Stene Alexopoulos, a Franco-Greek studio, unveiled an Athenian penthouse renovation with direct views of the Acropolis. The apartment sits in Plaka, Athens’ historic district known as the “neighborhood of the gods.” Located near the Byzantine Church of Saint Catherine and Tripodon Street, considered the oldest street in Europe still in use, the project embraces a setting defined by memory and continuity. The 75 m² apartment occupies the top floor of a 1950s modernist building and includes a panoramic terrace overlooking the Acropolis and the historic city.
Preserving a Family Legacy
The studio approached the project with care, retaining the original layout to respect the essence of the space. The design echoed the 1950s construction era, referencing its Mediterranean modernism while introducing materials and works that connect antiquity, folk craftsmanship, and mid-century Athens. This renovation turned the property into both a home and a creative atelier without losing its atmosphere of 1950s Athens.
Materials and Craftsmanship
The renovation relied on marble, stainless steel, and solid wood, materials emblematic of mid-century Greece. Local artisans crafted bespoke furniture designed by the studio, including a marble bathroom basin and stainless steel structures. The palette drew from the natural hues of the materials, reinforcing authenticity in both form and finish. The project combined new prototypes, vintage furniture, and carefully chosen objects to create a dialogue between function and cultural memory.
Living Room with Sculptural References
In the living room, the studio designed a coffee table carved from Dionysos marble, the same stone used for the Acropolis. The table rests as a monolithic form supported by two blocks, echoing archaic strength. Brushed stainless steel armchairs complement the piece, while a walnut wood sofa with rounded legs recalls ancient Greek design. The dining table features a base of fused columns referencing both the Parthenon colonnades and the Thrasyllos monument visible from the terrace. A marble tabletop with black veining crowns the design, accompanied by Havana chairs from the 1960s. Side tables of cipollino marble and walnut shelving further enrich the room.
Lighting and Antique Elements
Period Italian lighting from the 1950s and 1960s adds depth to the interior. Designs by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni include a Brumbury lamp by Guzzini placed on a 19th-century Greek serving trolley and a Sirio lamp on an Art Deco side table. A contemporary TGV lamp by Ionna Vautrin introduces a modern counterpoint. Additional antique pieces, including a Skyros chair, Peloponnese jars, and a handcrafted Greek mirror, contribute to the layered composition.
Art and Archaeological Tributes
A hand-carved stone fireplace, inspired by Greco-Persian folk art, anchors the living space. White ceramic tiles created by Elena and Andreas Alexopoulos suggest reconstructed fragments, while bronze sculptures by Costas Coulentianos and Robert Couturier punctuate the room. Lithographs by Alekos Fassianos and Jean Souverbie hang above the sofa, complemented by linen canvases by Andreas Alexopoulos. The decor also integrates an 18th-century drawing of the Three Graces, a terracotta acroterion, and a pink marble bull’s head sculpture, each reinforcing the dialogue with antiquity.
Kitchen, Bathroom, and Terrace
The kitchen recalls Greek island design, inspired by the original pink marble floor from Skyros. White furniture crafted from wood and marble sits above the colored stone, with oak parquet and black marble from Veroia preserved elsewhere in the apartment. The bathroom functions as a tribute to Greek marble quarries, combining white marble from Kavala with green cipollino marble, its veins resembling the reflections of the Aegean Sea.
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The terrace crowns the apartment with a Dionysos marble bench supported by legs of green marble from Tinos. Garden chairs by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba create a contemplative space overlooking the Acropolis, where material, memory, and view align.
