saint of athens converts 1920s flat into eclectic ‘upper house’
CategoriesArchitecture

saint of athens converts 1920s flat into eclectic ‘upper house’

step inside saint of athens’ renovated upper house in kypseli

 

Located in the heart of Kypseli, one of Athens’s most historic urban areas, the floor-through Upper House apartment occupies the first level of an iconic building designed and constructed in the 1920s following the architectural style of eclecticism. Saint of Athens founder Nikos Palaiologos teamed up with A&O Architects to renovate his understatedly luxurious 220 sqm property, devising an interior space reminiscent of New York’s Upper East Side apartment houses of the aristocratic flats on the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The house was originally built for the family of a wealthy Greek industrialist of the previous century, which explains many of its rare and inherent features, such as the five-meter high ceilings, the intricate plaster motifs, and the genius overall layout offering easy access to all spaces and a soothing, flowing sense of comfort.

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
all images © Giagkos Papadopoulos

 

 

combining retro aesthetics and modern convenience.

 

The Upper House apartment’s recent renovation by Saint of Athens (see more here) and A&O Architects (more here) joins together a selection of premium materials and appliances — chevron wood flooring, Greek marbles, Internet of Things (IoT), state-of-the-art heating and cooling technology — resulting in a sui generis combination of retro aesthetics and modern convenience. ‘A perfectly preserved one century-old wooden staircase, two reception rooms (living rooms), a dining area, a master bedroom with a walk-in bathroom, a guestroom and a guest bathroom, a library, a kitchen, and a pantry constitute parts of a functional home synthesis that blends practicality with fine craftsmanship and unique taste,’ writes Nikos Palaiologos. 

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
first reception room of the eclectic Upper House in Kypseli

 

 

Furthermore, the design team introduced upscale custom-made creations like the one-of-a-kind closet, the Japanese wallpaper, and the boiseries gracing the walls give the house an eye-pleasing added value, while lavish bits and pieces — from designer furniture and light fixtures to hip ceiling fans and memorabilia/works of art — bless every single space with a careful touch of arty elegance. ‘The Upper House is the epitome of a modern house experience grounded in the finest aesthetic principles of a glorious past,’ concludes Nikos Palaiologos. 

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
Saint of Athens teamed up with A&O Architects to renovate the 220 sqm property

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
preserving the historic aesthetic

saint of athens converts 1920s apartment into the eclectic 'upper house' in kypseli
preserved one century-old wooden staircase



Reference

Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects features AI-generated engravings
CategoriesInterior Design

Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects features AI-generated engravings

UK-studio Tsuruta Architects has combined artificial intelligence with CNC cutting in a revamp of a home in London’s Notting Hill.

Dragon Flat features engraved wall panels and joinery incorporating AI-generated images, including a map of the River Thames and a graphic floral motif.

Staircase and kitchen in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
AI-generated engravings feature on both floors of the home

A CNC router – a computer-controlled cutting machine – allowed these designs to be directly transferred onto wooden boards, which have been used for surfaces within the interior.

Taro Tsuruta, founder of Tsuruta Architects, said that he decided to experiment with AI because there wasn’t room in the budget to collaborate with a graphic designer.

River Thames engraving in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
A map of the River Thames features in the living space

Using DALL-E 2, an AI program that transforms text instructions into high-quality images, he was able to create bespoke designs for the kitchen and bedroom space.

“I typed a series of prompts and ran a series of variations, then came up with an unexpected yet expected result,” he told Dezeen. “It was like sculpting a form with a keyboard.”

Tatami room in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
Upstairs, a tatami room features a row of engraved peonies

Tsuruta’s clients for Dragon Flat were a young Asian couple who moved to London five years ago. The property they bought was a two-level maisonette in a 1950s council block.

The renovation sees the home subtly reconfigured.

The lower level is opened up, allowing the kitchen to become part of the living space, while the upper level has been adapted to create more storage.

This revamped upper level includes a walk-in wardrobe and a tatami room – a typical space in traditional Japanese homes – as well as a main bedroom.

Floral engraving in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
The designs are etched into OSB wall panels

The River Thames image features in the new living and dining room. Engraved plywood panels front a grid of cupboards, creating an entire wall of storage.

The floral pattern, designed to resemble “an army of peonies”, can be found in the tatami room.

Images of these flowers are etched into white-washed oriented strand board (OSB), which forms wall panels. This creates a colour contrast that allows the design to stand out.

Tatami room in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
Whitewashed surfaces allow the floral design to stand out

“We did quite a few sample tests, changing the needle size of the CNC router to get it right,” said Tsuruta.

The aim here, he explained, was to create a design that playfully references Arts and Crafts, a movement that embraced floral imagery but rejected the technological advances of its time.

