The Belleview apartment is located in a typical 1960s multistorey building on Thessaloniki’s seafront. Its original design exhibited the era’s architectural characteristics: narrow corridors, continuous constricted balconies, and small balcony doors, lacking comfort and a connection to the environment.
The new apartment was tailored for a young family seeking a closer link with the coastal surroundings, aiming to evoke a sun-white washed effect within the living space and to challenge the traditional arrangement of the 1960s.
The U-shaped floor plan was crucial in defining the design process, with an axis parallel to the exterior masonry dividing the apartment into two distinct zones. Reinforcing this axis created full and empty spaces, leading to the positioning of the main living areas and master suite facing the sea. Spacious passages guide guests to the rear rooms, offering linear views of the skyline.
Modular furniture offers versatile configurations, allowing for different layouts to accommodate various activities based on occupants’ preferences. Noteworthy interventions, including thermal facade upgrades, new generation aluminum frames, underfloor heating with heat pumps, and a VRV system, elevated the apartment from a very low energy class to the highest specifications. Timeless materials like wood, marble, white plasters, and terrazzo tiles achieve a sun-white washed effect, linking the contemporary apartment with the historic heritage of Thessaloniki’s waterfront urban apartments.
A significant aspect of our approach was the utilization of existing elements to clearly distinguish between primary and secondary spaces. We created a structural element that serves as a secondary interior facade, separating these uses as a reminder of the old facade. The project sets a paradigm for how existing architecture was carefully considered and respectfully transformed into a more contemporary and fresh version of itself. Change was accomplished without altering the building’s appearance and, therefore, the architectural experience of the seafront.
