This study concerns a residence composed of two distinct structures: an older building with load-bearing masonry and a 1970s addition, functionally unified into a cohesive whole. Both constructions exhibit non-orthogonal geometries and a fragmented spatial organization, with certain interior zones lacking access to natural light. The existing roof lightwells were strategically utilized and became a central parameter in the reconfiguration of the spatial layout.
The interior was reimagined through a retro-inspired material palette, deliberately unconstrained by conventional material use, allowing finishes and textures to transcend spatial boundaries and enrich the domestic experience.
Simultaneously, the spatial program was redefined around a contemporary interpretation of the archetypal hearth, placed at the core of the residence. This intervention evokes both the ancient concept of the hearth—as a source of warmth and sustenance—and its symbolic role as a place of gathering, intimacy, and hospitality, a notion of particular importance to the owners.
The hearth thus re-emerges as a central architectural reference, underscoring the enduring cultural significance of hospitality within the Greek context—not as a commercialized cliché, but as a fundamental social value, deeply embedded in everyday life.