A Renovation of an 1990s Athenian Apartment
The renovation of this 90 sqm apartment by Iraisynn Attinom Architecture Studio reinterprets a typical 1990s flat for a millennial user, combining references from 90s aesthetics with Bauhaus geometric principles. The design is based on a neutral white shell with continuous wooden flooring, allowing color and geometry to define the spatial organization.
The apartment is structured into three distinct zones, each defined by a dominant color. The blue zone includes the corridor and the bathroom, where small square tiles in blue and white create a continuous surface. In the bathroom, square glass bricks are used as a partition wall for the shower, while also introducing natural light through a new opening.
The terracotta zone contains the guest room, the hall, and a WC fully clad in terracotta square tiles. This area functions as a transitional part of the layout, maintaining continuity through the consistent use of color and grid.
The green zone defines the kitchen, which is organized as an “imaginary” cubic volume within the open-plan living space. This cube incorporates the main kitchen functions and a counter with two stools, creating a clear boundary with the living room while preserving visual continuity.
A grid system is applied throughout the apartment and acts as a unifying design tool. It is expressed through the extensive use of small square tiles in blue, white, and terracotta, as well as through elements such as the glass bricks and the kitchen structure. The square geometry appears at different scales, from mosaic tiles in the shower to larger tiled surfaces.
An important aspect of the intervention is the preservation of two existing arches from the original 1990s layout. Positioned between the living room and the adjacent zones, they are used as spatial thresholds. The surfaces behind them reflect the colors of the blue and terracotta zones, indicating the transition between spaces.
Material choices include chrome and inox details, combined with wood in the flooring and selected kitchen elements. The overall composition relies on white surfaces, controlled color application, and clear geometric order, balancing references to the 1990s with a contemporary architectural approach.
