Undertaking Location: Athens, Greece
Lead Designers: SAOTA
SAOTA Undertaking Crew: Stefan Antoni, Philip Olmesdahl, Bobby Hugill, Albert van Jaarsveld & Serena Slamdien
Inside Designer: ARRCC
ARRCC Undertaking Crew: Michele Rhoda, Daniel Du Toit, Jeandre Toua
Architect of Document: Free Architects / Christina Poulmenti
Civil Engineer: Iannis Konstas Engineers / Iannis Konstas
Structural Engineer: Iannis Konstas Engineers / Iannis Konstas
Electrical Engineer: SKV Consulting Engineers / Stefanos Karagianis
Geotechnical Engineers: Sotiropoulos & Associates / Mr Sotiropoulos
Photographer: Vangelis Paterakis & Panagiotis Voumvakis
Copy by: Graham Wooden
This five-unit seafront residence constructing, designed by SAOTA with inside structure by ARRCC, is situated within the southern suburbs of Athens on the gateway to the Athens Riviera.
It overlooks the seashore and the Aegean Sea with views in direction of Aegina and the distant hills of Poros, whereas the Hymettus Mountain rises behind it.
The constructing occupies a nook website on the frontline of the promenade overlooking one of many native seashores. It contains 4 residences situated on both aspect of a triple-volume arrival corridor, which supplies entry to landscaped gardens with twin swimming swimming pools to the entrance.
A double-level penthouse spans the width of the rostrum on the higher degree, set again from the constructing’s edge.
The entrance of the constructing presents a layered strategy with expansive glazing, recessed columns and moveable screens that reasonable the intense maritime mild and supply privateness whereas permitting the interiors to open to the views.
The rear of the constructing presents a contrastingly strong facade with puncture openings to shelter itself from its neighbours to the aspect and behind. The entrance facade design emphasises the play of horizontal and vertical planes.
The crisp white finishes and nearly classically symmetrical proportions of the constructing mirror a recent architectural strategy rooted within the climatically applicable native Mediterranean custom however expressed in a language of timeless minimalism.
The penthouse carries the minimalistic strategy and the language of simplified plains and voids into the inside.
SAOTA and ARRCC’s shopper sought a flexible residence that would simply accommodate giant social occasions and likewise supplies a way of intimacy when there have been no friends. He additionally required a gallery-like area that would accommodate and show artworks.
The penthouse centres on a big, central quantity which acts because the principal residing area and gallery. Its quantity responds to the size of the views, whereas double-volume motorised glass sliding doorways and moveable screens pocket away into the partitions, blurring the excellence between in and out.
Easy, thought of volumes and proportions are organized round this central quantity, whereas the big horizontal spans preserve a way of lightness within the structure.
The residing areas characterize a classy interaction of strong and void parts, with interconnected planes that ‘slide’ via each other and intersect, borrowing area from one another whereas creating unity and coherence.
Features are intuitively outlined and improve the flexibility of the varied areas to offer distinct experiences. The lounge and eating areas are tucked away on both aspect of it to create extra intimate social areas.
A kitchen is situated behind the eating space, with the choice of being screened off. An additional household room/spare bed room is accommodated behind the lounge on the opposite aspect.
The bedrooms are on both aspect of the double quantity on the higher degree. Sliding door panels set into cavity partitions make it potential to open the higher degree in order that the general area can work as one with out inside divisions between the higher and decrease areas however might be enclosed for privateness.
A pared-back, refined strategy characterises the inside of the penthouse and its terrace. A aware effort has been made to keep away from fussy particulars and cut back visible noise.
The pure materials palette of timber and stone is articulated all through the inside, with white and accented with bronze-coloured parts, such because the fibre-cement ‘eyebrow’ framing the highest double-storey quantity.
The language of horizontal and vertical planes that characterises the structure continues to the inside, the place partitions, screens, and cabinets additionally learn as simplified planes. The detailing has been lowered to scrub surfaces, seamlessly built-in cabinetry, uninterrupted ceilings and huge sandstone flooring tiles.
The inside opens onto a wraparound terrace, sheltered by a slim floating roof. The terrace features a swimming pool flush with a sandstone flooring. Single-column, cantilevered pergolas positioned symmetrically present shelter for alfresco eating, seating and poolside leisure.
Semi-permeable screens wrapped across the sides of the terrace rigorously handle the stability between privateness, local weather and the views, with their louvres angled to let within the views the place potential. Glass balustrades make sure the ocean views to the entrance are uninterrupted.
This rigorous and disciplined strategy to structure and inside design enhances the readability of the volumes and creates a way of sophistication all through. The restrained palette and refined shades make for an understated minimalist setting.
The ensuing unencumbered sense of freedom appears a becoming architectural response to the pure Mediterranean great thing about the residence’s setting.
