The residential building STD3 is nestled in the serene garden city of Psychiko, in proximity to Athens’ Kifissias Avenue. Designed as a monolith, the building houses three separate apartments and a private roof garden that coexist within the elongated and narrow plot on which it stands.
The building aims to redefine contemporary living in the garden city by achieving a harmonious duality, presenting an introverted exterior while revealing an extroverted interior. It emphasises optimal spatial utilisation and the creation of a distinct volumetric presence.
The residential building is broken down into three units: two duplexes occupying the ground and first floors, and a penthouse apartment on the second floor with direct access to the private roof garden, offering a sense of expansive luxury and unparalleled views, featuring a generous shaded lounge area and a swimming pool. The front duplex engages with the street through its landscaped courtyard, fostering a sense of community. In contrast, the rear duplex focuses inward, overlooking the serene garden with a private pool.
The vertical circulation is placed at the heart of the building, accessed through a double-height open loggia serving both as the house's threshold and as an extension to the lush surrounding garden. By using carefully selected materials and meticulous landscaping, the loggia is designed to maximise natural light, thus creating an inviting ambiance.
The residences are designed with an open floor plan, ensuring uninterrupted panoramic views. The ground floor accommodates the main living areas: an entrance hall, an open office area, the kitchen, the dining room, and a double-height living room. These spaces are crafted to establish a seamless connection with the outdoors and the adjacent garden. Private staircases within each duplex lead to the first floor bedrooms, offering a sense of privacy and tranquility.
The deliberate creation of various recesses across the exposed concrete skin results in a continuous interplay of sculptural elements in both section and plan. What initially appears as a monolithic and solid volume transforms into a whimsical sequence of stereometric voids that unveil the vibrant life contained within.