Open House Athens 2022: What you can’t miss this year
DS.WRITER:
Vasilis Xifaras
Open House Athens has made its much-anticipated return after two years, and it includes a wide variety of guided tours in both new and old venues, historical or otherwise, public and private, encompassing an impressive range of different aesthetics, techniques and atmospheres. This much-loved institution proves yet again its seminal importance, since it’s the only opportunity for the citizens of this city, as well as for its visitors, to wander inside buildings that they have up until now only been able to admire from the outside, and learn the fascinating history behind them.
With over 50 buildings participating in the architecture tours that will take place between the 9th and 10th of April 2022, we’ve picked 9 outstanding examples of interior design that are truly a must-see.
My Loft (the Hub Events) — If Untitled Architecture
Bringing to light the issue of the re-use of old industrial relics with an entirely different purpose in mind, the If Untitled Architecture group (M. Yiannakopoulou, A. Grafweg, S.Hirano) created in 2010 in the building on Alkmene street the multi-purpose space “The Hub”, alongside residences in the loft style. In the interior, the industrial spacial character of the building is preserved and celebrated, while the residences are designed in a way that offers maximum flexibility to its inhabitants. On the facade of the building, Andy Holden’s sculpture “Folly” stands out the most.
More: if-untitled.com
Images: If Untitled Architects
Law Office on Omirou street - AKA Architects
In 2019, the architecture firm AKA (Apostolou Colakis Architects) wrapped up the renovations on the historic building on Omirou street. The exterior partition of the Art Deco shell (base, body, crowning) is maintained in the interior as well: the basement functions as a threshold for the customer, the middle floor house the offices and the final level hosts a conference room. The main idea behind the interior design is transparency in the graduations and the compiling of a vocabulary inspired by Athenian entrances: not only in regards to the chosen materials, like marble and wood but also in the style and aesthetic, which is formal, with imposing, monolithic elements positioned liberally around space.
More: ak-a.gr
Images: Panos Kokkinias
Dave Red Athens Hotel — K-Studio
One of the newest additions to the Athenian Hotel scene, Dave Red Athens combines in its intricate design the industrial element and a vintage aesthetic, with furniture reminiscent of the retro era of the 1970s. These selections were inspired by the shell of the modern building itself, which in its interior assumes a new air, with the unprocessed cement walls, the red-coloured surfaces, the exposed pipes and the careful selection of materials in the furnishing of the spaces (marble, wood, metal and glass). The urban aesthetic is enhanced with this vibrant red colour, utilised both in the building as well as the Hotel’s branding design.
More: k-studio.gr
Image: Brown Hotels
10AM Lofts - Studio Andrew Trotter, Gavalas Ioannidou Architecture, Eva Papadaki
A former Kerameikos storehouse was transformed into a multipurpose hub, housing lofts, a penthouse and a free reception hall for events, art exhibits, movie filming or other creative happenings. The common denominator between all these spaces is the utilisation of crude concrete, over which different textures and lightings interact. Lofts are differentiated by their wall colour palette and the furnishing style (modern, minimal, Scandinavian, 70s). This project gives emphasis to tranquillity as well as the plurality that a simple concrete box can offer to the world of design.
More: andrew-trotter.com | gavalasioannidou.com
Images: Salva Lopez
The Modernist Athens Hotel — FORMrelated architects
Bringing the successful concept from Thessaloniki to Athens, FORMrelated architects propound a minimal Danish design with modern luxury elements in the rooms of The Modernist Hotel. Natural elements like wood, marble and leather are utilised, combined with bronze details, while plenty of surfaces are painted in dark hues, creating intriguing contrasts. This simple aesthetic is also reflected in its branding design curated by the Post-Spectacular Office. The hotel was awarded the 2021 Best City Style Hotel title at the 100% Hotel Design Awards.
Images: Ioanna Roufopoulou
Dental Office in Didotou Str - Evangelos Valtikos Architecture Practice
Another renovation project, this time in an interwar era residence from the 1930s. The basic philosophy of the design of a new dental office is the creation of a sense of comfort and familiarity in the client, something which is occasioned by the particular colour palettes of each room, the furniture with the soft upholstery as well as the liberal lighting. The style of the interior design balances between retro and contemporary, even though what truly stands out is the award-winning artificial lighting of the space, highlighting some of the old elements of the building.
Images: Kimberly Powell
The Pinnacle Athens Hotel — The Conous Creative Team (Stylianos Konstantinidis, Frgiskos Papasifakis)
The end-goal of the renovations of this tall building at the heart of the city was to achieve a fresh design with elements of urban eclecticism, thus combining the history of the modern 1970s shell with the elegant interior design necessary for all new hotels. Soft colours, furniture with gold and silver accents, velvety curtains, parquet floors and vintage wallpapers compose the designing puzzle. To accentuate the urban eclecticism, porcelain vases, gravures and other antiques were collected from antique stores.
More: conous.gr
Images: Thomas Gerasopoulos
Delta Restaurant at SNFCC — Kois Associated Architects
For the creation of the Restaurant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, Kois Associated Architects opted to idolise hellenism through archetypal atmospheres and constructions that make references to narrations of ancient mythology, without straying away from the human scale. Instead of a traditional division of functions, the space is constructed like a landscape. Wood, Metal and rock are used in different combinations, highlighting the virtuosity of the techniques used and the nativeness of the forms.
More: koisarchitecture.com
Images: Jerome Galland
Ioannis Despotopoulos Office — Angelos Bratis Studio
Ioannis Despotopoulos was the sole Greek student of Bauhaus. In the construction he had designed on Souidias Street, he kept his offices on the ground floor. In 2019, the fashion designer Angelos Bratis launched his atelier in the same space. He kept all the original elements that were found, halting the passing of time. The furniture remains faithful to functionality and is designed with wooden surfaces supported by metal features. All this is brought out by the white colour of the walls and the light fixtures.
Image: Martha Vosdou
Open House has much more to offer than just the architectural tours. On the same dates, 9th — 10th of April, guided tours in creative spaces will take place, with Made In Athens, as well as thematic walks in the City Centre and Kifisia, with Open Walk. Moving on to the internet, interviews with architectural firms operating in the city will premier during those same dates, with Open Office. To add to that, many contests addressed to photographers, creators as well as the general public will run concurrently. For the full program of Open House Athens 2022, as well as for the visiting hours for the public, click here.
