PROJECTS

Suspended from an existing post-war building frame atop an archaeological site of the bursting urban area, the redesign of Niche Hotel Athens presented quite the novel design challenge.

Located in the center of Athens, near the New Acropolis Museum, the hotel’s original construction took place in two phases, in 1958 and 1973. In fact, during the 1958 excavations, precious archaeological artifacts came to light, along with parts of the Athenian Valerian wall, providing the opportunity for a new design that would embrace antiquity as it coexists with the renewed building’s functions.

Taking into account the multipart structure of the building, its angular position at the edge of the block and the integration with the fragile archaeological context, Elastic Architects aimed at blending contemporary with classical elements remaining true to local heritage.

The new 37-room hotel offers guests an immersive experience in the heart of the historic center along with the possibility of an experiential cultural journey as one admires the archaeological findings of the underbuilding basement.

Striking the perfect balance between design innovation and local authenticity, Niche Hotel Athens becomes a destination in its own right, inviting guests to experience its essential meaning: comfort, rejuvenation and a remarkable sense of being – the quest to find one’s own “niche”.

The architectural approach chosen by Elastic Architects took into account the existing three-part structure of the building, its angular position at the boundary of the block and the integration of the archaeological site, with the aim of blending modern and classical elements. The materials used (marble, wood), the reinforcement of the verticality of the openings with the simultaneous creation of a perimeter section – recess and vertical scores gave the classical lines a contemporary vocabulary. The design intent of the new design was to morphologically integrate elements of the past with new contemporary forms that would classify the building as a timelessly recognizable architectural structure.

Particular emphasis was placed on shaping the entrance on the corner of the block, emphasizing the existing section of the building, intersecting the vertical and horizontal boundaries in the form of a blunt corner. The construction and design solution provided reinforces the centrality of the access to the building where, in combination with the use of glass on the floor and the partial view of the archaeological finds in the basement, the visitor gets a first idea of the “secrets” hidden in the building.

The choice of the development of the facades, following the existing three-part structure in “arcade”, main volume and crown (penthouse-recess), was made with a view to preserving an older form at a more simplified level as a sign of respect for the character of the area and the building, but also as a way of highlighting and emphasizing the uses of the building. Therefore, the ‘lobby’ and ‘crown’ of the building mainly accommodate common functions and open spaces with marble cladding, while the main part of the building houses the hotel’s accommodation and has a thermo-facade with a plaster finish.

The new hotel offers guests a unique experience, the view of the most important architectural achievement on the Acropolis hill from the roof garden along with the possibility of an experiential experience exploring the archaeological site in the basement.

Ria Vogiatzi. Alexandros Xenos. Vasilis Mpountopoulos. Dimitra Angelopoulou. Zikopoulos Christos. Danai Maniadaki. Manolis Oikonomou. Vasilia Piritidou. Agapi Smyrniou. Chrysanthi Vathi. Konstantina Revithi Chrysa Daflouka. Spyridon Pagkalis. Maria Spyropoulou.