Lab Athens | ek magazine https://ek-mag.com/tag/lab-athens/ Architecture, Interior Design and Contemporary Design Projects Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:47:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://ek-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/cropped-ek_Logo-black-32x32.jpg Lab Athens | ek magazine https://ek-mag.com/tag/lab-athens/ 32 32 Residence 205 M2 in Paros https://ek-mag.com/residence-205-m2-in-paros/ Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:31:30 +0000 https://ek-mag.com/?p=169567 This article by Konstantinos was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

The residence is composed of three distinct volumes, which together define and enclose a series of protected outdoor spaces

The post Residence 205 M2 in Paros was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

]]> This article by Konstantinos was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Vanishing points

This architectural project involves the design of a single-story vacation home with a total area of 205 m², situated on a 5,000 m² plot in the Glyfa region of Paros.

 

Design Philosophy

The plot features minimal slopes and offers a southeast orientation with unobstructed views of the sea. The surrounding area remains lightly developed -by the island’s standards- allowing all visual perspectives from the house to be fully immersed in the island’s natural landscape. The residence consists of three separate built volumes, arranged to frame and protect corresponding outdoor spaces. This configuration allows the house to naturally extend outward during the summer months, enhancing the living experience.

 

Residence 205 M2 - Lab Athens, Diederik Van Rengen - ekmagazine

 

Spatial Organization

The main volume, positioned at the forefront, houses the core functions of the residence: kitchen, dining area, living room, the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, and a guest WC. Designed for year-round use, this volume serves as the heart of the home. The two additional volumes function as guest suites, each with bedrooms and private bathrooms, intended to host family members and guests primarily during the summer season.

A central conceptual axis runs longitudinally through the residence -from the western entrance façade to the existing cedar trees (fida) located on the eastern edge of the plot. Along this axis, a rhythmic alternation of solid (built) and void (open) elements shapes the user’s spatial experience. The deliberate placement of the volumes creates a sheltered central courtyard with sea views, into which all indoor areas open.

 

Residence 205 M2 - Lab Athens, Diederik Van Rengen - ekmagazine

 

Landscape Design

Outdoor built-in seating areas, pergolas, and carefully selected planting define the main social gathering space of the residence. Two additional outdoor courtyards -sheltered from wind and strong sunlight- offer more private alternatives for relaxation and socialization. One is located adjacent to the master bedroom with its own pergola, while the other forms a garden and entry courtyard on the western side of the home. Freestanding exterior walls are strategically used to articulate the transitions between built and unbuilt spaces, intentionally blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. This approach enhances the integration of the architectural volumes into the natural landscape.

 

Residence 205 M2 - Lab Athens, Diederik Van Rengen - ekmagazine

The post Residence 205 M2 in Paros was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

]]> New Architecture Office in Athens https://ek-mag.com/landscape-architecture-building/ Thu, 17 Mar 2022 13:23:55 +0000 https://ek-mag.eu/landscape-architecture-building/ This article by Giannis was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Landscape Architecture Building

The post New Architecture Office in Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

]]> This article by Giannis was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

The new creative space is housed in an office building constructed in the 50’s, located in the heart of the “historical-commercial triangle” of Athens. It was considered a unique challenge since this specific area embodies the main principles of the office design philosophy: History and aesthetics mixed with city buzz and fusion eclecticism translated into today’s social needs.

The architects had a very limited space to work with – so they decided to reconfigure the whole layout and start from scratch. This was the only way to accommodate a fully operational space in limited footage. The intention is to create a mixture of “indoors and outdoors effect” combined with a “home element” to make the space inviting for both users and visitors. New office spaces, especially after the pandemic experience, have shifted from “clean cut” impersonal environments to an interacting nature evolving home centered habitat.

Hence, plants were introduced not only for decoration, but also for mixing the indoor lines with the outdoor limits. This is expected to evolve in time as plants grow. The design production space is formulated as an “open market kiosk” creating an illusion of city buzz and creative ideas laboratory. It separates from the rest of the office with sliding glass doors where plants act as a natural visual curtain. The meeting space is perceived as a house dining area drenched in natural light and vintage furniture.

All openings were resized to bring as much “city imagery and light” as possible into the space. The approach is to introduce more character into office space with less universal aesthetics – eventually making it a “home”. The working atmosphere aims to achieve a combination of functionality and individuality which also form the main ingredients of the firm’s design principles. The intent is to project the office’s aesthetic identity and provide a creative environment for all project participants whether they are clients, visitors, friends or collaborators.

Lab Athens

Lab Athens

The post New Architecture Office in Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

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