Sensory design

The 100 m² residence occupies the sixth floor of a typical 1960s apartment building in central Athens, enjoying unobstructed views toward Mount Hymettus.

 

Renovation Strategy

Originally, the apartment consisted of a living–dining area, hall, enclosed kitchen, and two small bedrooms sharing a single bathroom. During the renovation, the internal partitions were removed to reposition the main living area at the front, allowing it to fully benefit from the eastern light of the building’s primary façade. The two bedrooms were reconfigured to include en-suite bathrooms, while the internal stair leading to the rooftop was relocated to the hall, providing direct and more functional access from the entrance.

 

 

Functional Organization

The interior is conceived as a composition of reflections and subtle transitions. The design aims both to expand the perceived scale of the space, creating visual depth, and to establish a dynamic environment shaped by the shifting qualities of natural light and the mirrored presence of the city. Large sections of the walls are clad in translucent mirrors to create a seamless visual connection between inside and outside, while colored or metallic glass surfaces further reinforce this spatial continuity.

To mark the transition into the private zones (the bedrooms) the rear part of the apartment adopts a calmer rhythm, with a softer palette and minimal, discreet furnishings, creating a space that absorbs the noise of the city and encourages a sense of retreat.

 

 

Material Palette

The original wooden flooring was replaced with wide, matte-finished oak planks, while the bedrooms were fitted with off-white carpeting. Dark-stained oak defines the cabinetry and built-in elements of the shared areas, complemented by matte and glossy beige lacquered surfaces in the more private rooms. Grey-brown marble and textiles in varied textures were chosen for the living room and kitchen, whereas beige and off-white marble and soft fabrics characterize the bedrooms and bathrooms. Smooth beige plaster covers all interior walls, bringing visual unity throughout the apartment. Ceramic, metallic accessories and colorful lighting fixtures serve as subtle accents that complete the overall atmosphere.

Through its sensory approach, engaging sight, touch, and sound, the redesign seeks to cultivate a more profound and enduring connection between the home and the ever-changing urban context in which it exists.

 

Industrial memory

In a quiet neighborhood of Pagrati, a 100m² ground-floor space is reimagined through thoughtful architectural intervention. With a rich history and diverse uses dating back to the 1970s -from a handmade fabric flower workshop, car repair garage, and photography studio to its current life as a boutique for clothing and jewelry- the space now embraces a new identity: contemporary, warm, and approachable.

 

Design Philosophy

The design bridges past and present by preserving and celebrating the materiality and layered history of the space. Rather than mimicking its former functions, it pays tribute to them. A two-tone treatment on the walls -beige at the base and a deep, warm burgundy above- softens the shell’s verticality and introduces a more human scale. This color palette also highlights the original mosaic flooring, which remains intact as a living memory within the space.

 

 

Materials & Custom Elements

Natural wood brings warmth and tactile richness, reinforcing a sense of friendliness and simplicity. Cement blocks, echoing an industrial aesthetic, are employed both structurally -such as in partition walls- and decoratively, forming tables and planters.

Custom-designed furnishings feature clean, minimal lines that allow the focus to remain on the products themselves. Jewelry display tables are inset with discreet vitrines that subtly frame each piece. Soft fabric curtains, used to conceal the old interior mezzanines, add a theatrical quality and enhance the visual clarity and continuity of the main space.

 

 

Spatial Layout

A key aspect of the redesign is the repositioning of the jewelry workshop. Once a hidden, utilitarian space, it is now an open, active feature within the store, inviting visitors to observe the creation process in real time -a direct link between craftsmanship and customer experience.

With an emphasis on detail and cohesion, the intervention avoids excess and honors the character of the original space. The renovation creates a quiet yet unmistakable transition -from past to present- transforming the venue into a contemporary landmark in the neighborhood.

 

Textural composition

Situated at the foot of Lycabettus Hill, between the neighborhoods of Exarchia and Kolonaki, the apartment is a typical example of 1970s Athenian architecture. The project involved the renovation of a 58m² flat to become the home of two young professionals working in the arts. Given their profession, love of art, and frequent travels, the residents have curated an eclectic collection of artworks, ceramics, and furniture. From the outset, it was clear that the apartment would need to accommodate a wide array of objects from around the world -elements that played a central role in the design process.

