The White House. Athens, Greece
*The project will be part of the interiors (INSIDE) section of the 2011 WAF (World Architecture Festival) in Barcelona.
The latest transformation of a 1920s typical Athenian dwelling.
The original building, which was divided into two separate and independent units, was built around a courtyard, in several stages, and is the result of constant additions, changes and usage conversions dictated by the ever-changing needs of its various occupants.
The previous intervention, which included the application of fake neoclassical elements on the facade and resulted in the subsequent -erroneous- listing of the building, transformed the ground floor into a restaurant keeping the upper level as a separate living unit.
Our brief was to fuse all the parts of the building into a single family-house without touching the listed exterior.
Our first move was to destroy the open-air staircase in the courtyard in order to open up the space and create a new, interior staircase, which would become the backbone of the new house, linking all three levels of the building.
This new staircase starts at the miniscule basement, which was excavated so as to reach a height of 2,30m, and reaches up to the 1st floor level where its supporting structure forms a cubicle housing the laundry room.
The ground floor which is on the same level as the courtyard, has been enlarged and hosts the family's living room, kitchen and dining room, as well as a study, which can be converted into a guest room. There are also a shower room and a WC.
All bedrooms, two bathrooms and the laundry room are located on the first floor.
