A Residential Building of Curved Geometry in Athens

Located in the northern suburbs of Athens, Chiven by The Hive Architects is a residential building that balances architectural precision with the fluidity of form. Through clean geometries and curved surfaces that appear shaped by wind and light, the project develops as a dynamic composition of volumes, avoiding static expression and encouraging the continuous movement of the gaze.

The building, with a total area of 770 sq.m., is expected to be completed in 2028. Its architectural language is defined by strong horizontal lines and soft, curved envelopes that wrap around the interior spaces, shaping both the façade and the experience of inhabitation.

Horizontal Layers and Curved Envelopes

The main architectural gesture is expressed through successive horizontal layers and curved edges that soften the building’s volume. These curves are not treated as formal decoration, but as spatial devices: they guide movement, frame views and produce a changing play of light and shadow across the façades.

As the sun moves throughout the day, the building’s surfaces respond through reflections, shadows and shifts in depth. The result is a residential composition that changes gradually over time, giving the building a sense of movement despite its compact urban presence.

 

Interior and Exterior in Continuity

Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between interior and exterior space. Transparent railings reduce the sense of boundary, allowing light to penetrate deeper into the building and reinforcing the visual continuity between living areas, balconies and the surrounding environment.

Large balconies extend the apartments outward, offering generous outdoor living areas. The building is organized as a vertical sequence of private and semi-open spaces, where each level maintains its autonomy while contributing to the overall continuity of the composition.

Water, Light and Bioclimatic Character

Elevated pools and water elements operate as mirrors of the sky, enhancing a sense of lightness, calm and suspension. Water becomes a key compositional element, contributing to the atmosphere of the project and reinforcing its bioclimatic character.

The interplay between water, light and curved surfaces gives the building a softer presence. Instead of relying on mass and opacity, the project works through reflections, filtered light and the modulation of outdoor thresholds.

 

 

Earthy Materiality and Planted Terraces

The material palette remains discreet, based on earthy tones where textured surfaces meet smoother finishes. This controlled material language supports the building’s formal clarity, while giving depth and warmth to its curved geometry.

Attention to detail is expressed in the curved endings of the slabs, the continuity of the horizontal lines and the integration of planting. Greenery softens the geometry and introduces the idea of elevated gardens across the upper levels, bringing natural elements into the vertical development of the building.

A Roof Terrace as an Elevated Place of Retreat

The composition develops vertically through successive levels that ensure privacy while maintaining visual continuity. At the top, the building is crowned by a generous roof terrace, conceived as an elevated place for relaxation.

Openings filter the light and create focused visual escapes, transforming the roof into a protected outdoor space. In this way, the building extends the idea of residence beyond the apartment itself, proposing a layered experience of domestic life.

 

 

Contemporary Urban Living

Chiven reconsiders contemporary residential architecture through a balance of simplicity, technology and natural elements. The project does not seek to impose itself on its surroundings, but to enter into dialogue with them through form, light, water and planting.

The result is a residential proposal where architecture becomes both sensory and functional: a building shaped by movement, material restraint and the search for a more fluid way of living in the city.

Industrial Archaeology

The existing building is one of the rare examples of the Brutalist architectural movement in Greece. It was constructed in 1972 and represents one of the most significant works by the Tombazis office. It served as a flagship for the company specializing in industrial concrete production.

The revival of the historic building posed an ethical challenge in terms of the intervention limit on the existing structure. It is worth noting that over its 50 years of existence, the building had been covered in various hues and materials, with the most recent being an ochre shade, which obscured its original Brutalist texture. Therefore, the initial intervention focused on restoring the original (1972) composition of exposed concrete in all visible elements of the building (40,000 sqm).

 

Spatial Organization

The goal for the interior was not to eliminate intervention through a faithful reconstruction of its original form. The radical spatial rearrangements inside aimed to create a new space that was always there, in the building’s “subconscious” since 1972. This effort was primarily guided by the 1.20m x 1.20m grid, corresponding to the dimensions of the typical element of the barrel-vaulted roof. This grid became the basis for every architectural and electromechanical element of the building, designed upon the natural, three-dimensionally projected grid that defined the barrel-vaulted roof.

To highlight the geometry of the roof as the driving force behind the entire design, all mechanical or other equipment was removed. This contrasted with the initial state of the building, where the roof was covered with various false ceilings and other architectural and electromechanical elements. Thus, the previously “buried” barrel-vaulted roof serves as a significant archaeological finding that determines the new morphology of the building’s interior and guides the space “towards absolute architecture” (Jean Pierre Raynaud – Maison de La Celle-Saint-Cloud).

