In the 1800s, the Greek port city of Piraeus, where Castor Place is located, was a booming maritime gateway. Almost entirely rebuilt after Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821, the city was designed as a modern commercial counterpart to neighbouring Athens, and became filled with shipyards and warehouses. The intervening centuries have seen its fortunes rise and fall dramatically; from a thriving industrial hub to a seedy stop-off point on the way to catch a ferry to the islands.

Tour Castor Place by MPNYC

Recent years, however, have seen clues emerge as to Piraeus’ next chapter. Various leading galleries and creative enterprises have begun reimagining its vacant warehouses as bustling cultural hubs, among the most striking examples of which is Castor Place — the multi-purpose events space designed by Manhattan Projects (MPNYC).

Forming its base is a 19th-century stone warehouse, upon which was placed a boxy extension when the space was transformed into a nightclub in the 1990s. 'It was a real Frankenstein building,' says Andreas Kostopoulos, who founded Manhattan Projects in 2019 after working as an associate director at Diller Scofidio + Renfro. 'There was this masonry base from the 1800s, which was all covered in this weird stucco when we arrived. And inside, it was all painted black. It looked like a haunted theatre.'

Kostopoulos’ brief was to give the building a sleek modern refit; stripping back decades of haphazard architectural interventions to create a functional, flexible space that could be used for everything from corporate dinners to fashion shows and art exhibitions.

The main hall features a 12m high ceiling, a wrap-around mezzanine level and travertine marble floors. Walls, Kostopoulos decided, should all be finished with a slick white-wash. 'By doing that, you sort of calm the whole space down, and you start reading all the layers. So you can see where there used to be an archway, where extra bricks have been added as well as all the structural steel elements.'

The cube-like roof unit was also refurbished to improve insulation (both in terms of acoustics and water), and a vast, vertical window was carved through it in order to flood the space with light. But for Kostopoulos, the real stand-out intervention is the bespoke cast-aluminium doors by local artist Stefania Strouza, who decorated them with an abstract pattern inspired by the mapping of ocean floors. 'They are one of my favourite things about the project. For me, they’re the real jewel of the building.'

mpnyc.net

On a generous, green site in one of Athens’ smarter northern residential suburbs, a strange concrete presence rises. The long, relatively low structure features unusual, almost retro-futuristic forms, screens that frame large openings and exposed textured concrete that make it clearly stand out from its neighbours. Locals know it well. This is not your typical Greek office building; it is the former headquarters of AGET Iraklis, one of Greece’s best-known cement manufacturers. It was designed in 1972 by one of the country’s most celebrated 20th-century architects, Alexandros Tombazis (see W*138).

The architectural landmark is emblematic of its creator’s style and early explorations of concrete and Metabolist architecture principles, such as the use of modular design and technology – this part of Athens also features his Iliako Chorio (meaning ‘Solar Village’, a 1980s experiment in environmental architecture) and his own office. The AGET building was left empty for seven years after the company moved out in 2010, but it has now been given a new lease of life by local architect Georges Batzios.

Tour a Greek brutalist gem reborn in Athens

‘I was on the island of Kythnos for work, and the client called me up out of the blue,’ recalls Batzios, who set up his boutique studio in the central Athens neighbourhood of Petralona in 2013, following an international career that included stints with »

Designed by Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis in 1972, the former HQ of cement manufacturer AGET Iraklis has been renovated for a new owner, restoring as much as possible of the original David Chipperfield in London and Jean Nouvel in Paris and New York. ‘The client and I hadn’t met before, but he’d seen my work, especially my work with concrete, and liked it, and he wanted to invite me to submit a proposal to a competition for the office building’s renovation. It was a lovely surprise.’

The client, part of a private company, was searching for the right architect to bring the structure into the 21st century without compromising its design intention and integrity. Batzios entered the competition and won, presenting a proposal that would work with the building’s strengths and concrete character, which over the years had been undermined, painted over and added to. The architect often uses naked concrete in his studio’s mix of commercial and cultural work, and he was delighted that a celebration of the material was central to the brief. ‘It’s not common in Greece for a client to ask for exposed concrete,’ he says. Renovation works started on site in 2017.

