The house is located in the west coast of Leros, in the picturesque bay of Agios Isidoros. The existing concrete structure lacked in general architectural forethought. There was no planning for the building’s relation with the surrounding environment, the island or even the view to the sea. Rooms and spaces inside the house were poorly designed.

Our main goal was to overcome the given legislation and construction difficulties and actually “break the box”. The basement’s facade is revealed by reorganizing the surrounding ground elevation, and the house now consists of two ground floors in different levels. In the upper ground floor (level A) all bedrooms with walk in wardrobes and spacious bathrooms are placed. Balconies are added, as a fundamental element of greek architecture and way of living. In the ground floor below (level B) the communal living spaces are placed and a wide opening to the outdoor space is designed, so that the shadowed pergola space and the pool can be united with the living room. The floor is now perceived and lived as a continuous semi-open space, that is adjusted to the greek climate, the local style and the relaxing island vacation way of life. Local materials and colors are used to achieve the surface disunion and give a different optical result onto the stringent and monotonous volume.

The project concerns the renovation of a 70’s apartment designed in the modern movement principles and aesthetics of that decade. This was an element that we wanted to respect and even highlight in the new design proposal.

Our goal was to maintain this modern urban style just by emphasizing into the contemporary way of living. The apartment was destined for a family of four and the owners’ request was the creation of an extra bedroom, a unification of kitchen and dining room and a playroom on the separate ground floor.

Color was one of our basic design choices in the kitchen, choosing some basic modern colors such as blue and yellow. The main kitchen space is semi divided by three custom made sliding panels. When withdrawn on the side the kitchen island is united as an extension with the dining table. A two-sided metal multi-furniture is designed among the entrance and the living room to serve as a bookcase, wine bar, radiator cover, shoe case, closet and general storage. Each bathroom is designed according to its users’ identity, a more sophisticated style for guests with earth tones, wood, embossed concrete tiles and green colored cement. The kids’ bathroom is covered with playful colors and shapes. The master bedroom takes in a semi open space bathroom that is divided by the main room with custom sliding wooden panels. When withdrawn on the side, the room acquires a sense of spaciousness. When closed the room has two uniform facades, since closets, door and sliding panels are designed as one. Bright colors and tiles are used to contrast the extended use of oak wood.

On the ground floor a kids’ playroom is designed with separate access to a back yard. Apart from creating a playful and happy, cozy space where children can play, create, relax, explore and finally call their own, we tried to exploit every space possible in order to create the essential storage.