Arid reworks and extends a two-story corner building from 1951 in the Patissia district of Athens into a hybrid residential, co-living, and co-working building. The project, dubbed Veil, renovates the original fabric and adds three new floors above it, resulting in an 850-square-meter building that engages directly with its neighborhood’s spatial logic.

The intervention is shaped by Karamanlaki Street’s characteristic morphology, where setbacks generate ‘prassies,’ semi-open front gardens. These transitional spaces become a guiding principle for the new volume, which pulls back, carving out terraces and voids that preserve openness and visual continuity along the street. This restraint allows the building to sit comfortably within its context, maintaining lightness despite its increased height.

The architects integrate contemporary elements into the existing structure, with its marble surfaces, wooden floors, and timber window frames. The added volume above introduces perforated aluminum panels that wrap the facade, softening the mass and blurring its edges, creating a layered composition where structure and surface, concealment and exposure become one.

all images by Giorgos Kordakis, unless stated otherwise

arid reworks the polykatoikia as a shared living model

The Athens-based team at Arid improves ventilation and privacy with a double-skin facade system that allows light to filter and reflect in constantly changing ways. Movable louvers and rotating panels regulate daylight, producing shifting transparencies and a kinetic quality. As the sun moves, the appearance of Veil changes, transforming the upper floors into an almost immaterial presence hovering above the older base.

Programmatically, the project rethinks the social model of the Athenian polykatoikia. Alongside a range of residential units, the building incorporates coworking spaces, a shared coliving apartment, and a communal roof garden. These shared areas extend the idea of collective urban living, updating it for contemporary patterns of work and habitation while remaining rooted in Athens’ long tradition of dense, mixed-use residential life.

the project embedded within patissia’s dense residential fabric | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

the renovated 1950s corner building|  image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

perforated aluminum mesh mediates between interior life and the surrounding fabric | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

rooftop terraces carve out semi-private outdoor rooms | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

perforated aluminum panels filter light across the facade

terraces wrapped by a double-skin facade create transitional spaces

operable metal screens allow controlled openness

the new volume reads as a soft, filtered presence

forming a layered urban profile

the building reads as luminous presence

shifting transparencies emerge as sunlight filters through the double-skin facade

the retained concrete base contrasts with the contemporary metal-clad extension

maintaining privacy for residential units | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

a hybrid residential, co-living, and co-working building | image by Vasilis Fotiou

interior partitions echo the exterior’s filtering logic | image by Giorgos Sfakianakis

mesh-filtered daylight softens the living environment | image by Vasilis Fotiou

project info:

name: Veil

architect: Arid | @arid_architects

location: Patissia, Athens, Greece

area: 850 square meters

design team: Mathilda Beraha, Dimitris Sotiropoulos, Giannis Schinas

contractor: Calen

mechanical engineer: HMeng

structural engineers: Andreas Alexandropoulos, Dimitris Antonopoulos

facade: Rometal

lighting design: Anastasia Philipopoulou

landscape design: Scape

photographers: Giorgos Sfakianakis | @g_sfakianakis, Giorgos Kordakis | @yiorgoskordakis, Vasilis Fotiou 

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Wild Souls is a clean-eating venue designed by studiomateriality and located at the corner of two busy streets in the Kolonaki district of Athens. Positioned within a dense urban context, the project integrates into the city’s daily movement while establishing a clear architectural identity at the street corner.

The exterior is fully clad in terracotta tiles, giving the building a consistent material presence on all visible facades. The use of terracotta introduces a warm, earthy surface that references natural materials and aligns with the plant-based focus of the food concept. The uniform treatment of the facade allows the store to remain visually legible from multiple directions within the surrounding streetscape.

Wild Souls is a clean-eating venue located at a street corner in Kolonaki, Athens | all images by Antonis Sarris

Wild Souls’ Square Plan Organized Around Communal Dining

Inside, the design team at Athens-based studiomateriality organizes the layout around a clear square plan that promotes openness and visibility across the space. A large, centrally positioned tiled communal table anchors the ground floor and accommodates shared seating for up to ten people. This element structures circulation while supporting informal gathering and collective dining.

