The “Romance Contemporaine” project, led by 314 Architecture Studio, focuses on revitalizing a traditional block of flats in Glyfada, Athens, originally constructed in the 1970s, into a modern, sustainable residence for its new inhabitants. This renovation encompasses four levels and spans a total area of 300m² on a 370m² site.

Central to the sustainability features is the atrium, designed to regulate warm air circulation within the building using a sliding ceiling system that can release excess heat into the environment. Furthermore, existing protruding elements on the west side of the building are repurposed into “sun walls trombe,” housing lush tropical plants to enhance passive heating and cooling.

The redesign includes the removal of tangential inner walls to seamlessly integrate the garden into the residence through new curved openings. An extension on the terrace level maximizes the space gained from the creation of the atrium, providing a serene couples’ bedroom with expansive sea views. Privacy and sun protection for this new volume are ensured through a sliding metal curtain system, evoking the charm of a Parisian rooftop reinterpretation.

The design concept accentuates a romantic ambiance, characterized by continuous curved engravings on translucent façades, which create a captivating interplay of light and shadow, enriching the atmosphere of the space.