Freatida apartment is the result of the vertical connection of two previously independent flats and the design of a new spatial composition that develops – functionally and aesthetically – on two levels. The lower level consists of the bedroom core (master bedroom, master closet, master bathroom), the wellness area and the auxiliary bathroom. The upper level consists of the single living-dining-kitchen area, the guest WC and the library area. The transition from the upper (and more ‘public’) level of the main entrance to the lower (and more ‘private’) level of the bedroom is made possible through the internal staircase that is designed as a centerpiece around which all spaces are arranged and movement unfolds.
The arrangement of each individual space -within the general layout- also takes into account the advantageous proximity of the apartment to the beach and the sea. Thus, the main areas (living spaces, wellness, etc.) are placed on the southeast side in direct contact with the surroundings and benefit from natural lighting, ventilation and an unobstructed view towards the sea. The auxiliary spaces are placed on the north-west side facing the rear sides of the neighbouring buildings. In the central space of the staircase, a large opening is constructed which frames the transition and filters the light entering from the back.
The aesthetic approach of the apartment reflects the desire for a single spatial narrative which unfolds on both a horizontal and a vertical level. Natural materials such as marble and wood are combined with high-quality industrial materials such as ceramic slabs, HPL panels, metal structures and glassware to compose a sophisticated and timeless effect. Through the careful selection of materials, textures, colors, as well as the design of geometric custom surfaces that dominate the interiors, develops an architectural language that intertwines the eclectic elements of the urban apartments of the 1960s (marble floors, carpentry details, staircases) with the site-specific qualities and atmospheres (sand, sea, light) of Freatida.
Sinai marble flooring, in earthy tones and semi-rough texture, becomes the canvas upon which the interior spaces and objects unfold. At the same time, it manifests the integration of the apartment within its surroundings: the soft tonality of the Sinai stone matches visually the sandy effect that enters the space through the large façade windows and spreads across all levels. A high marble skirting (35cm ) further defines the perimeter of the interior spaces.
Following the tonality of the flooring, the vertical surfaces are painted almost entirely in an off-white hue that highlights the hand-crafted objects and green marble details, the custom-made American walnut woodwork, the delicate metal partitions with fluted glass, as well as the natural fabric upholstery. The soft palette of colors and textures is punctuated by the black volume of the kitchen, which is designed as a stand-alone object and acts as a backdrop for the custom marble structure of the kitchen island. The library space is conceived as the continuation of the kitchen volume, thus acquiring a dramatic dark tint in its interior. Lighting fixtures with clean forms, fine details and warm reflections further highlight the surfaces and materials of the different spaces.
The central staircase reflects the interior identity of the apartment, adding elegance and finesse to the entire space. Fully covered in Sinai marble, it bears a handcrafted curved handrail made of solid wood and carved on site by experienced craftsmen following the morphology.
Throughout the apartment, the palette of materials and colors is carefully applied so as to bridge together form, function and aesthetics. The result is an interior space that is contemporary yet timeless.
SHORT BIO
Virna Koutla is an architect and visual artist. She is the founder and creative director of Void Studio (Architecture & Design). In 2014 she graduated from the School of Architecture at the National and Technical University of Athens and in 2017 she received an MA in Information Experience Design from the Royal College of Art in London. In 2016, she joined the research group Informed Matters (University of the Arts London), where she focused on the materiality and performativity of spaces. Virna worked as a designer and artist in London and Lisbon, before moving to Athens to work on prestigious architectural and cultural projects. Her individual work has been presented at exhibitions and conferences across Europe, Japan and the US, and awarded internationally. Her research project ‘Square Mythologies’ was included in the volume Interior Futures (eds. Brooker, Harriss & Walker, Crucible Press: 2019). She has been awarded the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Artist Fellowship by ARTWORKS (2021).
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Void Studio
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Virna Koutla
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ana Santl Andersen