The upper level introduces a contrasting atmosphere through extensive use of greenery. Planting defines the seating area and creates a quieter environment removed from street activity below. This level functions as an interior retreat, offering a spatial shift through light, vegetation, and reduced visual density.

the building establishes a clear architectural presence within the surrounding streetscape

Consistent Materiality Shapes Wild Souls’ Interior Experience

Material choices remain consistent throughout the project. Terracotta surfaces, muted tones, and natural textures are paired with planting to establish a cohesive interior language. The design avoids excessive formal gestures, allowing materiality, proportion, and spatial organization to support the program. Wild Souls is conceived as a place for eating and social interaction, where architectural elements frame everyday use within one of Athens’ most active neighborhoods.

the materiality references natural surfaces and earthy tones

the interior layout is organized around a clear square plan

openness and visual continuity define the ground-floor space

a centrally placed tiled communal table anchors the interior

extensive planting defines the upper-floor seating area

the upper floor functions as a quieter interior retreat

terracotta surfaces continue throughout the interior spaces

muted tones and natural textures establish material consistency

the layout supports informal gathering and collective dining

architectural elements frame everyday dining and social interaction

project info:

name: Wild Souls
architect: studiomateriality | @studiomateriality

location: Irodotou 14, Kolonaki, Athens, Greece

area: 115 sqm

photographer: Antonis Sarris | @thecaptainanton

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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A Japanese restaurant named TANPOPO has opened in Athens with interiors designed by TRAIL [practice]. Tucked behind Klafthmonos Square, the project presents a casual ramen canteen that opens directly to the sidewalk, aligning food preparation, dining, and street life within a single spatial sequence.

The name ‘tanpopo’ refers both to the dandelion plant and to the 1985 Japanese film centered on the pursuit of a perfect bowl of ramen. That cultural reference carries through the atmosphere of the restaurant, where service remains informal and immediate, and where the boundary between interior activity and the city outside feels intentionally thin.

images © Margarita Yoko Nikitaki

Kitchen as structure and circulation

The architects at TRAIL [practice] positions the kitchen at TANPOPO at the forefront of the plan, visible from the Athens street and central to how visitors move through the Japanese restaurant. Cooking becomes the primary spatial event, encountered before seating and experienced as an active threshold between inside and outside.

The open kitchen sits within a freestanding, double-height metal frame that operates as an independent structure. This element holds the preparation area as a self-contained system with its own tempo, while remaining visually open on all sides. Food counters form the key points of exchange, where chefs serve ramen directly, allowing preparation and consumption to meet in real time.

TANPOPO is a Japanese restaurant located behind Klafthmonos Square in Athens

tanpopo interiors designed by TRAIL [practice]

Metal defines much of the interior of the TANPOPO, and reinforces the transient, eat-and-go character of the Japanese restaurant in Athens. Stainless steel surfaces dominate the kitchen, extending visually into gray-toned plaster walls and Aliveri marble details within the seating area, creating a continuous spatial field rather than distinct zones.

Texture provides differentiation where function shifts. Smooth steel gives way to rough plaster and processed marble, producing tactile variation while maintaining tonal coherence. Wooden benches introduce warmth associated with traditional canteens, supporting ease of movement and informal gathering. Through careful control of materials and flow, TANPOPO in Athens frames a dining experience that feels direct, spatially legible, and closely tied to the act of making food.

interior design by TRAIL [practice] places the kitchen at the center

cooking is fully visible from the street and from within the dining area

a freestanding double height metal frame houses the open kitchen

food preparation and consumption unfold along a continuous path

stainless steel dominates the kitchen surfaces and visual field

wooden benches introduce warmth and canteen-like familiarity

project info:

name: Tanpopo

architect: TRAIL [practice] | @trailpractice

location: Athens, Greece

design team: Manos Babounis, Nasia Filippou, Konstantina Eglezou

graphic design: Korax

contractor: Giorgos Papadimitrakis

light design: Giorgos Garyfallos

photography: © Margarita Yoko Nikitaki | @margarita_yoko_nikitaki

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Construction is underway for KYKLOS, a center for art and culture in the port city of Piraeus, designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Commissioned by the Dinos and Lia Martinos Foundation (DLMF), the project adds to the Italian architect’s growing presence in Greece, including his acclaimed Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens and three new public hospitals developed with SNF across the country. Focusing on sustainability, accessibility, and intercultural dialogue, KYKLOS aims to become a place where contemporary creativity and traditional heritage come together. With completion slated for late 2028 and full private funding, KYKLOS brings together diverse perspectives.

