An 120 sq.m. penthouse was transformed into a contemporary and sustainable living space by SOUTH architecture studio. Design’s aim was to “to highlight the existing authentic elements, while modernising it”. To achieve that, the interior partition walls were removed, optimising the space and maximising the natural light.
The interior’s materiality is defined by three types of marble, Aliveri (grey), Tinos island (green) and Afyon (sugar with black veins) and the characteristic original oak parquet floor.
The project is located in Kypseli, an Athenian downtown district, which is characterised by dense, mid-century blocks of apartments. The 120 sq.m. Penthouse originally had the typical layout of an urban apartment with separate living room, dining room and kitchen, and small exterior windows towards the terrace. It posed original materials, such as oak parquet floor indoors and terrazzo floor outdoors.
The primary design concept was to highlight existing authentic elements, while modernizing it; by optimizing the space, maximizing the natural light and upgrading the penthouse into a fully equipped, contemporary and sustainable living space.
The new design unified common living areas, by removing interior partition walls. The design maximised the connection between indoor and outdoor space by opening up the façade, and positioning new, large openings. Moreover, a new partition wall was built to enclose all auxiliary spaces, such as the storage, the mechanical shaft and the new powder room. This new wall is curved at its end allowing the kitchen to open towards the living area.
Three types of marble, Aliveri (grey), Tinos island (green) from Greece and Afyon (sugar with black veins) from Turkey, are applied to highlight existing and new key elements of the interior space, such as the new fireplace, the existing free-standing columns, the new kitchen island and the new custom bathroom vanity sink. Niangon, a characteristic wood finish of the modern Athenian interiors is reintroduced into custom, minimal designed elements, such as the full-height library, the living and dining sideboards and the bedroom alcove desk. The existing parquet floor as well as the exterior terrazzo floor have been restored.
Credits & Details
Architecture & Object Design: SOUTH architecture
Construction Manager: G.Spiliotopoulos
Custom Millwork: Fredi Rocci
Custom Marblework: Xatzakis Greek Marble
Lighting: VK Leading Light
Textiles: Natural Greek Fabrics
Images: Alina Lefa
Date: 2023
READ ALSO: Sarlitza Palace - The Primitive Hut, Thermi, Lesvos | Competition entry by NoDāta Architecture