 

Design Philosophy

The goal was to compose a space infused with vivid color, varied textures, tactile materials, striking forms, and abundant natural light. The design aimed to reflect contemporary Greek architectural creativity while also embracing and thoughtfully incorporating elements of the country’s architectural heritage -many of which have only recently been rediscovered and appreciated. In alignment with the clients’ wishes, the design retained and restored key original features of the apartment, integrating them seamlessly into the new layout. These included brown marble floors, colorful mosaics, wooden parquet, and an original marble sink. Following the apartment’s layout reorganization, the amount of natural light entering the space was maximized, by removing interior longitudinal walls. This intervention allowed for the unification of the living room, dining area, kitchen, and hallway, resulting in an open, fluid, and interconnected plan. Crucial to organizing this open space was the design and placement of a series of custom-built elements that serve as focal points around which daily life unfolds.

 

 

Custom Structures

Upon entering the apartment, visitors encounter a striking white metal bookshelf that displays a selection of the residents’ favorite objects and artworks. This structure was placed where the old dividing wall once separated the hallway from the interior corridor. Merging this contemporary installation with the preserved brick wall became a defining moment for the spatial composition, both conceptually and technically.

During construction, a selected portion of the original wall was carefully preserved, and the new metal structure was built around it. Across from the entrance, a dedicated section of wall was intentionally left bare to host a painting -offering visitors an immediate artistic welcome into the space.

 

 

Material Palette & Lighting

Since cooking is an essential and cherished part of the residents’ daily routine, the kitchen was given particular emphasis, both functionally and spatially. At its center lies a custom-designed island clad in green tiles, placed between the kitchen and dining area. This element serves as the heart of the home and the focal point of daily activity. The island’s unique shape creates an inviting and efficient workspace, supporting a range of simultaneous activities, with the cooktop placed directly on its marble countertop. Around it, carefully crafted niches and handmade marble shelves provide storage and display for kitchen tools, cookbooks, ceramics, and personal items. Suspended above the island is a transparent white metal shelving structure, subtly defining the boundary between kitchen and dining space. Its open design creates an ever-changing interplay of light and shadow throughout the day.

The kitchen cabinets, made of light oak veneer, form a warm and textured backdrop to the cooking space. Their sculptural design wraps around a small window and a new transom installed to bring natural light into the previously dark bathroom located behind the kitchen. A second transom between the hallway and office brightens the entrance area and visually connects the front of the apartment to its full depth. Following these interventions, daylight now flows freely through the home -from the northeast-facing bedroom and office to the southwest-facing communal areas- enhancing the apartment’s sense of openness and continuity.

 

Multidimensional texture

A ground-floor restaurant in the historic center of Thessaloniki is repurposed into a short-term rental residence.

 

Design Philosophy

The primary goal was to maximize the space’s attractiveness and functionality to appeal to the widest possible range of potential users. The design features a versatile, open-plan layout, ideal for hosting parties and other events. The main focus was the design of the residence’s facade, with particular emphasis on maintaining privacy while ensuring the natural flow of light and air. This was achieved through the use of glass bricks and metal electric frames.

 

Interior Layout

In the bedroom area, sliding metal partitions with glass were employed to define the individual spaces, allowing natural light to penetrate while maintaining flexibility. These materials enable the creation of an adaptable environment that meets users’ needs without compromising brightness or connectivity. Additionally, the use of curtains allows for shading when desired and creates a sense of warmth and intimacy, giving users control over lighting and privacy.

 

Material Palette

The combination of different materials brought a strong personality and playful character to the space. Elements such as marble, unique textures, and metal details were blended with transparent materials like glass bricks, offering multi-dimensional textures and vibrant colors. The result is a dynamic and original space that provides visitors with a unique aesthetic experience and distinctive atmosphere.

Holistic feast

By blending Mediterranean flavors and modern Latin American cooking techniques, the restaurant’s philosophy follows a constant search for perfection, which, according to Aristotle, one can never reach.