renderings by MIR

kyklos to house art from multiple regions across the globe

The name KYKLOS, Greek for ‘circle’, describes the core mission of the project of creating a continuous, inclusive space where ideas, narratives, and communities converge. The center will house permanent collections of art from Africa, Oceania, and other regions across the globe, collections often underrepresented in Western institutions. Alongside these, an evolving calendar of contemporary exhibitions, lectures, screenings, and both physical and digital educational programs will explore the intersections of global cultures and artistic practices.

Mirroring this philosophy, the project’s visual and brand identity, developed by the creative agency Interweave, embodies the same values of openness and interconnectedness that define KYKLOS. Conceived by Renzo Piano’s team as an urban oasis, the center will dedicate 62% of its site to green and recreational spaces, intertwining architecture and landscape in a way that enhances the surrounding neighborhood. Prioritizing universal accessibility, energy efficiency, and a strong connection to the local context, the building promises to become a sustainable landmark for the city.

KYKLOS center for art and culture is set to rise in the port city of Piraeus

DLMF’s project is scheduled for completion in 2028

Positioned as a node within a broader international network of cultural institutions, the DLMF’s center aspires to bring local and global audiences into conversation. Whether through a school workshop, a traveling exhibition, or a public lecture, KYKLOS will encourage reflection on how artistic expression can help us navigate the complexities of a connected world. As executive director Christos Carras notes, the project is rooted in the belief that art can act as a bridge—one that not only links continents but also fosters empathy and shared understanding.

Expected to open its doors in the final quarter of 2028, KYKLOS represents a significant new chapter for the cultural identity of Piraeus and the wider Attica region. 

the center will house permanent collections of art from Africa, Oceania, and other regions across the globe

Renzo Piano’s vision for KYKLOS is one of openness and environmental responsibility

the project is expected to open its doors in the final quarter of 2028

project info:

name: KYKLOS | @kyklosartscentre

architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) | @rpbw_architects

location: New Faliro, Piraeus, Greece

client/foundation: Dinos and Lia Martinos Foundation (DLMF)

executive director: Christos Carras

branding and design concept: Interweave | @interweave_

completion: projected for 2028

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Greece approves the preliminary studies for the long-anticipated expansion and upgrade of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, designed by David Chipperfield Architects in collaboration with Alexandros Tombazis Architects (find designboom’s previous coverage here).

Announcing the approval, Greece’s Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: ‘Greece is acquiring the National Archaeological Museum it deserves.’  Her statement frames the project as a recalibration of a complex architectural organism shaped by 19th-century neoclassicism and successive modernist additions. The existing building, originally conceived for a very different museological era, now struggles to accommodate contemporary visitor numbers, conservation standards, and curatorial practices. The expansion addresses these pressures by consolidating fragmented additions, restoring aspects of the original structure, and introducing new spaces that align the museum with current international standards.

all images courtesy of Greece’s Ministry of Culture

Chipperfield and Tombazis reorganize circulation and light

The David Chipperfield Architects team, together with local Alexandros Tombazis Architects, proposes restructuring how the museum operates and how it connects to Athens. A new main entrance on Patission Street leads to a public plaza and an interior foyer designed as a civic threshold. Above and below ground, the museum extends into a landscaped public park that acts as an urban garden. Conceived in dialogue with Ernst Ziller’s original 1889 building and the romantic park traditions of its era, the landscape design unfolds through winding paths, layered planting, and subtle changes in topography that create a sense of depth and discovery within a dense urban context.

Architecturally, the new galleries alternate between large, free-flowing exhibition halls with diagonal views and access to daylight and smaller, more introspective cabinet-like rooms designed for focused encounters with individual works. This variety allows the museum to respond to different types of objects and narratives while shaping a more nuanced visitor experience. A central water element in the underground level reinforces orientation and daylight penetration, addressing long-standing issues of humidity and water ingress that have affected the building.