 

 

Material Palette

A fundamental intervention in the interior of the building is the implementation of a clear functional access axis on the horizontal plane, with continuous water surfaces. Additionally, a vertical axis is created by a series of self-supporting marble cantilevers integrated with the central staircase. Earthy materials and minimalist clean lines are applied to enhance the Brutalist elements of the building through contrast. Water elements are modernized, redesigned, and expanded within the building’s interior, while the central staircase is reoriented to relieve congestion and widen the circulation routes (horizontal and vertical) of the common areas. The mezzanine is removed, and a complete reconfiguration is executed in the entrance area, aiming to create a clean and iconic reception space. Auxiliary spaces are added, and an opening is made towards the surrounding area of the ground floor event hall to create a multifunctional contemporary space. Raised floors are implemented on all levels to accommodate all mechanical installations while leaving the barrel-vaulted slab untouched and visible. The courtyard is highlighted in the Administration area, and a limited, open-plan arrangement is employed in the closed office spaces with extensive use of glass, along with a functional open layout for the office areas. Finally, the basement is excavated with the aim of creating a wine cellar and tasting area.

 

 

Sustainability Strategy

Regarding the building envelope, all roof and terrace insulation is reconstructed, including waterproofing and thermal insulation. Thermal bridging points on all horizontal surfaces are addressed, minimizing them on vertical surfaces without causing any alteration to the facades. Additionally, all external openings are replaced with modern thermally broken aluminum frames and energy-efficient glazing. Solar shading systems are implemented to control sunlight, while water elements in the building’s exterior are modernized and expanded to provide natural cooling and improve the microclimate.

The architectural treatment of the facades is discreet, almost reverential, in terms of highlighting the character and overall philosophy of the building. One could argue that the choice of the same materials – concrete and glass, but in their present-day interpretation, almost 40 years later – better serves the core of the initial idea that governs the entire building, while simultaneously giving it a much more contemporary image.

 

Ecological sensitivity

The proposal is defined by its dialogue with the surrounding landscape. The project’s landscaping seeks to blur the boundaries between built form and nature, integrating architecture with its setting through carefully orchestrated layers of vegetation. The intention is not only to frame the house with greenery but also to create a sequence of immersive experiences that unfold as one moves through the site. This approach emphasizes fluidity, biodiversity, and continuity between indoors and outdoors, highlighting the essential role of nature in contemporary living.

 

Context Integration

The project exemplifies the potential of landscape architecture to shape the character and atmosphere of a residence. Rather than treating the garden as an accessory, the project makes it the central medium for architectural expression. Through biodiversity, ecological sensitivity, and spatial layering, the design anchors the house within its broader context, transforming it into a living environment where built form and nature exist in genuine symbiosis.

 

 

Functional Layout

The residence sits on a generous 3,125m² plot, with 1,400m² of built area strategically placed to respect and enhance the existing topography. The garden is organized into distinct yet interconnected zones, each offering unique atmospheres while maintaining a sense of unity. The design incorporates sweeping lawns, shaded seating areas, and densely planted perimeters that create privacy without closing off the house from its natural surroundings. Circulation is guided by a network of paths that establish visual and physical connections between the various garden spaces and the interiors.

The program balances social and private uses within a framework where the landscape is ever-present. Expansive openings in the architecture dissolve thresholds, ensuring constant dialogue between indoor living areas and outdoor terraces. The swimming pool and leisure deck are integrated with planted areas, generating a setting where recreation and contemplation coexist. Service areas are discretely accommodated, ensuring that functionality does not disrupt the immersive quality of the overall composition.

 

 

Material Palette

The material choices reinforce the integration between house and garden. Stone paving merges seamlessly with planted groundcovers, while timber decking introduces warmth and texture to social areas. The planting palette is diverse and layered: tall trees provide shade and scale; shrubs and grasses soften built edges; and climbing plants weave vertical connections, linking architecture to its green environment. Water elements further enrich the sensorial qualities of the garden, reflecting light and introducing sound into the landscape.

Landscape Design: Rodrigo Oliveira Paisagismo

 

Orthogonal grid

The project is comprised of four seaside villas, which redefine the relationship between people and the sea. The name Meerum is a combination of the word meerithic -the desire of being close to the sea- and the word velum -veil- a key conceptual element used in the complex’s architectural design.

 

Architectural volumes

An orthogonal grid organizes the building structure, which is flexibly assembled and disassembled according to the various functions, while at the same time being in constant dialogue with the water and the natural light. The four villas are distinguished as white, prismatic volumes that “break” an array of wooden pergolas made of horizontal and vertical elements that provide ample shading as well as regulate privacy and the views towards the sea.

 

Spatial organization

The villas feature an open layout that includes a living, dining room and kitchen, while three spacious en-suite bedrooms complete the floor plan. Externally, a bar situated at the center of the complex serves as the focal point of the design. Each villa also boasts a private pool and seating area, enhancing the outdoor living experience.

 

Landscape design

The exterior floor is clad with local white stone, intermittently interrupted by slits filled with water. Low and tall vegetation enhances the dry Mediterranean landscape, featuring drought-resistant plants that require minimal maintenance and contribute to the site’s natural aesthetic. Discreet, minimal furniture made from materials like wood and metal blend harmoniously into the design, offering functionality and comfort without visually overwhelming the space.