Iron Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2025
The Boomerang Athens House
- A' Design Award 2025 Iron Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Ecléde
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 11,809
- Verification code 36F9F46DB0 · Verify this award
About The Boomerang Athens House
The Boomerang Athens is a residence in Athens, Greece, spanning 425 square meters across four levels. The building is the renovation of an existing structure, upgraded for net-zero energy performance. High-performance insulation, triple-glazed thermally broken aluminium windows and underfloor heating reduce the energy demand. A KNX automation network controls heating, cooling, lighting and security. Photovoltaic-integrated pergolas and low-emission finishes support sustainability. A rooftop pool and large windows link the interior with outdoor areas.
VASSILIS SIAFARICAS's The Boomerang Athens House engages contemporary architectural discourse surrounding the reconciliation of density and domesticity within established urban neighborhoods, positioning itself within a lineage of residential design that privileges material clarity, proportional discipline, and the integration of natural elements into compact built footprints. The facade achieves compositional sophistication through its layered reading, the dominant vertical panel of finely ribbed white cladding establishing a textured field against which fenestration and structural elements register with heightened clarity, the horizontal picture window functioning as both visual aperture and compositional anchor, its placement and proportion suggesting careful attention to interior spatial needs balanced against exterior formal coherence. The rooftop pergola demonstrates technical accomplishment in its marriage of functional and aesthetic imperatives, the geometric lattice providing solar control and spatial definition while introducing diagonal complexity that enriches the otherwise orthogonal composition, its charcoal finish creating tonal contrast that activates the visual hierarchy. The integration of mature olive trees into the immediate architectural surround speaks to biophilic design principles increasingly central to urban residential practice, the silvery foliage and irregular organic forms providing essential counterpoint to geometric rigor, softening the street presence while maintaining the design's fundamental clarity, this negotiation between cultivated nature and architectural intervention suggesting broader themes of sustainability and livability within Mediterranean urban contexts. The material palette demonstrates restraint characteristic of contemporary minimalist practice, the white ribbed cladding reading as a unified textured surface from distance while rewarding closer inspection with its rhythmic linear articulation, the recessed garage doors continuing this horizontal banding motif and thereby establishing material and formal continuity across functional zones. The street-level threshold reveals careful attention to the transitional realm between public and private, the figures populating this zone suggesting the design's success in creating approachable yet refined domestic architecture, the composition inviting viewers to consider how contemporary residential design can assert architectural character while remaining contextually responsive, how vertical living strategies can accommodate outdoor amenity, and how material simplicity can generate visual richness through texture, proportion, and the productive interplay of geometric discipline with organic vitality.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This design is a Leed Gold to-be-certified, net-zero energy luxury residence that seamlessly integrates sustainability, smart technology, and contemporary aesthetics. Unlike conventional developments, it prioritizes energy efficiency, advanced automation, and biophilic design, ensuring minimal environmental impact without compromising elegance. Its smart home systems, innovative ventilation, and high-performance materials set a new benchmark for sustainable high-end real estate.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The residence spans 425 sqm across four levels. Ceiling heights range from 2,800 mm to 3,200 mm, optimizing natural light and ventilation. Triple-glazed, thermally insulated aluminum windows enhance energy efficiency. Underfloor heating by Rehau, a vrv air-conditioning system by LG, and a knx automation network regulate indoor climate. The rooftop pool integrates a high-efficiency heat pump with dimensions 8 m x 3 mmm x 1,5 m.
