Domes Awards 2014
Top 10 Best Built Work of the years 2009-2013
The apartment is located at the Athenian suburb of Pefki, in a characteristic housing complex of early ‘80s. The design proposal was driven by 3 key factors that were associated to the initial form of the structure and the contemporary needs of the users.
The type of living of the owners pointed to the clear distinction of public and private areas of the apartment. The aspect that shifted the project’s direction was the need for storage space. The public space was redefined by the placement of hidden storage areas. The “precious” object was inserted at the heart of the space. It is a cube with glass reflective surfaces that articulates in-between spaces and circulation. Its presence indicates the actual space in which it is contained. The glass cube hosts the neighboring uses of each side; wardrobe, kitchen appliances, cellar. On its fourth side, four display windows are lit to reveal the “exhibits”. It forms the vitrine, the museum of the private.
The intensive presence of structural elements was reinforced by the addition of new non-structural beams to the ceiling network. The notion of density accentuated the dynamics and enabled a new reading of space. The emerging system is a tool for organizing the plan and understanding the characteristic structure of the apartment building. It was also used as the channel for any necessary new infrastructure.
Low levels of natural light in the pre-existing condition led to certain decisions on color and materials. Especially for the living space the chosen shades of white on different textures resulted on a space bathed in light through reflection. The glass cube intensifies this phenomenon during daytime and becomes a light source at night as part of the whole lighting experience.