Apartment building in the Attiko Alsos

15 Gialourou St, Attiko Alsos, Athens, 1985-1993

Architect
Michalis Souvatzidis (11946-)
Gooperating architect
Erifylli Souvatzidi



The bioclimatically designed apartment on Gialourou St is a typical work of unconventional architecture by Michalis Souvatzidis. It contains the architect’s residence and office, and therefore expresses absolutely his personal views about multi-storeyed residential buildings.
It is situated in the Attiko Alsos (Attic Park) at one of the city’s higher points and was built in the terrace system. The building consists of an entrance level a little lower than that of the street, three upper floors and a flat roof. The various levels and the height of the ceilings in conjunction with the dialogue between closed, semi-outdoor and outdoor spaces create an interesting result both inside the building as well as in the treatment of its façades. Particularly impressive is the living room, two storeys high with a loft, in which natural materials are used – brick, unplastered concrete, light-coloured wood floors and aluminium profiles – which is in harmony with the architect’s sculptures, and hints of tradition, such as the gold colour of the concrete ceiling of the loft, an allusion to Byzantium.
The materials used in treating the elevations are bare concrete and brick. A second surface, perforated or semi-transparent close to the building, is created by the linear aluminium features on the balconies and the solid parapets of glass brick. The linear aluminium features are repeated on the pergola that adorns the terrace roof.

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