FORMrelated Studio completes The Modernist Athens hotel inside post-war building

The Modernist Athens is set within a post-war building dating from the 1950s, a period defined by rapid urban reconstruction and rational architectural planning. Designed by FormRelated, the project is informed by the building’s original geometry and structural logic. The façades are characterised by clean lines, a strict grid and restrained plaster detailing typical of the era. Rather than altering the existing typology, the architects retained the original composition and repainted the exterior in dark tones, preparing visitors for the contrasts in material and colour introduced inside. Internally, the design draws on materials and details associated with the time of construction, reinterpreted in a contemporary context. The ground floor departs from a conventional hotel arrangement, combining reception, circulation and café functions into a central hub. A glass partition defines routes through the space while also functioning as a reception desk and serving counter, allowing reflections and daylight to extend the sense of depth. The lobby is deliberately subdued in tone, with bronze details accentuating the simple lines and mid-century references. The hotel comprises 38 rooms of varying sizes, each conceived as a modern living space organised around clarity and comfort. Three extra-large rooms include private patios and jacuzzis. Across the interiors, natural materials such as mosaic parquet flooring, marble, bronze, leather and solid oak are paired with custom-made elements and selected furnishings. The project concludes at roof level, where a redesigned roof garden introduces greenery, shade and openness, using timber decking and concrete surfaces to extend the building’s architectural language into the open air.

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