‘The building is a rare example of brutalist architecture in Greece,’ says Batzios. ‘Our aim was to respect and restore as much as possible the existing design’s intention, and maintain key features, its “bones” and textures. However, in terms of the interior, we didn’t want to create something that gets completely lost in the original. Instead, we took drastic, confident steps to bring to the surface a sequence of spaces that we feel were always there, in the original building’s “subconscious”.’

The architect studied Tombazis’ original drawings, and his interventions blend effortlessly with the old design. He first gutted the building and cleared any additions that compromised the original design’s conceptual strength. While the main concrete frame was of great quality and in excellent condition (‘Tombazis was a master in his use of concrete,’ Batzios points out), its surface was less so.

Batzios analysed the concrete mix to produce a treatment with local specialist Poriotis that would cover damage, while recreating a surface texture as close to the original as possible (this treatment also helped with temperature management and energy efficiency for the project). He reworked the main entry to expand the original lobby, restore its water features and create a dramatic entrance. The building’s conference hall has also been expanded, with a service room to accommodate modern technologies.

Guided by the ceiling’s concrete grid, a new internal route was plotted through the double-height ground level, which also includes management areas and meeting rooms. This trajectory is arranged around a central axis, named by Batzios the ‘Golden Way’, and incorporates a striking, redesigned circular staircase of grey Cretan marble that connects all levels.

Terra grey and grey Evoian marble have been used on all the vertical surfaces of the central axis, creating a sleek but tactile finish. The 13,000 sq m building spans two more floors of office space – the slightly recessed second floor was added in 1978. The building’s new tenants have access to outdoor sports pitches on the tree-filled campus grounds, and an old heliport facility has been converted into a company gym.

Everything has been executed with meticulous attention to detail, from the way the marble slabs were cut, so that the veins appear continuous in large surfaces, to the concrete’s exact hues. ‘In fact, one of the biggest challenges was that the original grid, around which the building was designed, was not very precise, so we had to redesign everything in CAD in great detail so that our interventions fit exactly and the alterations are seamless,’ says Batzios.

Leading both the design and project management helped him get through this. ‘We got involved in all aspects of the project. This allowed us to have great quality control over the result, but also meant that everything went through us. I’m not sure I’d like to do that again!’ he says, laughing. Now fully refreshed and open for business, this piece of experimental Greek 20th-century architecture is ready for its next chapter. 

georgesbatzios.com

A version of this feature was first published in Wallpaper* November 2020

At Wallpaper*, movement is second nature, and savouring it is an art. Whether on assignment or off-duty, our editorial team is perpetually combing the globe, visiting places that are mind-expanding and spirit-lifting. This year, we paused to gather the places that truly stayed with us. Consider this selection of travel highlights, handpicked by our staff, as a starting point for the year ahead, compiled to spark curiosity and fuel your future travel plans.

As such, follow the sun to Mexico, Greece, Spain and Italy, or embrace the stark beauty of Finland and Iceland. Looking for adventure? Uzbekistan, Egypt and Kenya deliver. For a spiritual reset, Japan and South Korea offer ritual and depth. From European mainstays such as Vienna and Lisbon to American icons including Miami and Joshua Tree, let’s get globetrotting.

Amanohashidate, Japan

‘Last April, adding a few days to a long-haul work trip felt like the responsible thing to do, particularly when long-haul now extends to a 16-hour dog-leg to Osaka via Doha, which is how I came to visit one of Japan’s most revered destinations, Amanohashidate, site of a 3.6km sidebar known as ‘the staircase to heaven’ that cuts across Miayazu Bay in Kyoto prefecture. Amanohashidate itself is a quiet village with a national landmark at its heart and a well-run ryokan (Monjusou) to relax in, but the surrounding area is blessed with no less significant points of interest. Ine is a ‘floating village’ of 230 fishing cottages, protected as a heritage site, that offers good walking with splendid sea views and great coffee in one of its repurposed properties. Sometimes all you need is sea air, the odd stroll and the chance to indulge in something as silly as matanozoki, or peering between your legs atop Kasamatsu Park, at which point the now-inverted sandbar appears as a bridge across the sky.’