 

Multiple Textures

The 98-seat restaurant is divided into three parts: the bar, the chef’s table, and the grand dining hall, each emanating its own unique energy. The design is clearly influenced by Mediterranean patterns, since it oscillates between white and black tones, shades of blue and characteristic warm, masonry terracotta accents. A “staged” background wall, inspired by the Mediterranean marble quarries, is made of multiple surfaces in various shades and textures of white and connects the different restaurant sections. Soft and rough finishes as well as glossy and matt textures reflect light in different ways, imbuing the wall with meaning and symbolism.

 

Custom Furniture

Elegant leather banquettes and round tables are placed within round vaults at the back wall, fostering for more intimate gatherings. Above the main dining room, glass lamps in the shape of water drops, made by glass designer Simon Klenell, provide warm lighting that mimics the warmth of the sun over the Aegean Sea.

Several furniture pieces are custom-made by the architects and are combined with famous design pieces that define the overall aesthetic. The reception furniture is crafted from olive wood, elegantly complemented by handmade ceramic tiles and pottery pieces designed by the artist Melina Xenakis. The bar is decorated with custom-designed light fixtures and a large-scale photograph of a Greek quarry by George Kordakis.

 

Material Composition

Various authentic high-quality materials were used including Greek and Italian marbles as well as clay and wood from different parts of the world, creating contrasts in texture across the space. The amalgamation of natural materials and striking forms culminates in a holistic celebration, endowing it with a distinct identity defined by the unique synthesis of seemingly disparate elements, worlds, and aesthetic motifs.

New hospitality experience

The project is a reconstruction of a historic hotel from the 1950s, located in the northern suburbs of Athens, and aims to create a new hospitality experience. Nestled in the lush green Kefalari Grove, the building is architecturally characterized by its geometric appearance and the austere style it exudes, which is set against its rich and colorful interior.

 

Renovation Approach

The redesign challenge began by removing several structural elements as well as the façade and strengthening the load-bearing structure. By eliminating structural elements, it opened up opportunities for design freedom, ultimately striving to create functional floor plans. The hotel’s orientation, its size as well as the vertical white blinds of the façade, contrast with the dark repetitive symmetrical balconies and create a vertical geometry that visually elevates the building’s volume.

The ground floor acts as an autonomous zone, suitable for hotel guests and external users alike, offering many entertainment and catering areas. Parallel to the street, an overhead canopy covers as well as marks the entrance. Upon entering the hotel, a careful combination of colors, elements, shapes, and original works of art, along with furniture from different eras and cultures, effectively communicates the eclectic personality of this building.

 

Material Palette

Using an abundance of fabrics and textures -with velvet being the predominant material, emanating a sense of nostalgia- the lobby is characterized by a bold color palette flooded with intense natural light that penetrates the ground floor’s perimeter. A large, central core on the ground floor, cladded in walnut wood and elegantly sculpted into a gentle curve, serves as the main orientation axis, directing visitors to the different spaces.

 

Interior Design and Organization

The interior design focuses on the “parallel” activities taking place in the hotel. All the ground floor spaces accommodate a plethora of uses and offer different experiences. The new restaurant, a semi-open-air Parisian bistro, and a special library housing some of the most important art publications are spaces used for business meetings or relaxation during the day. The design objective for each space is to create an atmosphere that triggers memories and unique experiences for the visitor.

A 1950s spiral staircase leads to the 28 rooms and suites on the upper floors. While ascending, a vertical glass window extends along the height of the rear elevation, offering a unique view of the natural area surroundings. The carefully lit corridors of the floors leave a sense of mystery, while the rooms are divided into five different typologies based on five distinct material palettes, colors, and tailor-made elements.

 

Custom Furniture

From the bed headboard to the open-concept wardrobe and bathroom amenities, all rooms feature custom-built wood furniture joined with brass metal fittings. On the roof, a wine & cocktail bar with a panoramic view becomes a destination for guests and external visitors, offering them a sense of being among the treetops. This flexible space works all year round, even during the winter, since a fully transparent enclosure enables its use without obstructing the view.