Architect Eleftherios Ambatzis has fully refurbished a penthouse apartment in a 90's block of flats, based in the north suburbs of Athens, featuring large open-plan spaces and breathtaking views of the city.
Originally an introverted space comprised of small rooms with narrow openings to the surrounding balconies, the apartment was transformed by unifying spaces to create an integrated living area, boasting large floor-to-ceiling windows which open the space up and take advantage of its privileged location, while at the same time create a sense of continuity between the interior and the outdoor.
Both exterior and interior dividing walls were torn down to allow for a large L-shaped open plan kitchen, dining, living room and TV lounge area to be formed. The materials and colour scheme were chosen carefully to inspire an uninterrupted flow, blending the indoor living areas seamlessly with the surrounding outdoor terrace which has been re-imagined as a “blossoming garden in the skies”. The kitchen island was built in the same grey terrazzo used to floor the terrace, cover some of its vertical surfaces and form the built-in rectangular planters which accommodate a variety of plants, creating curtains of greenery, shading and cooling the space during the long Greek summer.
The rest of the 160 sqm apartment is occupied by two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a separate guest area. The wooden herringbone floor spreads throughout the whole residence as an intricate woven carpet. The extensive use of mirrors, amplify natural light and create playful contradictions, reflecting the urban skyline in the domestic environment.
The architect custom designed some of the objects and furniture, such as the 14-hand blown crystal sphere cloud-shaped chandelier, suspended from the ceiling, above the dining table, by an oxidized brass structure. The imposing chandelier is complemented by the ultra-thin large hand-blown crystal sphere attached to a copper dome, hanging above the round coffee-table, placed purposely in front of the black linear granite hearth to create a whimsical illusion. A handmade black concave mirror is positioned under the coffee table’s clear glass top surface, reflecting the fire flames horizontally, fabricating a second blaze in the circular surface.
Artist Efthymis Malafouris created a sight specific art piece inspired by the vast openings and the imposing views of the apartment, depicting large black rectangles framing a continuous landscape in which nature and urban context merge into one.
