XT97 Modernist Housing / Lara VartziotiSave this picture!© Dimitris Kleanthis Architects: Lara Vartzioti Area Area of this architecture project Area:  432 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2023 Photographs Photographs:Dimitris Kleanthis Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  CE.SI. Ceramica, HaufenMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. The extant building, nested in the city centre of Athens, is one of the finest examples of modernist housing in Greece and potentially an early precursor to brutalism imposed by topological factors in Greece.
The initial design by A. Siagas stipulated two independent maisonettes, adjacent not only vertically, but also horizontally. This solution of Athenian housing, alongside many innovations in the design, constitutes the particularity and genius of the building. In the forthcoming years, the initial design was abandoned and more conservative approaches were employed, changing not only the interior, but also the facade of the building.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The restoration of the building was completed at the end of 2023. We decided to keep a multitude of details of the surviving building, while converting the interior into flexible spaces that can be customised for different uses, in compliance with contemporary housing needs and in direct contrast to the strict floor plans of the original design. To that end, the wooden staircase - originally destined as private to one apartment - was renovated to serve as a common space staircase. The interior passageway leading to the two houses forms an alley, in a way expanding the city into the building. This was conserved, but the initial wall was substituted with glass tiles, forming an office in synergy with the city. The terrazzo floor was preserved, emphasised by its adjacency to the epoxy floor that now frames it. The new penthouse was created in a way that functions as an index, or an x-ray, of the construction to where all the columns extend, resulting in a complex design that signifies the irregularities and liberties of the strict principles that A. Siagas followed in his work. Save this picture!The old concrete structure has been maintained and reinforced where it was necessary, while a new slab was constructed for the top floor. Built in the 1930s, it was not connected to modern sewage, water supply, and electricity networks, which had to be restored. During the renovation, all the decisions concerning the upgrades were made with the aim of protecting and respecting the heritage of the building. The renovation restored the building to its original condition as much as possible, while simultaneously bringing to the surface a new updated form, complying with contemporary living needs and the city's regulations. Special attention was given to the energy upgrade of the building. This is evident by the wooden-framed windows that were installed, which resemble the original ones but comply with current energy efficiency regulations. Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!This restoration posed challenges in both cultural and social terms, in identifying the fine balance between a functional and an archaeological approach with respect to both the initial intentions of the architect and the current socio-political conditions in the centre of the metropolis of Athens. Thus, it was imperative to create a meaningful design out of subtleties and avoiding potential flamboyant tendencies seen in recent restorations. Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Charilaou Trikoupi 97, Athens, GreeceLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeLara VartziotiOffice••• MaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on May 01, 2025Cite: "XT97 Modernist Housing / Lara Vartzioti" 01 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1029461/xt97-modernist-housing-lara-vartzioti&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream