splashes of color revive 35 sqm athenian micro-apartment by oikonomakis siampakoulis

Oikonomakis Siampakoulis renovates Athenian 35 sqm apartment

Oikonomakis Siampakoulis Architects, a Greek studio, has revamped a petite 35 sqm micro-apartment in Athens, Greece, bringing splashes of color to its living space. The brief was to create a space suitable for short stays for the owners and their partners, as well as for hosting friends and family when visiting the city. Located in a typical 1980s building, the apartment retained some original features such as decorative wraparound gypsumwork on the ceiling, a large marble fireplace sheathed with firebrick, and natural wood parquet flooring, which were preserved and incorporated into the new design. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant characters of the artistic owners, the team infused the apartment with texture and color, using a diverse range of materials to lend it a unique and authentic charm.

all images by Oikonomakis Siampakoulis

Transforming its Unconventional layout

The apartment’s layout presented challenges due to its unconventional angles and irregular walls, resulting in inefficient use of space, as well as the usage of small furniture. To address this, the team at Oikonomakis Siampakoulis Architects (see more here) simplified the layout, creating an open kitchen with a central island as the main hub. To maximize the feeling of space in the small area, the architects removed the bedroom wall and replaced it with a custom wooden partition. This partition, featuring four doors, allowed for flexibility in separating the bedroom for privacy or integrating it with the living area. The carefully finished wood, along with the chosen color palette, contributed to a cozy and welcoming ambiance in the apartment.

this tiny apartment marries original 1980s features with contemporary design elements