Firm： ksirouni_architects

Type： Residential › Apartment

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2021

SIZE： 0 sqft - 1000 sqft

This 38 square meter residence, is located on the ground floor of a typical 3-storey Athenian apartment building built in the 60s, in the neighborhood of Neos Kosmos.

The apartment was primarily renovated as a short-term rental taking into consideration that it may also be used as a private residence in the future.

The core philosophy of our design, is based on the spatial zoning of each room and function, through bold color pallets to create a modern abode that evokes memories and aesthetics of the past.

The original layout consisted of fragmented spaces and corridors that were not very user-friendly of everyday living. The kitchen was located in the darkest corner of the apartment on the opposite side of the living room whereas the bathroom was centrally located between both rooms.

To elevate the quality of the interiors, partitions were knocked down to create functional and bright spaces that open up towards the garden area of the building. The kitchen and bathroom areas were swapped around the common-use light shaft of the building, making the kitchen and unified dining aera the focal point of the apartment. The bathroom was relocated near the entrance, the most disadvantaged area of the apartment in terms of lighting.

The existing terrazzo floor that was maintained wherever possible in combination with the selection of a bold less conventual kiwi color for the kitchen cabinets, were the key design elements for selecting all other hues and materials in the project. The walls and ceilings in the integrated foyer and kitchen/dining area, were painted in the same gray hue of the new cement-type tile which harmoniously complements the terazzo floor in the connecting living room. In contrast to the rest of the apartment, the walls and ceiling in the open-plan living room were painted in a neutral white to serve as a blank canvas for furniture and decor options.

Following the theme of bold colors throughout the apartment, the bedroom walls were painted in a dramatic color accentuating the hues of the terazzo floor in the room to enhance a calming sense of luxury. In the bathroom, a contemporary and funky tile in combination with a bright yellow paint palette used on the ceiling and part of the walls, add a luminous and happy note in this otherwise dark room.

The existing wooden windows were preserved and upgraded to be more energy-efficient except for the kitchen window which was integrated into the color scheme of the area and the bathroom window which was completely replaced.

The main challenge of our project overall, was not to allow the limited budget of a rental investment affect the quality of construction as well as our core design philosophy which the owners were on board with. The transformation and new identity achieved, could not have been possible without their shared vision, working efficiently without restriction in color, materials and furniture selections to create a contemporary and welcoming renter-friendly abode.