– Bill Prince, editor-in-chief

Athens, Greece

‘This past autumn, I celebrated a milestone birthday in Athens. The city feels as though it was shaped by accumulation rather than careful urban planning, its layers of typeface, texture and attitude stacked across eras, politics and glitzy inconsistencies. Visually, Athens is unrelenting: everything speaks loudly and constantly, and nothing is treated as too precious. Even the Acropolis feels unresolved, its original fragments scattered between the exquisitely built Acropolis Museum and far beyond Greece’s borders. I enjoyed long lunches with generous pours of Assyrtiko from aluminium jugs, and late nights drifting into hot spots like SMUT, where Athens’ spontaneity really kicks in. I chose Athens as my favourite of the year because it thrives in chaos, offering moments of beauty and excitement, and rewarding those who stay longer, pay attention and arrive hungry.’

– Gabriel Annouka, senior designer

Brittany, France

‘On something of a nostalgia trip to the south coast of Brittany, France – the destination of my first-ever trip abroad – now with my own teenagers in tow, I was relieved to find it a still-lovely, laidback and low-key escape with none of the hussle or hassle a beach break during the summer holidays can entail. The sea was utterly clear – too freezing for me, even in July, for more than one cold plunge, but perfect for kayaking or admiring endlessly from coastal walking paths. Bike hire in this cycling-obsessed nation was ubiquitous and the paths plentiful and well sign-posted; they even continued across estuaries, courtesy of short ferry hops on which bikes were not just bienvenue but (bafflingly for a Brit used to transport-network shortfalls) positively encouraged. And a day’s hire extended through to the evening, allowing ample time for a thoroughly civilised French lunch break en route with (savoury) galettes and (sweet) crêpes galore. Pancakes for all courses is a concept close to my heart.’

– Bridget Downing, executive editor

Cairo, Egypt

‘In November, I visited Cairo and spent a few warm, autumnal days watching the light shift over the Art D’Égypte installations, set in the sand beneath the pyramids of Giza. I was particularly drawn to SolidNature and Studio PROBA’s organically shaped, naturally coloured stone sculptures. Seeing them positioned against the pyramids was both wondrous and surreal: two forms of stone, prehistoric in material yet composed millennia apart, held in quiet dialogue with one another. The experience was utterly mesmerising, leaving me feeling incredibly small in the face of such magnificence and scale. Other highlights across the city included losing track of time in the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and wandering through the calming gardens of Adam Henein’s gallery house.’

– Olly Mason, head of interiors

Évora, Portugal

‘When my sister moved to Lisbon in 2024, I dreamily imagined endless weekends of wandering, but life got in the way and it never quite happened; until this summer, when we managed to bring both our families together for ten scorching days in Alentejo, a more off-the-beaten-path part of Portugal, around 90 minutes east of Lisbon. We stayed in gloriously serene countryside, awash with olive groves and vineyards, occasionally popping into the medieval, walled UNESCO city of Évora for ice cream (Pezagno, delicious!). On one visit, we explored the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), a 16th-century chapel within the Church of St Francis, built by Franciscan monks as a memento mori to inspire reflection on the transience of life. Its walls and columns are clad with thousands of strikingly arranged human skulls and bones, previously buried in Évora’s medieval cemeteries. Above the door, an inscription reads: “We bones are here, waiting for yours.” At the entrance to this macabre chapel is a simple modern mural by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira – a counterpoint to its meditation on mortality.’

– Anne Soward, production editor

Helsinki, Finland

‘While others escaped to hotter climes, last February, I decided to embrace the cold and wintry feel of Europe and headed further north, to Helsinki. It was one of the best travel decisions I ever made. The day was short, but the city was fun, and the cultural offerings were plentiful and welcoming. Helsinki was frozen – not that you would be bothered with the right clothes and shoes, especially in the city centre, where pavements are heated so that the snow doesn’t build up. A short ferry ride, breaking through the icy waters, took me to the magical Suomenlinna sea fortress - thank you, Laura Iloniemi, for the tip! I also explored the numerous art offerings the city has to offer, from the Amos Rex museum to the Temppeliaukio church of the rock. I stayed at a timber-framed hotel by the water, Solo Sokos Pier 4, paid a visit to the renovated Finlandia Hall, and enjoyed sticky Korvapuusti (Finnish cinnamon rolls) and warm and creamy salmon soup. As travel reviews often conclude, “would definitely recommend.”’

– Ellie Stathaki, architecture and environment director

Hydra, Greece

‘This year I’ve been lucky to visit great European capitals including Vienna, Paris and Athens, but somehow it’s my day on the small Greek island of Hydra that was most memorable. Big cities are filled with great things to do and see, but Hydra offers an escape from it all, with no cars, no museums, and practically no phone reception. And yet it still has everything you might possibly need on a nice autumn day: a lunch at a taverna followed by a dip in the sea, and a walk along the coastal path, suspended between the blue sky and the Mediterranean.’