- Tags
- Leed certified, Leed gold, smart home technology, sustainable architecture, luxury real estate, urban regeneration, biophilic design, energy-efficient materials, KNX automation, Double Regeneration Metropolitan Park, Athens luxury houses
- Production Technology
- The Boomerang design was developed using parametric modeling, energy simulations, and LEED-certified methodologies to achieve optimal efficiency. The structure was reinforced with high-performance insulation, thermally broken aluminum windows, and Rehau underfloor heating for passive energy savings. knx automation controls HVAC, lighting, and security, ensuring seamless operation. Sustainable materials, including low-voc finishes and photovoltaic-integrated pergolas, enhance both performance and aesthetics.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge was balancing luxury with sustainability while retrofitting an existing structure. The historical challenge lay in preserving architectural integrity while modernizing the design. Socially, creating an eco-friendly yet high-end home required shifting perceptions of luxury. Externally, strict LEED regulations, energy laws, and material limitations demanded innovative solutions. Overcoming structural constraints and integrating smart, efficient systems was a key breakthrough.
- Project Duration
- The project began in Athens in late 2023 and will be completed in May 2025 as Greece’s first Leed Gold certified residence. It integrates net zero energy solutions, smart technologies, and structural reinforcements. Adjacent to the future Double Regeneration Metropolitan Park, it offers unobstructed views, urban cooling, and green access. This benchmark in luxury sustainable architecture enhances air quality, biodiversity, and the connection between urban living and nature.
- Operation Flow
- The Boomerang Athens is designed for effortless, smart living. The home adapts to its residents, adjusting lighting, temperature, and energy use automatically for maximum comfort and efficiency. Large windows flood the space with natural light while insulating against heat and cold. The rooftop pool and outdoor spaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. With sustainable materials and energy-saving technology, it offers luxury with a conscience, reducing environmental impact without compromising comfort.
- Research
- This applied research transforms an existing property into a Leed Gold-certified smart home with net-zero energy. Using structural audits, energy tests, and Leed guidelines, a team of architects and engineers optimized insulation, smart systems, and ventilation. Results showed enhanced efficiency, luxury, and sustainability. The project sets a new standard for eco-friendly real estate, proving that design, business, and sustainability can coexist seamlessly.
- Inspiration
- The Boomerang was inspired by the desire to harmonize sustainability with contemporary luxury while redefining urban living standards. It was motivated by the challenge of transforming an existing structure into an environmentally responsible, energy-efficient, and technologically advanced residence. Drawing from LEED principles, modern architectural trends, and the natural landscape, the design sought to create a seamless dialogue between innovation, functionality, and aesthetics.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer / Illustrator / Creator Kyriakos Trikaliotis, Ownership of ECLÉDE.
Image #2: Photographer / Illustrator / Creator Kyriakos Trikaliotis, Ownership of ECLÉDE.
Image #3: Photographer / Illustrator / Creator Kyriakos Trikaliotis, Ownership of ECLÉDE.
Image #4: Photographer / Illustrator / Creator Kyriakos Trikaliotis, Ownership of ECLÉDE.
Image #5: Photographer / Illustrator / Creator Kyriakos Trikaliotis, Ownership of ECLÉDE.
Video Credits: Video by ANGEL BLEND.
Colors of The Boomerang Athens House
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Sustainable Luxury Architecture and Development
We design and develop LEED-certified luxury residences that seamlessly blend environmental responsibility with contemporary elegance. Our expertise in net-zero energy buildings, smart home integration, and biophilic design creates homes that minimize environmental impact while maximizing comfort…
G0E24 ShopGrand Interview about The Boomerang Athens House
Firstly I would like to first announce to you that the residence is certified as LEED Platinum. One pf the few in whole Europe. We treated “luxury” and “low-impact” as the same brief: precision, comfort, and longevity. The design pairs tactile, high-end finishes with invisible performance—airtightness, thermal-bridge control, and smart shading—so clients feel effortless comfort rather than “eco-compromise.” We modeled every envelope change to cut loads first, then right-sized systems for silence and stability. The result is quiet, clean air, steady temperatures, and beautifully lit spaces, luxury experienced as health and calm, while the documentation, metering, and commissioning deliver the LEED rigor.