Greece approves the preliminary studies for the expansion and upgrade of the National Archaeological Museum

Museological route traces Greek culture across four levels

Approximately 17,000 antiquities will be displayed across two major thematic zones, organized into 13 sections and multiple sub-narratives. The prehistoric collections, Neolithic, Cycladic, and Mycenaean, more than double in size, expanding from 1,100 square meters to 2,500 square meters. Temporary exhibition spaces also grow substantially, while new storage, logistics, and conservation facilities are integrated to support both daily operations and international collaborations. Educational spaces increase more than threefold, reinforcing the museum’s role as a place of learning rather than passive display.

The approved museological concept introduces a clear chronological route tracing Greek culture from the Neolithic period to Late Antiquity. Visitors move across four levels, two within the new extension and two within the historic building, guided by a central axis that provides spatial clarity and orientation. In the extension, this axis is organized around a naturally lit central atrium that anchors the experience and presents key objects from different historical periods. Within the monument itself, a sequence of galleries along the main axis offers varying scales, lighting conditions, and spatial rhythms, particularly evident in the presentation of ancient Greek sculpture from the archaic to the classical era.

introducing new spaces that align the museum with current international standards

Athens moves forward with landmark cultural upgrade

Beyond exhibitions, the project strengthens the research and professional infrastructure of the museum. Conservation laboratories nearly double in size, storage areas are expanded and modernized, and the library and historical photographic archive gain additional space and dedicated facilities. Secure circulation routes for staff and artifacts are integrated into the plan, improving both operational efficiency and conservation standards. The static study of the building addresses the heterogeneity of its structure, introducing targeted interventions to enhance seismic performance while accommodating new architectural and mechanical requirements.

Environmental performance is a central concern of the upgrade. The project introduces comprehensive energy improvements, enhanced climate control for the protection of antiquities, and systems designed for long-term adaptability. Accessibility is addressed throughout, with elevators, ramps, and clearly dimensioned paths ensuring universal access to both the museum and the surrounding park. The landscape design includes tree planting along Patission Street to mitigate heat, reduce airborne dust, and create a shaded transitional space between the city and the museum.

restructuring how the museum operates and how it connects to Athens

the museum extends into a landscaped public park

large, free-flowing exhibition halls

a central water element in the underground level reinforces orientation and daylight penetration

approximately 17,000 antiquities will be displayed across two major thematic zones

project info:

name: Renovation of the National Archaeological Museum | @namuseumathens

architect: David Chipperfield Architects | @davidchipperfieldarchitects and Alexandros N. Tombazis & Associates

location: Athens, Greece

client: Hellenic Ministry of Culture

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In a landscape long defined by Cycladic white and postcard predictability, Urban Soul Project (USP) introduces Neema Maison Finikia Santorini, a hotel designed for Neema – Domes Resorts. USP’s concept is based on a sculptural metal ‘thread’ that moves through the interiors like a continuous line drawing. Beginning at reception, it traces and outlines architectural elements, merges with joinery, and concludes in a large-scale wall installation referencing fashion illustration and textile craft. 

Color becomes a structuring tool. Neema’s signature red appears as a counterpoint to textured neutrals, framing the reception area and recurring across built-ins, furniture, and details, and reads as a stabilizing rhythm, organizing the visual field.

all images courtesy of Urban Soul Project and Neema Maison Finikia Santorini

Cinematic outdoor spaces and editorial interiors in santorini

Moving toward the pool, a custom tile pattern, derived from Neema’s woven brand motif, animates the outdoor area, while sculptural sunbeds and an expressive bar establish organic silhouettes against the Cycladic light. Plaster, wood, stone, and fabric interact with sun and shadow to create a setting that feels cinematic. 

