The Greek Foundation
  • Architecture
  • Interiors
  • Design
  • Art
  • Fashion
  • Travel
  • Graphic Design
  • Gastronomy
  • Photography
  • Interviews
  • Visits
  • All Stories
  • Shop
  • About
  • Submit
  • Creatives
  • Stockists
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Spotify
The Greek Foundation
0 Shop
The Greek Foundation
  • Architecture
  • Interiors
  • Design
  • Art
  • Fashion
  • Travel
  • Graphic Design
  • Gastronomy
  • Photography
  • Interviews
  • Visits
  • All Stories
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Old meets new in Athens renovation by Elina Loukou/DeMachinas

Located in a vibrant residential area of Athens, this renovation revitalizes the first-floor flat of a modernist building abandoned for thirty years. Once split into three separate properties, the structure has been transformed into a “dwelling canvas” by a family eager to embrace its potential. The building, characterized by modernist principles and a unique Pilotis ground-level common area, serves as an inspiring backdrop. In a departure from typical uses, the Pilotis is reimagined as a private, adaptable space, enhancing the first-floor apartment’s openness and flexibility. Stripped to its core, the design exposes the building’s external shell and iconic waffle ceiling while introducing three functional elements. A round kitchen island doubles as a dining table, promoting social cooking, while a sleek storage block efficiently houses the pantry and wardrobes. The standout feature is the “cross,” a pivoting corridor partition that fluidly separates and unifies private and public spaces according to the family’s needs. Throughout the construction, layers of history were revealed, akin to an archaeological dig. The original concrete ceiling waffles were restored, and the existing marble flooring was repurposed as terrazzo aggregate. This process involved breaking salvaged panels in situ, capturing the essence of the stone’s fragmented beauty. Retaining the cementitious mortar from the original tiled bathroom walls adds an industrial charm, while neutral colors and soft finishes balance the robust materials, creating a harmonious atmosphere. This renovation exemplifies a successful blend of old and new, respecting the building’s history while embracing contemporary living.

Creative
DeMachinas
Credits

Architect: Elina Loukou

Light designer: Eszter Hanzseros

Collaborators: Yorgos Pantazis

Photography by Vassilis Makris

Featured in our Shop

Explore Our Print Publications

Explore Our Print Publications

Step into the world of The Greek Foundation's print editions, where each one is a carefully curated collection of inspiring visual and textual stories. Discover the essence of Greece through architecture, design, fashion, art, travel and gastronomy. Get your copy and start your journey today.

SHOP NOW
Related Stories
View Post
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Pomelo by Gelly Dimitrakopoulou brings understated island elegance in a heritage building in Batsi, Andros

View Post
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Chiara Armando, Ottone Architetti and Polyergo transform historic Rethymnon corner building into compact, characterful spaces

View Post
  • Interiors

Vassilina Kyriakidou reconfigures 1960s Athenian apartment with red kitchen at its core

View Post
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Blanc Studio creates luminous café in Volos that lets the street in

View Post
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Ambiente Studio restores hilltop retreat in Pelion’s eastern coast with views of the Aegean

View Post
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Studio Thanasis opens up a dark Kolonaki apartment with a bold green pod

  • Architecture
  • Interiors
  • Design
  • Art
  • Fashion
  • Travel
  • Graphic Design
  • Gastronomy
  • Photography
  • Interviews
  • Visits
  • All Stories
  • Shop
  • About
  • Submit
  • Creatives
  • Stockists
  • Contact
  • Terms
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Spotify

Join our newsletter

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}

Join our newsletter