“Arts and Craft was very labour-intensive,” said the architect. “Our process is the opposite, but we share a common goal of enriching the lives of occupants.”

Bedroom in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
The addition of a walk-in wardrobe frees up space in the bedroom

CNC cutting has played a pivotal role in many of Tsuruta’s projects. Examples include The Queen of Catford, a group of five flats filled with cat faces, and Marie’s Wardrobe, a home with a highly intricate custom staircase.

Dragon Flat is his first completed project to incorporate AI, a process he said provides infinite options but requires human input in order to achieve a successful result.

Staircase and living space in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
A floating timber staircase allows light to filter through

“This process is pretty much the same as with any tool,” he said. “At the end of the day, we were the ones to select and move on to the next variation or stop there.”

The interior also features other playful details, including a floating timber staircase. Built in the same position as the original stairwell, this perforated volume allows more light to filter between spaces.

Bathroom in Dragon Flat by Tsuruta Architects
OSB and marble contrast in the bathroom

The bathroom combines marble with OSB, creating an intentional contrast between luxury and low-cost materials, and also includes some small motifs showing bats.

“The symbolic meaning of peonies, dragons and bats, together with the Thames River, is ambiguous,” added Tsuruta.

“We want people to keep thinking and talking about them, but overall they are believed to bring prosperity and a happy life.”

The photography is by Tim Croker.

Reference

To Make Sure Neutral Architectural Surfaces Don’t Fall Flat, Just Add Texture
CategoriesArchitecture

To Make Sure Neutral Architectural Surfaces Don’t Fall Flat, Just Add Texture

At their best, blank white walls can make a room feel large and airy; on the other hand, expansive blank planes can also lend themselves to clinical or boring atmospheres. And while vibrant colors and bold patterns can inject some personality into spaces, they might not always be an option for homes and offices that are dimly light, narrow or cramped.

In such cases, where neutral tones like white and beige are preferable, adding texture to walls and ceilings can add movement and depth to a monochrome space. Subtle textural protrusions won’t take up much space yet will leave a strong impact. More and more architects are incorporating corrugations, curved profiles, shallow folds and more to add intrigue to greyscale walls and ceilings.

Images by Jonathan Leijonhufvud Architectural Photography

Nanchang Insun International Cinema by One Plus Partnership Ltd, Wuhan, China

Taking inspiration from the black font over white pages in books, the studio transformed the cinema into a heavily textured space. The different panels on the walls are reminiscent of the flipping of pages of masterpieces written by scriptwriters. In the lobby, visitors come across cashier tables that resemble giant stacks of paper — in reality, they are made of Corian.

Panels with slim triangular blocks are suspended from the ceiling to resemble a curtain of flipping paper. Even the columns in the space have been painted and textured to continue the black and white theme. The only thing breaking up the monotony of black and white is a series of green cylindrical spotlights that are put together in an abstract composition.

Huaxin Business Center by Scenic Architecture, Shanghai, China
Jury Winner, 2014 A+Awards, Office Building – Low Rise (1-4 Floors)

The aim of the project was to maximize green cover and protect the six trees present on site. This is achieved by elevating the main mass above the ground to leave more room for green spaces below. The four blocks of the building are connected by open bridges. On the upper level, the spaces holding important functions are covered in twisted aluminum strips on the outside. These strips add translucency to the walls and help establish connectivity with nature beyond. The thin panels, much like light strips of paper floating and twisting with the wind, give the building a very tactile quality and heighten the experience as people walk around and try to peek at the trees beyond.

Images by Sharyn Cairns

Paperbark by KOICHI TAKADA ARCHITECTS, Melbourne, Australia

The restaurant offers a zero-waste menu with locally foraged Australian produce that is designed to inspire and delight. The space reflects this awareness of nature and slow movement. It is inspired by the Victorian Dandenong Ranges and the organic lines of the native paperbark tree. Repurpose biodegradable fabric is used to create the contoured ceiling installation. The subtle tones and softness of the installation help people form an emotional connection with nature while they dine and thereby create more awareness around conservation.

“Light Arrival” Yorkshire Ceiling by Flynn Architecture & Design, Crystal Lake, Illinois

Fluid lines on the ceiling of the sunroom help soften the rectangular edges of this space. Instead of going the digitally designed route, the ceiling is hand sculpted using translucent contoured panels that cover low-voltage LED strip lights for a diffused glow. During the day, when the lights are turned off, the shadows created by sunlight add more dimension to this three-dimensional installation. Fans suspended from this ceiling feature a similar curved profile.