Guest rooms approach the narrative from a more intimate angle. The Greek architects at USP compose each room as though prepared for a fashion shoot; lighting, textures, and spatial alignment highlight the occupant as the central figure. Dressing-room-inspired vanity lights, tile layouts recalling fabric swatches, and custom furniture pieces reinforce this editorial sensibility. The red of the brand returns in restrained accents, woven into headboards, bathroom elements, and built-in details, allowing continuity without repetition. Throughout the rooms, the woven brand motif is integrated into surfaces and panels.

set in a landscape long defined by Cycladic white and postcard predictability

Urban Soul Project (USP) introduces Neema Maison Finikia Santorini

USP’s concept is based on a sculptural metal ‘thread’

color becomes a structuring tool

a hotel designed for Neema – Domes Resorts

the thread moves through the interiors like a continuous line drawing

USP composes each room as though prepared for a fashion shoot

lighting, textures, and spatial alignment highlight the occupant as the central figure

custom furniture pieces reinforce this editorial sensibility

the red of the brand returns in restrained accents

the woven brand motif is integrated subtly into surfaces and panels

plaster, wood, stone, and fabric interact with sun and shadow

sculptural sunbeds establish organic silhouettes against the Cycladic light

project info:

name: Neema Maison Finikia Santorini

architect: Urban Soul Project | @urban.soul.project

partners in charge: Maria Tsaftari

lead architects: Polina Liarostathi, Nikoletta Daniil, Nikoletta Gkoka

design team: Mariza Argyrou, Andreas Daniel

client: Neema – Domes Resorts

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Inverse Ruin by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh stands within the Archaeological Park of Herakleia in Policoro, Italy a quiet expanse where traces of the Archaic Temple meet the open landscape of the Ionian plain. Developed as part of the broader project Siris, curated by STUDIO STUDIO STUDIO with artistic direction by Antonio Oriente, the installation forms one of several interventions intended to bring clarity to a site shaped by layered histories.

Set within the park’s so-called Vallata Mediana, the work introduces a temporary structure that aligns itself with both the ground conditions and the fragmented archaeology around it. Siris spans the park through artist-specific works, though Inverse Ruin occupies a distinct architectural register: one shaped by measured geometry, an explicit frame, and a dialogue with the uneven stone remnants at its feet.

images © Roberto Conte

a steel frame suspends an inverse ruin

Approached from the main path, Gijs Van Vaerenbergh’s Inverse Ruin appears as a precise volume lifted from the plan of the Archaic Temple. The Belgian studio worked with a system of steel members that trace the original footprint while leaving the air and light to carry the form. The clear, permeable envelope thus allows visitors to understand the temple’s dimensions through a structure that feels ancient and weightless.

Walking beneath the open frame produces a direct encounter with the archaeological remains. The steel offers a crisp silhouette against the sky, while the ruins below present irregular textures that shift subtly in changing daylight. Each side of the installation strengthens the legibility of the ancient plan, and guides visitors through a sequence that follows the geometry before dissolving into the surrounding park.

Inverse Ruin traces the footprint of the Archaic Temple through a precise steel frame

the low-impact lattice

The choice of material heightens the relationship between permanence and change. Slim steel sections form a lattice that meets the terrain with careful footing, avoiding disturbance to the ground. This approach reflects the guiding principles of Siris, which emphasizes reversible, low-impact interventions that maintain the integrity of the archaeological field.

Seen from a distance, the contrast between the ordered frame and the scattered stones makes each element clearer. The metal lines appear almost chromatic in certain conditions, shifting from cool to warm as the sun moves across the site.

Inverse Ruin bridges the distance between the past form and present condition by reconstructing only the essential lines of the temple. The absence of walls turns the volume into a walk-through drawing, where spatial memory becomes physically navigable. Each corner aligns with a corresponding point of the archaeological plan, enabling visitors to sense the scale of the ancient structure through the rhythm of the steel frame.

the installation by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh brings new clarity to the archaeological plan

Siris positions Inverse Ruin as part of a broader interpretive strategy for the Archaeological Park of Herakleia. Alongside works by Selva Aparicio and Max Magaldi — each responding to different aspects of the sanctuary landscape — the duo’s installation addresses the architectural legacy of the Archaic Temple through a contemporary spatial reading. The project was commissioned by the Italian Ministry of Culture and shaped through extended research, site surveys, and dialogue with the local context.