– Léa Teuscher, sub-editor

Joshua Tree, USA

‘In May, I made the three-hour journey from Los Angeles into the Mojave Desert to Joshua Tree. It had long been on my list to visit, likely prompted by endless interviews with musicians who enthused about the desert’s mystical energy. There are no shortage of incredible architectural stays to book in the area, but after much deliberation, I settled on this geodesic dome, far enough away from civilisation to get the full experience (the drive back from dinner in the pitch black was a little hairy) but just twenty minutes from Joshua Tree National Park and the must-sees of the Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms. I loved every single thing about this trip. From the weird roadside stops along the route – a desert crochet museum? A shrine to fifties hairdressing? A park filled with many, many statues of Christ? – to dinner at The Copper Room, drinks at Mas o Menos and obligatory live music at Pioneertown institution, Pappy & Harriet’s (the nearby Red Dog Saloon was a little quieter when Pappy’s is packed). I can’t wait to return.’

– Charlotte Gunn, director of digital content

Kyoto, Japan

‘I loved visiting Kyoto this year, and discovering its rich history, gorgeous food and beautiful surroundings. The highlight, though, was being able to get to know some of the locals, who were as generous with their time as they are cultured, intelligent, and extremely kind.’

– Hannah Silver, art, culture, watches and jewellery editor

Lake Como, Italy

‘Until last year, I had never been to Italy; now, I can say I’ve been three times. A run of good fortune took me to Milan for Salone de Mobile, and Venice for an immersive exhibition hosted by Golden Goose. In addition, to mark the beginning of the summer season, I was invited to Lake Como to stay at Il Sereno’s new listening suite, designed by Patricia Urquiola. The lake in the foothills of the Alps took my breath away. It was scenery I had not seen before, and I was captivated by its beauty. There was an effortless air of Old Hollywood glamour and relaxed sophistication coupled with the calming nature of the lake, which makes the location entirely unique. I cannot wait to go back.’

– Tianna Williams, staff writer

Menorca, Spain

‘The Menorca Experimental hotel had been on my bucket list for years, and I finally made it there for a short break in September. Designed by Dorothée Meilichzon, the interiors strike a balance between playful colour and subtle Art Deco references, incorporating local designers and materials. It felt considered yet relaxed. The weather was still warm enough for sea swims in some of the clearest water I’ve seen in Europe, and it was easy to find quieter spots that felt untouched. There’s a quiet, understated rhythm to the island that encourages you to slow down, making it a perfect mid-season reset.’

– Cindy Parthonnaud, acting photography editor

Mérida, Mexico

‘I spent 10 days in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula this summer and enjoyed soaking up Mérida’s rich history, intense summer heat and xtabentún, the local firewater. The city is about 30 miles inland, meaning those craving a swim-up bar or large beach resort won’t find it here. Instead, they’ll discover a mix of unhurried streets, bustling markets, pretty boutiques and innovative cuisine that spotlights traditional Yucatec cooking. My husband and I checked in at Hotel Cigno, an elegant boutique property located in Mérida’s historic heart, before hiring a local guide to take us to Uxmal, one of the Mayan world’s most important sites, and an azure blue cenote, a naturally occurring limestone sinkhole that peppers the area. There was still an opportunity to hit the beach, though: an hour-ride taxi will take you straight to the coast, where you can take in tranquil waters, white sand beaches, bright-pink salt lakes and – my favourite – droves of flamingos.’

– Anna Fixsen, U.S. editor

Miami, USA

‘I came to Miami for the Grand Prix – where Lego had built ten fully drivable cars – but stayed for the art deco architecture, palm-lined boulevards and viscerally cinematic sunsets. Miami’s expansion in the 1920s and 30s left it with a remarkable concentration of art deco buildings, which I completely fell in love with. A stroll down Ocean Drive – one of the finest showcases of the style – took me hours, slowed by pastel façades and kitsch vintage cars that demanded to be photographed. Little Havana, shaped by Cuban émigrés after the 1959 revolution, is home to cigar shops, graffiti tributes to Celia Cruz and Old’s Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina, which, with its yellow walls and mojito production line, is an institution. So, too, is Delilah – swathed in pink velvet and favoured by A-listers – though in an entirely different vein. Miami is a place I’d return to in a heartbeat.’

