Three residences at Athens

The exterior spaces of the surrounding area of the building and the roof terrace are distributed to the three residences so that privacy and the sense of personal space are maintained in a symbiotic environment.

In the first level are the parking spaces, the mechanical room, and service spaces for each residence. The first residence occupies the third level and part of the second as main entry. The three bedrooms define a private zone that is filtered from the living area through the circulation corridor. The translucent side of the corridor which is adjacent to the living area with the natural lighting coming from above becomes a projection plane on to which private moments are revealed to the living area in the form of shadows.
The second residence occupies part of the second level and emphasis is given in achieving a strict separation of the private and public areas. The interior stair passes under the fireplace connecting the residence with the first level.
The third residence is organized vertically and it occupies part of the second level with the living area, the kitchen, WC and the third level with two bedrooms and a bathroom. The arrangement of the kitchen and living area in an L-shape creates an increased privacy at the east exterior space in contrast to the public character of the street at the west side. As a result the intense transparency of the living area allows moments where the privacy of the yard co-exists with the public nature of the street. Metal canopies define exterior spaces at the roof terrace of the building where the first and third residences have access through exterior stairs.

The west façade of the building defines the street edge while projecting a plane as a filter of the housing activities from those of the street. This plane is partially defined by sliding perforated metal panels used to control the sun light. These panels also define areas at the exterior spaces where the privacy of the interior is "published". The movement of the panels creates a dynamic façade which is constantly changing so that it projects to the street the building's reaction during the day.
The structural frame of the building is reinforced concrete which is maintained exposed as a trace of the building method to the inhabitant. The frame defines a scale for the elevations while it achieves a certain contrast with the off-white plastered infill walls and the transparent glazing. In a smaller scale, the texture of the exposed concrete with the imprints of the wooden formwork creates unexpected relationships with the rest of the materials in the interior of the residences.

Palimpsest | Architects + Enginners
Ioannis A. Kaklamanis, architect, MsAAD
Christos  Α. Kaklamanis, civil engineer, Ms