Luminous Minimal Apartment Refurbishment

Press Kit

Unique Properties

This 150m2 apartment occupies the third floor and a roof of a building in an Athenian southern suburb. Limited budget refurbishment transformed the existing reality into the bespoke, oneiric domestic realm. Basic aim during the process was to enhance and reveal the main potential of the given condition - natural light flooded space. That was achieved by increasing the size of window openings in all three bathrooms, while creating a visual contact with the outdoor greenery. Slight alteration of already defined spaces was imposed to avoid excessive demolition of divisions.

Dimensions & Packaging

Two levels of the 150m2 habitat are connected by the transformed existing staircase. The space itself is visually enlarged by increasing window openings in all three bathrooms along with unifying outdoor and indoor floor surfaces by covering them in custom-made cement mortar. Newly installed windows in eight positions are double glazed and energy efficient. All electrical and plumbing facilities were replaced. The heat pump system with radiators of high technical and aesthetic values was introduced for heating, therefore improving environmental qualities of the refurbished apartment.

Tags

natural light, luminous, minimal, refurbishment, greenery, larch wood, cement mortar

Production Technology

Environmental benefit was accomplished by improving the existing 150m2 space rather than moving to a new one. Built-in equipment in larch wood and lacquered MDF was designed particularly for this space and produced in collaboration with a local carpenter, contributing thereby to the local economy. Terrazzo that covers multi-purpose unit in communal space was realised in a workshop and brought to the site. Cement mortar covered existing stone and ceramic tiles floors therefore uniting the outdoor and indoor area. Criteria referring materiality decision was to find the best canvas that allows for natural light effects.

Design Challenge

Beside challenge regarding pandemic situation that resulted in delays and lack of reliable labour force, an additional one was how to transform the existing 150m2 of unremarkable space into a high quality, custom-made, oneiric domestic realm, with minimum intervention and restricted means. Close collaboration between the Client, Architect and Contractor generated the desired result.

Project Duration

Project started in May 2021 in Athens and finished in November 2021 in Athens, Greece

Operation Flow

Entrance level of the apartment is developed in two sub-levels: one that relates to the back and front yard terraces with its newly created bamboo gardens, while erasing the boundaries between public/private and elevated platform as a part of the communal space with fireplace/library area. Transformed wooden staircase leads to the second level activities that include indoor (study/ bedroom/ bathroom) and outdoor space between sloped, landscape-like greenery custom-made pots with a view to the Argo-Saronic Islands.

Research

Thorough spatial and materiality research was done so as to choose the most appropriate finishes that would highlight the beauty of natural light, while keeping interventions to the minimum. Hence, neutral canvas was implemented by applying natural materials like varnished larch wood, custom-made cement mortar, terrazzo, and pebbled cement in basic colour pallet, simultaneously mostly maintaining borders of already defined spaces.

Inspiration

Inspiration was drawn from the main potential of the existing space given condition - natural light, thanks to the four-sided orientation. The very orientation of the apartment was the starting point that led to the decision to enhance and reveal natural illumination effects, by increasing the size of window openings and applying simple, natural materials in calm colour pallet, which in turn let natural light effects to alter the habitat during the entire day.

Image Credits

Image#1: Photographer Athina Souli, View towards communal space, 2021.
Image#2: Photographer Athina Souli, View towards fireplace area, 2021.
Image#3: Photographer Athina Souli, View towards two newly created parallel axes, 2021.
Image#4: Photographer Athina Souli, View towards five-meter-long multi-purpose unit and newly created study area, 2021.
Image#5: Photographer Athina Souli, View towards communal space from the master bathroom, 2021.
Video and montage: Athina Souli and Vangelis Michelidakis, 2021.

Colors of Luminous Minimal Apartment Refurbishment