From the exquisite friezes of the Parthenon to the elegant Caryatids of Erechtheion, the soft patina and appealing luster of marble has long been synonymous with the architecture of Greece. It is a material we associate with ancient civilizations utilized for its stability, longevity, and aesthetic quality throughout the centuries.
Now, Athens-based studio Omniview has looked to bring this signature element of classicism well and truly into the 21st century, combining the timeless properties of the material with cutting-edge technology to lend a whole new language to marble architecture in Greece.
© Omniview Design
The façade of One Kleomenous — an 11-story private residence in the Greek capital — is an extraordinary large-scale paragon of digital fabrication introducing a new sense of fluidity to marble that blends the structural and sculptural properties of the material. Its heavily articulated surface is composed of 2,290 slices of CNC-cut marble, and the form of each layer has been calculated using CAD/CAM applications and assembled onsite by an eclectic team of experts including architects, sculptural engineers, stonemasons, steelmakers, and artists.
From a distance, the resulting elevations read as a precision-engineered topography, but closer inspection reveals the familiar veins and tactility of marble, echoing the surface of many buildings in Athens built centuries before. “We liked the idea of showcasing the new geometric possibilities for the marble façade in the modern era,” says Omniview cofounder and head architect Dimitri Tsigos, emphasizing the firm’s desire to push the limits of this traditional material. “This intention was strengthened by the need to provide the building with a natural look and feel, as it is situated on the very frontier of the urban volume towards the forest.” The resulting stack of layers is reminiscent of an architect’s topographic model turned on its side, the flowing forms accentuated by shadow gaps between each slender plate of stone.
The liquefied language continues throughout the interior, with floor finishes flowing seamlessly into furniture with the use of bespoke marble blocks inlaid by specialist craftsmen. Everything has been designed with the cool contemporary-cave aesthetic: a sculpted countertop extends up from the floor like a smooth stalagmite, while a stalactite column flows down from the ceiling with integrated seating near its base.
The parametric curves continue on non-marble surfaces, as well, with two features of contrasting materials forming focal points within the internal spaces. For one thing, a gleaming fiberglass bridge stretches across a shallow pool, a solidified lava flow of snow-white plastic across the obsidian marble floor. The homogenous materiality and sinuous lines of this linking element echo many of Zaha Hadid’s sculptural furnishings, seen in signature interiors such as the Roca Gallery in London, not to mention Omniview’s own retail displays at the Alchemist in Cyclades, and the Anish Kapoor-inspired Presice Optics store in Mykonos. The striking juxtaposition of the fiberglass with the varied hues of marble is no accident, as Tsigos explains: “I generally believe in contrast. In architecture, clothing, graphic design, or even art. Juxtaposing radically different things usually showcases their strengths.”
The second key component of the interior is the mirrored staircase, a virtuoso display of CAD/CAM-driven parametrics composed in layers reminiscent of those coursing across the building’s external façade. The sweeping bands of polished metal were calculated with “100-percent scripted geometry,” creating a seemingly complex form using a sole input of one trajectory curve — these techniques are used throughout, utilizing the power of computer-aided design and fabrication to create highly bespoke spaces on every floor of the residence.
This striking staircase leads up to the penthouse level at the summit of the house where floor-to-ceiling glass walls frame a spectacular view across Athens. Perhaps appropriately, this panorama is punctuated by the familiar outline of the Acropolis upon which the silhouette of the Parthenon can be seen. The juxtaposition of this icon with Ominview’s contemporary residence encapsulates the evolution of architectural technology in Greece while honoring this ancient city’s eternal love for marble in all its forms.
Omniview’s client was as satisfied with the end result as Tsigos himself, the architect reflecting on the successful culmination of an extensive research and development process: “The client was very pleased. As you can understand, we had presented various 3D prints and photorealistic images … but the real thing felt much better than them.”