Norwegian embassy in Athens by gfra, Athens, Greece

Unlike traditional origami, the art of kirigami uses small cuts in paper along with folks to create intricate, three-dimensional patterns. The Norwegian embassy in Athens uses this technique to imitate mountains reflecting in the fjord waters. Lights placed above this wooden structure enhance the folds and make this the focal point of the overall space.

Images by Alik Usik and Serhii Nikiforov

Tween Coexistence by Dmytro Aranchii Architects, Kyiv, Ukraine

Curved and bent strips of white shape all elements of this space — right from the ceilings to the reception desk. This technique also helps the furniture to blend into the walls, visualizing fluid circulation. The waiting area contains a large reception desk and an L-shaped sofa that blends in with the stairs leading to the interior spaces. On the ceiling, one can see two distinct patterns: one that originates in the reception area and another that continues along the transition to the inner spaces.

Images by Anil Patel

1102 Penthouse by Apical Reform, Ahmedabad, India

Much like a handcrafted contour model, planes with gradually decreasing cutouts are layered on top of one another to create the ceiling. Similar cutouts are used to embellish the kitchen island and console. The entire space is decorated in a neutral palette of grey and white to create a calming atmosphere. The staircase leading to the terrace is also composed using folded strips of metal similar to the forms of kirigami sculptures. Despite its lightness, it still holds a strong presence within the space.

Images by Jun Murata

N STRIPS by Jam, Osaka, Japan

This project is a renovation of a multi-tenant building that holds living areas and office spaces. The previous blank façade of the building is transformed into an eye-catching display with the help of white fins. This was done to add more privacy as the plot across from it is meant to have an apartment building built on it in the future. Furthermore, the louvers help conceal any unevenness in the external walls as well as the new pipes installed. The extrusions also create constantly changing shadows throughout the day.

 

Reference

Schissel Montgomery Architects renovates Brooklyn flat for art gallerist
CategoriesInterior Design

Schissel Montgomery Architects renovates Brooklyn flat for art gallerist

New York City-based architecture office Schissel Montgomery has completed a minimalist renovation of a three-bedroom apartment in the Park Slope neighbourhood.

Named Wendy’s, the studio decluttered the 1,300-square-foot (120-square-metres) apartment’s living spaces to create “a quiet, generous background for art and life”.

Schissel Montgomery Architects also converted one of the bedrooms facing the street into a study.

White Brooklyn apartment kitchen renovation with tiles
The kitchen uses only lower cabinets to create a sense of openness

The renovation centres around a new kitchen, which is partially open to the living and dining space. Previously, these two areas were separate.“The intervention focuses on creating connections between the shared spaces of the apartment and selectively removing materials accreted over time,” said the studio.

Brooklyn apartment living room with minimalist furniture
A key move was to declutter the apartment’s living room

A new banquette along the wall integrates storage beneath the seat while consolidating the previously separate spaces.

At the end of a corridor, the studio repurposed an existing bedroom to create a study for the owner. Furniture selections here include a table by midcentury designer Eileen Gray and a Barcelona Daybed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Since the apartment is at street level, Schissel Montgomery designed sheer fabric curtains to cover the bottom portion of the windows.

This gives residents more privacy, while still admitting light into the space.

Office with Mies van der Rohe Barcelona daybed
The new study occupies a former bedroom at the far end of the apartment

The project has a restrained palette with light wooden floors, white painted walls and selectively curated furnishings and artwork.

“The intervention focuses on creating connections between the shared spaces of the apartment and selectively removing materials accreted over time,” Schissel Montgomery explained.

Brooklyn apartment foyer with built-in closets
The entrance includes a full-height mirror and built-in storage

Custom details include a handmade concrete enclosure to protect the building’s steam pipe.

It is made of stacked, textured cylinders that resemble a classical column’s fluting motif.

Brooklyn kitchen dining table with custom pipe cover
Custom details include a concrete sleeve to cover the building’s steam pipe

Another additional at the apartment’s entrance is a floor-to-ceiling mirror that was to expand the space and brings more light to a darker area of the apartment.

“The intervention uses painted surfaces, whitewashed floors and window sheers to maximise bounced light in the space,” explained Schissel Montgomery.

Renovated Brooklyn apartment with custom classical details
The pipe enclosure nods to similar classical columns visible from within the apartment

These pipes are left exposed in many New York City apartments and can become so hot that they are hazardous to residents, in addition to being unsightly.

Schissel Montgomery was established in 2019 and is led by two graduates of Columbia University’s architecture school, Michael Schissel and Talene Montgomery.

Other apartment renovations in the Brooklyn area include a townhouse by GRT Architects that is filled with eclectic art objects and a monochrome interior renovation by local firm Arnold Studio.

Photography is by Daniel Terna.


Project credits:

Architect: Schissel Montgomery Architects
Construction: WK Renovation

Reference