Arid Envelops a “Veil” on a Mid-Century Corner Structure in Athens’ Patissia District

An aluminium façade featuring perforations and adjustable panels forms a dynamic, light-filtering barrier that improves ventilation and privacy.

Giorgos Sfakianakis/ Giorgos Kordakis

Arid's "Veil" project revitalises a 1951 corner edifice in Athens' Patissia district, converting it into a modern residential and co-working centre. The intervention entailed a meticulous renovation of the historic structure, coupled with the incorporation of three extra stories, so enlarging the overall area to 850 square meters.

The design prioritises setbacks and outdoor spaces above maximising the buildable area, drawing inspiration from the local morphology of Karamanlaki Street to preserve openness and visual harmony within the urban environment.

Giorgos Sfakianakis/ Giorgos Kordakis

The project is distinguished by its perforated aluminium facade, which serves as a "veil" to mitigate the starkness of the addition's shapes, simultaneously obscuring and revealing. This double-skin façade fulfils both functional and aesthetic roles, enhancing natural ventilation and seclusion while enabling dynamic light reflection from its surface. The exterior features adjustable louvres and revolving panels, producing a "kinetic sculpture" look, where changing transparency engage with sunlight to produce a light, ethereal aesthetic.

The project cultivates an enduring discourse between ancient and modern identities by preserving traditional materials, like marble, timber window frames, and hardwood flooring. The conventional social paradigm of the Athenian polykatoikia is reinterpreted for contemporary living, incorporating several residential units with a co-living apartment and designated co-working spaces. This functional combination features a communal roof garden, harmonising private residences with community-oriented areas that address the neighborhood's vibrant and changing nature.

Explore more at Instagram archisearch.