The Modernist, the new boutique accommodation option in Thessaloniki is located in a recently renovated building, an architectural sample of the city's reconstruction period following the fire in 1917, a step from Aristotle Square.

The building was restored in a minimalist yet sensual style that pays attention to detail and moves between art deco, mid-century detailing and Danish design. It consists of 40 luxury rooms of different sizes, each with its own character and designed to fit individual needs, creating a feeling of pure comfort and relaxation. The simplicity of the design and the purity of forms and volumes preserve and reveal the traditional elements of the building. The slick, tainted-glass surfaces reflect the wall finishes and preserved cornices, bolstering at the same time the juxtaposition between the different textures, the contemporary and the traditional. In essence, the architectural design pays respect to the building’s tradition, as the old is reflected, filtered and colored through the new. These constant reflections are that make up all the details, avoiding the visual clutters and unifying indoor and outdoor. Bronze, marble and wooden floors bring together new and old, rounding off the room design and aesthetics.

Each room was handled separately. Colours, materials, textures, decoration and works of art combined with the hotel's amenities to form one of a kind experience for the visitor. The retained staircase, made of mosaic and cement tiles, leads guests to the front office desk in the mezzanine. The transition between traditional and contemporary and vice versa is eased by the custom lighting and the industrial roof. A small boutique shop completes the space. The interventions in the common areas were kept to a minimal. The preserved floor reveals the long history of the building. It’s “wear”, tells the stories of its past tenants. The corridors that were created following the reconstruction and set-out of the rooms unify the space while maintaining its privacy, and are covered by carpet.

Breakfast is served on the 7th floor. Minimal design and an open plan kitchen dominates, while focusing on simplicity and pointing out local products. The area is completed with the roof garden and the magnificent view of Thessaloniki and some of the city's landmarks.

Project identity Project: The Modernist Location: Thessaloniki Design & Construction: 2017-2018 Architectural Design: FORMrelated Studio Design Team: Theodoridis Konstantinos, Papaevangelou Eleni Collaborators: Evi Korompeli, Maria Koinidou Structural Design: Rita Tzeliou Building Services: Giorgos Hatziangelou Construction: Ioanna Lepenioti Graphic Design: Post Spectacular Office Photography: © Nikos Vavdinoudis – Christos Dimitriou / studiovd.gr