– Anna Solomon, digital writer

Nesjavellir, Iceland

‘My yearly travel mainly comprises the movement between Milan, Paris and New York for fashion week (and the freneticism and overstimulation these trips bring), so when I’m not working I seem to be attracted towards the vast and the desolate – Lanzarote has become my go-to escape, and this spring I loved losing myself in its strange, moonlike landscapes once again. Though it was another otherworldly (and volcanic) island that was my favourite trip of 2025: Iceland, which I visited with 66 North last month (the outerwear brand was founded on the island a century ago). I have been a couple of times before, though each time it is surprising in its vastness and scale: speeding across the snow-covered mountain ridge Thórsmörk – named after the Norse god Thor – on off-roading buggies was a truly cinematic experience (and the perfect release). We spent the second night at the Ion Adventure Hotel, a Brutalist box on stilts that looks out over the geothermal fields of Nesjavellir – in the silence, it was my best night’s sleep of the year.’

– Jack Moss, fashion and beauty features director

Seoul, South Korea

‘About two hours from Seoul, in the mountains of Wonju, Museum SAN (Space Art Nature) heralds an architectural feat by Tadao Ando: a 25-metre-wide subterranean dome beneath the museum’s flower garden, topped with an oculus rising more than seven metres high. Titled Ground, it was commissioned to accompany Antony Gormley’s exhibition Drawing on Space.’

– Jason Hughes, creative director

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

‘I spend much of my year bouncing around beautiful design-led hotels. But at least once a year, I make it my mission to step out of this bubble as a reminder of why I love to travel in the first place. And this year, my trip to Uzbekistan was a welcome reset. It’s not a destination known for luxury, but with tourism on the rise, you can feel the energy in Tashkent’s creative pockets and across Samarkand and Bukhara, which just hosted its inaugural biennale. From the staggering detail of the Islamic architecture to the small, genuinely local boutique hotels, there’s an incredible history and a rawness that was not just compelling, but a reminder that stepping away from the familiar is not just refreshing, but important to keep your curiosity alive.’

– Lauren Ho, travel director

Tokyo, Japan

‘Tokyo had been calling for some time, and this October I was finally able to answer. Japan’s capital is an urban sprawl of ritual, contrast, beauty and tradition, where even the smallest details feel deliberate and meaningful. It was my first visit, and I tried to stay fully present, absorbing as much of the city’s energy as possible; yet I still feel I barely scratched the surface. There are countless moments I hold onto, but one stands out: waking to a bright, clear morning and, from my hotel room on the 34th floor of Fairmont Tokyo, spotting Mount Fuji in the distance. It appeared as a majestic presence on the horizon, wishing the city a good day.’

– Sofia de la Cruz, travel editor

Vienna, Austria

‘Vienna is a really great city for a short getaway, especially for those interested in design. The city is filled with hidden gems, such as the interiors and ambience of Café Prückel, located just across the street from the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK). Be sure to check out the numerous storefronts designed by Hans Hollein throughout the city, including the iconic façade of the Retti candle shop. One of the highlights for me was the Roman Catholic church depicted above, built in the late 1970s by architect Viktor Hufnagl.’

– Sebastian Jordahn, head of video

Watamu, Kenya

‘Earlier this year, I travelled to Kenya and spent time in Watamu, a coastal town known for stunning white-sand beaches, coral reefs, mangroves and a large marine life. I was there for a private yoga retreat with a yoga company called Pana and stayed in a one-of-a-kind treehouse, Watamu Tree House, near Watamu Beach. Our treehouse retreat, built by the family who runs it, rises through the landscape, from the ground to the top floor, with shimmering coloured glass mosaics. Each day in Watamu began with yoga in the studio at the top of the building, which offered quiet and perspective. Practising yoga above the ground, with the sea nearby and trees in the distance, felt grounding. Fresh vegetarian meals formed the core of each day, as each meal came with coconut water and juices made fresh each morning.’

– Jamilah Rose-Roberts, social media editor

An Athens penthouse becomes both a case study and a warm family home via the drawing boards of locally based architecture studio Block722. The project, set in the predominantly residential neighbourhood of Papagou in the city's northern suburbs, sits on the top two levels of a newly built block of flats – the dominant typology of the Greek 'polykatoikia'. The structure was designed by the studio founders, architect Sotiris Tsergas and interior designer Katja Margaritoglou, and it was there that the couple chose to create a base for their family of four.

