Studio Nikos Kouklakis converts a 1970s apartment in Chania into home and studio

Studio Nikos Kouklakis has renovated a 43-square-metre ground-floor apartment in the old town of Chania, transforming it into a combined home and studio. The apartment occupies a residential building originally constructed in the 1970s and partially renovated in 1996, when it became the home of the architect’s grandmother. Completed in 2024, the project reimagines the space as a personal living environment and working studio, conceived as a spatial self-portrait. Books, furniture and everyday objects are intentionally placed on display, forming what the studio describes as a “curated chaos”. The renovation introduces an open-plan layout created by removing the original bedroom walls. At the center of the apartment is a bespoke pine plywood partition that combines kitchen cabinetry, bookshelf and wardrobe storage. The element separates the kitchen and bathroom from the main living area while allowing light to flow through the ground-floor interior. Glass bricks within the bathroom walls and an open storage zone above enhance the sense of openness and daylight. Exposed mechanical and electrical components are balanced with warm timber surfaces and vibrant furniture, creating a contemporary yet inviting atmosphere. Externally, the studio refreshed the façade in a light beige tone and preserved the original window frames, repainting them pale green. The entrance staircase was reworked into a semi-public space by cladding the steps with Greek marble from Kavala and removing the railing, encouraging informal interaction with neighbors.