Mithimnis Apartments

Two apartments located in a 1920s building, restored with great care for their design heritage and traditional craftsmanship.

Located in Kypseli, a neighborhood in the center of Athens, Greece, this building dates back to the 1920s and features a beautifully preserved, eclectic Art Deco façade. Beyond the grand exterior, there are two apartments, which local property development firm Molonglo refurbished in collaboration with Royffe Flynn, an architecture and landscape design practice based in London. Redesigned to provide all the comforts of modern living, the Mithimnis apartments also feature carefully preserved proportions and tactile materials along with elements that showcase the skill of local craftspeople. Majestic and airy, the apartments feature living spaces split over two levels. In some areas, the ceilings reach a height of six meters, or 19.6 feet. Large windows on both sides of the building bathe the interiors in natural light. However, shutters and curtains allow residents to shield themselves from the heat of the sun, which can become stifling in the Greek summer.

The team wanted to celebrate the building’s original craftsmanship and so worked with local artisans to renovate the interiors. Beautifully restored and new elements appear alongside each other, in a richly textured material palette. Apart from restored wooden floors, the apartments also feature terrazzo flooring with variations in texture and color. In the bathrooms and kitchens, the striking patterns of Cipollino marble create focal points. Finally, stacked marble pieces make up the sinks and backsplashes.

Airy interiors that open to secluded gardens and city views.

Both apartments have connections to nature and their urban surroundings. The ground floor apartment features a private courtyard garden, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a self-contained studio space. The first floor apartment has two bedrooms and bathrooms, a balcony, and a large rooftop terrace. The team not only worked with local craftspeople to finish the apartments to the highest standard, but also used furnishings from a local gallery and artist Theodore Psychoyos.

To complete the project, Molonglo and Royffe Flynn have also collaborated with landscape architects H. Pangalou & Associates, who redesigned the gardens and terraces, planting native species of plants that can withstand the summers of Athens. Available to rent on a long-term basis, the Mithimnis apartments represent a thoughtful rejuvenation of the capital’s many neglected buildings and offer a blueprint for future restorations. Photography by Lorenzo Zandri.