Within this framework, the contribution by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh highlights how such a precise architectural gesture can recreate the relationships between ancient fragments. 

light and air move freely through the steel outline of the ancient volume

the structure aligns with the terrain and keeps the stones visible from every side

visitors walk the full scale of the temple through a physical ‘architectural drawing’

materials were chosen for reversibility and minimal impact on the ground

the work forms a key part of the larger Siris project in the Park of Herakleia

project info:

name: Inverse Ruin (Site specific artwork for Siris)

architect: Gijs Van Vaerenbergh | @gijsvanvaerenbergh

location: Herakleia Archaeological Park, Policoro, Matera, Italy

curator: STUDIO STUDIO STUDIO | @studio_studio_studio_

artistic direction: Antonio Oriente

photography: © Roberto Conte | @ilcontephotography 

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Foster + Partners unveils a masterplan to transform the iconic FIX brewery into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront destination in Thessaloniki, Greece. Commissioned by developers Dimand, the project repurposes the historic industrial site along the city’s western seafront, within walking distance of the center, introducing new homes, a hotel, cultural venues, and lively public spaces. The development is a central piece of Thessaloniki’s broader urban regeneration strategy.

all images © Foster + Partners

A CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT

The design celebrates the site’s history while incorporating modern architectural elements. Michael Jones, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, describes the project as ‘a major catalyst for urban regeneration,’ emphasizing green public spaces, pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly routes, and civic amenities. Historic elements, such as red-brick facades, vaulted ceilings, and industrial-style windows, are preserved and reinterpreted, linking the brewery’s past with its future. A landscaped public square anchors the scheme, framed by greenery and a central water feature. The square connects the new hotel and residential buildings, whose terraces offer sea views and protected outdoor spaces that extend the interiors. Former industrial buildings are expected to host museums, galleries, and hospitality venues, establishing the site as a cultural nucleus for the city. Terraces and vaulted ceilings create fluid transitions between interior and exterior spaces, offering shade, privacy, and a connection to the public realm. By integrating nineteenth-century industrial vernacular with contemporary design, the project by the British international studio fosters a dialogue between history and modern living.

the iconic FIX brewery is set to turn into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront destination

the project introduces new homes, a hotel, cultural venues, and lively public spaces

the design celebrates the site’s history while incorporating modern elements

red-brick facades, vaulted ceilings, and industrial-style windows, are preserved and reinterpreted

terraces and vaulted ceilings create fluid transitions between interior and exterior spaces

the firm integrates nineteenth-century industrial vernacular with contemporary design

a dialogue between history and modern living emerges

project info: 

name: FIX Thessaloniki
architects: Foster + Partners | @fosterandpartners
location: Thessaloniki, Greece

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Designed as the personal home of Block722 founders Katja Margaritoglou and Sotiris Tsergas, Lumen Residence brings the studio’s warm, curated sensibility to Athens’ leafy Papagou district, transforming a duplex apartment into both a family retreat and a study in contemporary urban living.

The residence occupies the top two levels of a five-unit building conceived and developed by Block722 with Thekla Construction. From the street, the structure reads as confident and geometric, balancing modern rigor with soft edges. Its volumes and timber detailing echo Athens’ postwar optimism, recalling mid-century forms backdropped by native Mediterranean plantings. 

The 230-square-meter duplex is organized with open, free-flowing interiors. The main level gathers living, dining, and kitchen spaces into an open plan delineated by furniture and subtle partitions. Each function is distinct yet connected, shaped by materials rather than rigid walls.

images © Ana Santl Andersen

block722’s palette of warm and natural materials

Every surface within the Lumen Residence has been considered by the team at Block722 for texture and touch. Travertino rosso, oiled timber, marble, and textured plaster lend warmth and depth, rendering the interiors in natural material expression. These choices will age gracefully, allowing the homes to evolve alongside its inhabitants. Custom-designed furniture and locally crafted details continue this sensibility and reveal Block722’s ongoing collaboration with local craftspeople.

