NEOCLASSICAL HOUSE IN PAGRATI

2009

NEOCLASSICAL HOUSE IN PAGRATI

EFORIONOS 15, ATHENS

Situated on a pedestrian street, just a few meters off the Kalimarmaro stadium until a few years ago laid a neoclassical abandoned building which had long lost its glory. The 190 m2 neoclassical stone building had to be completely reconstructed, and reinforced due to many years of neglect and also because it had caught fire. The project also involved a 70m2 addition so as to create two separate residences: one basement apartment and a two storey house. Access to the building is through a courtyard with two distinct entrances. The architectural design of both the restoration and the addition to this listed building, respects its identity and special characteristics but also comes in contraposition with its old image by imposing modern design. The addition is based on the idea of a clean monolithic volume cut only by an ongoing ribbon–like opening that literally raps the second floor. This simple and austere sculptural approach offsets the building’s particular aesthetics.

The interior preserves the traditional elements that characterize a neoclassical building, such as the high ceiling rooms and the large entry hallway. Furthermore, the moldings were restored and the wooden framed windows were reconstructed. Materials used such as gray colored plaster coating on the exterior walls, concrete in the internal staircase, gray and blue lime plaster in bathrooms and white epoxy flooring in bedrooms give a smooth relaxing feeling. The living room is paved with traditional cement tiles in black white and grey bringing in mind Escher`s paintings while the books in the specially designed metal bookcase give color in the black and white simple setting. The black linear fireplace contradicts the white wall that functions as a projection screen. The hidden secret of the house is the rooftop urban garden, planted with Mediterranean greenery and aromatic lavender it has become a private hideaway.

Photos by Vangelis Patsialos