacing follows proportional relationships based on the golden section, establishing a clear grid across the elevation. These elements perform both functional and compositional roles, framing the balconies while controlling the visual relationship between the guestrooms and the surrounding city.

Rather than directly imitating classical columns, the vertical members abstract their linearity and rhythm. The reference to the nearby Temple of Olympian Zeus therefore operates through proportion and repetition rather than ornament.

 

Framing the Athenian landscape

The façade functions as a series of filters between interior space and the urban landscape.

The projecting balconies create depth and shade, while their vertical frames structure views towards the archaeological monuments and the wider city. From the upper levels, these openings become architectural devices for observing rather than simply overlooking Athens.

Light and shadow continuously alter the perception of the elevation. The vertical elements cast changing patterns across the balconies, reinforcing the depth of the façade and giving the building a different appearance throughout the day.

The architecture is therefore shaped not only by its physical form, but also by the changing relationship between material, daylight and view.

 

Classical references through abstraction

The project interprets its historical surroundings through contemporary geometry.

The rhythm of ancient colonnades is translated into slender vertical forms, while the orthogonal organization of the façade provides a controlled framework for the different openings and balconies.

This grid also influences the organization of the interiors, extending the logic of the exterior into the spatial structure of the hotel. The reference remains abstract: the design does not reproduce classical motifs, but reworks principles of proportion, repetition and structural rhythm.

 

A more expressive interior

Inside, the architectural language becomes more tactile and expressive.

Marble, oak, glass and textured plaster create a layered material environment, while integrated planting introduces a contrasting natural element. The interplay between mineral, timber and planted surfaces gives the communal spaces greater depth without departing from the restrained palette established by the architecture.

The use of natural materials connects different areas of the hotel while allowing changes in texture to distinguish individual spaces.

Curved elements appear alongside the more orthogonal geometry of the building, introducing a softer counterpoint within circulation areas and shared interiors.

 

Marble, oak and textured surfaces

Materiality becomes particularly important in the guestrooms and communal areas.

Marble provides the principal mineral surface, while oak introduces warmth and a finer texture. Glass with decorative treatment and fluted plaster add further variation, creating different responses to natural and artificial light.

The colour palette remains controlled, with off-white, beige and earth tones extending across both interior and exterior surfaces. These restrained colours reinforce continuity between materials and allow the architectural elements, vegetation and views to remain visually prominent.

 

Architecture as a filter of views

Anthology of Athens uses its position within the historic centre as a central component of the design.

The façade mediates between the intimacy of the guestrooms and the monumental scale of the surrounding city, while the interiors develop the same concept through changes in material, texture and light.

Elastic Architects translate classical references into proportion and rhythm rather than direct quotation. Vertical elements, framed balconies, marble surfaces and greenery establish a contemporary architectural identity whose relationship with Athens is defined primarily through what it frames, filters and reveals.

 

The project was first published in print in ek302 | November 2025.