Kapsimalis Architects opens up a 1960s Athenian apartment with light and reflections

Located in the heart of Athens, this 100-square-metre apartment by Kapsimalis Architects reimagines a 1960s polikatoikia flat into a luminous living space overlooking the Athenian skyline and Mount Hymettus. Originally divided into small, enclosed rooms, the sixth-floor apartment has been opened up through the removal of internal partitions. The living, dining and kitchen areas now form a continuous front zone that captures daylight from the main façade and the expansive balcony. Two bedrooms occupy the quieter rear, each with its own bathroom, while a reconfigured staircase connects the apartment to the rooftop terrace. The new interior is conceived as a space of reflections and transitions. Large mirrored surfaces extend visual boundaries and multiply natural light. Colored glass and metal details introduce subtle shifts in tone and transparency. A calm palette defines the private areas, with off-white carpets and beige lacquered wood, contrasting with the textured materials and marble surfaces of the living zone. Wide oak planks run through the main spaces, complemented by custom furniture in natural oak with dark varnish. Smooth beige plaster unifies walls and ceilings, while ceramic and metallic vessels and colorful lighting pieces bring tactile and visual accents. Through its restrained palette and play of reflections, the project explores the sensory dimensions of space—light, texture and sound—creating a quiet dialogue between the apartment and the vibrant urban fabric that surrounds it.