Set in the historic quarter of Plaka, this 1950s Athenian penthouse has been reimagined by Franco-Greek studio Stene Alexopoulos as a quiet study of materiality and memory. The top-floor apartment, long owned by Elena Alexopoulos’s family, overlooks the Acropolis and retains its original mid-century layout, a decision that anchors the renovation to the spirit of the place. Throughout the interior, the architects work with a restrained palette of marble, stainless steel and solid wood, drawing on materials closely tied to Athens of the 1950s. Bespoke pieces made by local artisans shape the character of the home: a monolithic Dionysos marble coffee table, brushed-steel armchairs and a walnut sofa that subtly recalls archaic forms. These sit alongside vintage Italian lighting and handcrafted Greek objects from the 19th century, creating a dialogue between antiquity, folk tradition and modernism. The kitchen preserves its pink Skyros marble floor and adopts the simplicity of island furniture, while the bathroom is conceived as a miniature marble quarry, pairing white Kavala stone with green Cipollino. On the terrace, a monumental bench carved from Dionysos marble frames the Acropolis, offering a final gesture to a project that balances architectural clarity with an intimate sense of heritage.
Stene Alexopoulos revives 1950s Athenian penthouse overlooking the Acropolis