We chose an open, interoperable backbone (e.g., KNX/BACnet at the core with Matter-ready endpoints) to avoid lock-in and let sustainability “drive itself.” CO₂, VOC, and occupancy sensors modulate ventilation and setpoints, sub-metering exposes real use so residents see cause-and-effect. The inspiration was hotel-grade comfort with lab-grade data: automation that anticipates rather than nags, trims peaks, and preserves serenity.
Athens’ light and scent palette guided us: Mediterranean species (olive, rosemary, lavender) for seasonal cues; a small green wall and deep planters irrigated by treated greywater; mineral plasters and warm woods inside. Daylight targets (sDA/ASE) informed apertures and finishes, while operable windows, views, and micro-gardens create micro-rituals—open a leaf-screen, catch the meltemi, breathe the herbs. The payoff is measurable (air quality, circadian lighting) and felt (lower stress, stronger place attachment).
The structure was compact and urban, so we used a “fabric-first” ETICS wrap, aerogel where clearances were tight, warm-edge triple glazing on solar-loaded façades, and meticulous air-sealing around penetrations. Passive cooling comes from stack-effect geometry (stair/void alignment), night purges, and external shading tuned to solar azimuth. We solved conflicts via hygrothermal and thermal-bridge simulations, re-routed services in a new insulated “spine,” and sequenced works to control moisture and noise. The advanced bit wasn’t one product—it was coordination.
Expecting a cooler, greener microclimate and new sightlines, we framed long views with selective high-performance glazing while protecting from summer gain through overhangs and operable louvers. Planting and materials on terraces were chosen to connect visually with the park’s palette, and the façade’s thermal strategy anticipates lower reflected heat but higher evening activity—so we emphasized acoustic control alongside thermal comfort. The house is tuned to breathe with its neighborhood as it evolves.
We wanted third-party rigor that aligns the entire supply chain—design, contractors, commissioning—around measurable outcomes. LEED Platinum now, signals to the Athens luxury market that comfort, craft, and responsibility are now a single expectation. It seeds a replicable playbook: verified envelopes, right-sized electrified systems, honest metering, and low-toxicity interiors. For future projects, it moves the conversation from finishes first to performance first—without sacrificing beauty.
An inverter heat pump (with a desuperheater) maintains water temperature with a fraction of the energy of resistance heating. We paired it with a well-insulated basin, automatic cover, and PV-assisted operation to shave peaks. Waste heat recovery pre-heats domestic hot water shoulder-season; smart scheduling runs the compressor during PV-rich hours and favorable tariffs. In practice, the pool becomes a controllable thermal asset, not a penalty.
Criteria were durability, low toxicity, embodied-carbon awareness, and repairability. We specified low-/ultra-low VOC finishes (adhesives, paints, sealants), FSC-certified timbers, mineral plasters, porcelains with recycled content, and long-life metals. Outdoors, PV-integrated pergolas use glass-glass BIPV for shade + generation—elegant, diffuse light below; clean kilowatt-hours above. Indoors, the palette stays tactile and quiet, so the “tech” disappears and the craft remains.
Ceiling heights step and compress to guide air movement: higher volumes where we want buoyancy and storage of cool night air; lower, intimate ceilings where we want enclosure. Window head heights, clerestories, and light-shelves bounce daylight deep without glare; opposing, operable openings align with prevailing summer winds to enable cross-ventilation paths. Sensors keep blinds and operability in sync so the building behaves like a seasoned resident, not a gadget.
Boomerang shows that Athens’ upscale retrofits can be electrified, quiet, and materially honest—delivering 35–50% lower energy use versus typical baselines while feeling more refined. I see three ripple effects: (1) performance specs (airtightness, commissioning, low-VOC) becoming standard in high-end briefs; (2) rooftops shifting to energy-positive amenities (BIPV, heat-pump pools, habitat planting); and (3) data-literate homes where comfort, cost, and carbon are visible and manageable. Environmental responsibility stops being an add-on and becomes the essence of luxury.