Metaxourgeio Apartment Renovation

This is a classic case where the architect is also the owner of the property. That meant there was a certain freedom of choice during the renovation process, but also some self-imposed restrictions in order to have a conceptually consistent result. The main use of the renovated apartment would be to serve as a guesthouse to friends visiting from abroad as well as a medium-term rental space.The goal was to achieve that on a budget and to be consistent with principles such as sourcing work locally in the neighborhood, re-using and up-cycling materials.

The apartment located in Metaxourgeio, a central neighborhood of Athens, reflects on its surroundings. On the verge between gentrification and state abandonment,  the area that was hit hard by the economic crisis and later the pandemic,  is still to this day filled with abandoned buildings, hollow vessels of past activity.

So instead of tearing down walls, we made holes in them as if the exterior state of the buildings somehow translates into an interior design language. The punctured walls frame everyday domestic activity, in a way that the residents both take the stage and become spectators of their own life.

Additionally all doors were replaced with sliding wood panels emphasizing the idea that the dividing walls are now surfaces with rectangular holes in them. The added benefit of ideal lighting and ventilation through the apartment is thus achieved.  Recycled elements and materials such as a marble kitchen and construction grade plywood, in addition to custom made furniture complement the design.