Athens-based design studio N. Koukourakis & Associates have recently completed this contemporary property. The contemporary family home can be found in Kifisia, one of Athen’s most exclusive districts.
According to the architects: “This contemporary house in Kifissia is an oasis for a family of four, constructed in a small, almost square level plot. You enter the property through the left side of the building. The design concept focused on establishing additional open air spaces so as to create a pleasant habitat in the small plot. Thus, the stone mass in the entry of the plot separates the common use areas from the more secluded spaces thus creating the essential privacy.
“The characteristic element of the floor plan which was developed on the basis of the proportions of the human body, is the minimisation of corridors and the enhancement of the fluid motion of the individual volumes of the building. As a result, in the ground floor which communicates naturally and visually with the surrounding space, we have the welcoming / community spaces (foyer, sitting room, rest room, dining room, kitchen) which through large interior and exterior openings utilize all natural light to the largest extent, while at the same time they appear to complement the outdoor / open spaces since they are directly connected.
“The double level opening in the living room works to connect the ‘public’ and ‘private’ spaces of the contemporary Athens property. On the first floor we have the living room – office and the children’s bedrooms with balconies without railings and transparent glass for maximisation of the view. On the second floor the Master Bedroom has infinite view and a vast veranda. The basement comprises of additional secondary ‘functional rooms’ as well as the guest room.
“The architectural elements used for the exterior of the masses of the building, such as levels shaped and sectioned by the vertical roofing and their balconies, combine the empty and the full spaces, the solid with the translucent parts, visually grouping the residence spaces harmoniously within the plot. The combined design of the mechanical elements of the utilities and equipment so as not to interfere visually or sound wise with the overall architectural composition of the building, assisted in meeting this end.
“The materials used for the construction of the exterior shell constitute the components used in the internal spaces. Coffee-grey coating and wood in a monochromatic dialogue define the overall structure of this building. The use of wood in the external spaces, the ground floor and the balconies doubles and visually connects the spaces of the residence.”
Images courtesy of Vaggelis Paterakis.
