Three friends bought the small rooftop space of a typical Athenian residential building. It measured 22m2 with a 27m2 veranda adjacent. The aim was to convert this into a small apartment with a sleeping corner, kitchenette and bathroom. The radical design was inspired by traditional Greek island homes – rather than trying to make it feel bigger by keeping it empty, the space was divided into four distinct and dense areas: kitchen and living room at the front, bedroom and bathroom at the back. A small corridor was inserted between bedroom and bathroom to allow access to a small rear balcony.
The primary entrance was relocated to lead directly into the centre of the space, liberating all side walls and corners to accommodate the different functions. Spatial elements such as curtains and sliding partitions add flexibility, dividing or opening up the space according to use or time of day – the couch for instance, opens into a double bed that can be enclosed by a curtain to become a second sleeping area. Within the dense living space, the variety of materials and details amplify the sense of a rich microcosm.
The choice of colors evoke the feeling of an underwater space, mirroring the apartment’s outdoor expanse open to the sky. The veranda extends and connects the interior world to the exterior through a facade consisting of two windows and a wide sliding glass partition that retracts to create a seamless transition. The colonnade, built-in furniture and planters along all sides define it as an outdoor room, while an extended steel railing beyond the colonnade creates the illusion of endlessness beyond the apartment’s minimal footprint.
Team:
Architects: Point Supreme Architects
Photographers: Filip Dujardin, George Messaritakis
