Vettas Residence

6 Zosima, Filothei, Attica, 1989-91

Architect
Kyriakos Krokos (1941-1998)



Built in the luxury suburb of Filothei, the home of architect and civil engineer P. Vettas belongs among the last works of Kyriakos Krokos before his untimely death. It is one more characteristic product of his empirical and poetic architecture that is distinguished by the "sensual" handling of rough materials and colours.
The areas in the house are articulated on four levels: basement, ground floor occupying two stories, in which are the reception areas, and the upper floor that contains the bedrooms. The variety in the treatment of the interiors is expressed on the exterior of the home through the splitting of the volumes, which diminish as they increase height and are interconnected by semi-outdoor areas (roofed verandas and balconies).
The elevations are characterised by the artful combination of traditional and modern materials which are concrete, bricks and stone masonry. The limited use of decorative motifs inspired by the local tradition and the heritage of the Modern Movement constitute typical expressions of what is called "critical regionalism", i.e. a Greek movement inaugurated by the pioneering architect Aristotelis Zachos (1871-1939), and continued by Dimitris Pikionis (1887-1968) and many students of his, best known of whom are Dimitris and Suzana Antonakakis.

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