Blue Ribbon – Apartment Refurbishment in Kypseli by Scape Architecture

Blue Ribbon is an outstanding refurbishment project of a dilapidated penthouse apartment in the downtrodden area of Kypseli, Athens. The 50 year old building had seen better days, when Kypseli claimed the reputation of an upmarket destination before being deserted by its well to do residents. It was the memories of the past that prompted a young Kypseli born businessman to purchase the property, a 200 sqm. apartment on the 6th floor, just a short walk from the city centre, as a city base and appointed the practice of Scape Architecture to transform it into a home from home suited to his lifestyle.

Where deemed essential, the interior walls were removed to create an open plan living room, dining room and kitchen, a functional ergonomic space, unified to mirror the efficient business style of the owner. The lounge area features a lowered ceiling which extends to create a media wall. Linear grooves adorn the ceiling into which lighting elements are concealed. An ingenious element of economy of space allowing the contemporary space to remain unadorned, without the necessity of additional light fittings and cabinets.

It is this seamless aesthetic which exists throughout the remainder of the apartment, the continuity of materials and form featuring the wooden wall panels as an extension of the floor covering. The ensuite master bedroom and guest bedroom are part and parcel of the inverted concept, allowing the space to exist within its own reality, independent from its surroundings. The term ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a widely used term for excellence in many fields and this architectural conversion would certainly warrant this award. In reality, the term relates to a design intervention on the inevitable structural columns of the space which were faced in opaque glass, backlit to glow with a stunning blue light, introducing a simple, yet highly effective, element of colour to an otherwise neutral colour palette of this masculine urban residence.

CREDITS

Architects: Scapearchitecture
Mechanical engineer: PG Kamarinos Consulting Engineers
Project management: Ioannis Skaltsas