On the upper level, the private quarters open to a planted terrace with a pool and deck. The terrace becomes both a lush retreat and an extension of day-to-day life, framing long views over Papagou’s green edges toward the city. The home’s southern orientation ensures that daylight floods interiors with sunlight, and links living spaces with the arc of the sun.

the duplex home in Papagou balances clarity of space with crafted warmth

wellness integrated into the architecture

With its Lumen Residence, Block722 treats the concept of ‘wellness’ as a spatial condition rather than an added amenity. Large openings invite natural air and views of surrounding greenery, while thresholds between inside and outside remain deliberately porous. The composition creates moments of stillness — places to gather, pause, or observe.

The residence also reflects the studio’s guiding approach of ‘organic luxury,’ a term they use to describe the union of thoughtful design with natural, authentic materials. Here, luxury lies in space to breathe, in the honesty of surfaces, in the continuity between structure and nature.

For Margaritoglou and Tsergas, creating their own home offered both freedom and responsibility. The process became a live experiment in the values of comfort and human connection which they bring to every commission.

Block722 designs the Lumen Residence with a focus on wellness and material depth

custom furniture and locally-crafted details strengthen the home’s tactile character

the building’s geometries echo mid-century Athens

natural materials include travertino rosso and timber

an open plan lends fluid movement between living, dining, and kitchen areas

light shapes the interiors through large openings that frame greenery

project info:

name: Lumen Residence

architect: Block722 | @block722architects

location: Athens, Greece

photographer: © Ana Santl Andersen | @iamnotana

interior design: Block722
landscaping: Block722
planting: Outside landscape architecture
main contractor: Θekla Construction
project manager: Vasiliki Moustafatzi
construction manager: Michael Gryllakis – Eleni Boni
procurement: Eleni Boni, Panagiotis Konstantopoulos, Sofia Stefanopoulou
lighting design: Placed – Block722

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On the sun-bleached island of Schinousa, Greece, Aristides Dallas Architects crafts Maison Cheval as a residence inseparable from the ground it inhabits. Conceived as a structure drawn out of the land, the project follows the undulating topography of the island with stone walls and sinuous paths that unfurl like ribbons across the hillside. Partially embedded into the terrain, the dwelling reinterprets Cycladic tradition through flowing curves, tactile materials, and a deep sensitivity to the rhythms of light, sea, and soil.

The architects describe the project as emerging from the earth itself, its form guided by the natural contours of the landscape. Dry-stone walls rise and bend in response to the terrain in a sequence of intimate and open spaces. Concave gestures create sheltered living zones reminiscent of the island’s coves, while convex terraces and pools extend outward like petals toward the horizon.

all renderings by Kostas Tsilivis

maison cheval moves with the island’s contours

The name Maison Cheval, French for ‘Horse House’, anchors the project in metaphor as much as material. The Greek architects imagined the residence as a creature of balance and grace, standing composed against the slopes, leaving only the faintest imprint on the earth. This image becomes a guiding principle in this composition as the building aims to move with the contours of the island and dissolve into its light.

Earth-toned materials, soft transitions, and diffused daylight create a calm continuum between architecture and landscape. The curved stone walls and sculpted roofs cast alternating bands of shadow, reflecting the Schinousa’s rhythm of exposure and shelter.

Aristides Dallas Architects crafts Maison Cheval as a residence inseparable from the ground it inhabits

the Greek architects imagined the residence as a creature of balance and grace

conceived as a structure drawn out of the land

the project follows the undulating topography of the island with stone walls and sinuous paths

unfurling like ribbons across the hillside

the dwelling reinterprets Cycladic tradition through flowing curves

dry-stone walls rise and bend in response to the terrain

a sequence of intimate and open spaces

concave gestures create sheltered living zones reminiscent of the island’s coves

convex terraces and pools extend outward like petals toward the horizon

soft transitions and diffused daylight create a calm continuum between architecture and landscape

the curved stone walls and sculpted roofs cast alternating bands of shadow

project info:

name: Maison Cheval

architect: Aristides Dallas Architects | @aristidesdallasarchitects

location: Schinousa, Greece

project architect: Elina Parharidou

project team: Emi Georgosopoulou, Myrto Zafeireli, Natassa Misyri, Tassos Marantos, Eirini Sarri, Haritina Trikka

structural study: Fragkiskos Anevlavis

mechanical study: Zafeirios Korakitis

3D visualizations: Kostas Tsilivis | @kostas_tsilivis

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