'For the first time, we found ourselves simultaneously being the clients, the architects, and the contractors,' says Tsergas. 'Balancing all three roles at once was challenging, but also incredibly insightful. It gave us a deeper understanding of every layer of the process.'

Explore Block722's Athens penthouse

The home was the result of an intense and rewarding period of research and exploration by the two founders, who worked with local contractors Thekla Construction on the overall build. This investigation phase was followed by delicate and precise detailing and spatial planning, orchestrating an interior that would 'fit like a glove' to the lifestyle of its inhabitants.

At the same time, the space reflects the studio's ethos and overall approach of 'organic luxury'. This means using natural materials (here, marble, wood, and travertine) and maintaining a strong relationship with the outdoors, emphasising wellness and environmental health. To achieve this, the interiors are highly bespoke, as the architects worked with specialist craftspeople for lots of the fittings, fixtures and furniture, as well as designing a number of the products and built-in elements in-house.

'We don’t regret for a moment the countless hours we spent reflecting on how we live as a family – our needs, our habits, our routines, and our aspirations,' Tsergas explains. 'This type of self-observation proved invaluable, and it’s something we will encourage our clients to engage with more deeply. Understanding who they are inside their home and how they move through their day offers such rich information for the design. The aesthetics and spatial solutions that emerge from this process are inevitably more authentic, personal, and beautiful.'

The penthouse, titled Lumen Residence, was conceived as a duplex, spread across 230 sq m. The first level contains a flowing and carefully composed living area, while bedrooms are located upstairs. On the top level is also an expansive roof terrace, partially planted and partially paved and operating as an outdoor living room for resting and entertaining – as well as sports, as it also contains a half-size basketball pitch and a swimming pool. The Athenian skyline beyond becomes a key part of the experience.

'Designing a home so high above the city gave us a rare opportunity to work with natural light in a completely different way. With almost nothing obstructing our views, we were able to bring abundant daylight into every space – even those oriented northwards – and then soften and filter it through sheer fabrics, wooden jalousies, and the timber grille that channels light into the master bathroom through a skylight,' says Tsergas.

'We also knew from the beginning the type of qualities we wanted for our new home: a sense of seclusion and privacy, and a calm, grounding energy that would contrast with the vibrant pulse of Athens below. Although we didn’t intentionally set out to create a “resort-like” home within the city, that is exactly the atmosphere that emerged. The water element on the rooftop and the extensive planting across both floors contributed significantly to this feeling.

'Ultimately, what thrilled us most was achieving all the qualities you would expect from a single-family home – comfort, openness, connection to nature – but experiencing them in the sky, with a panoramic relationship to the city, the sunset, the stars, Mount Hymettus, and the entire Athenian landscape. That feeling is truly indescribable.'

The pair have been living in their tailor-made home for a few months already, but they say that it feels like they've always been there. Two comments keep coming up when friends and collaborators visit their new home, the couple add: 'This is so you!' and 'It’s clearly a Block722 home – but in a way that feels different and unexpected.' No doubt, the type of feedback that subtly signals a resounding success.

block722.com

‘You only have the responsibility to yourself,’ says Juergen Teller, the much lauded German photographer sat opposite me in his trademark neon shorts, surrounded by the personal work that forms the physical centre of his new exhibition, ‘you are invited’ (the phrase is lifted from a religious pamphlet he encountered earlier this year; a photograph of the event features some metres away). ‘You want to be excited by yourself, to surprise yourself,’ he continues, relaying the weight (or not, as it transpires) of inaugurating Onassis Ready, the latest arts space from the Onassis Foundation. Three years ago, when he was first approached by artistic director Afroditi Panagiotakou, he was shown several potential venues, but Ready, at the time derelict, was the most exciting, says Teller.

He returns to the sentiment of excitement multiple times within our allotted minutes: currently of paramount excitement is his series Symposium of Love, which is making its debut in Greece. Comprised of more than 100 images, uniformly sized just north of the standard 4x6-inch holiday snap, displayed here in a single-file configuration, the series was made in Lithuania – where Teller’s wife and creative partner, Dovile Drizyte, is from – and features the couple as one, limbs sprouting, against a sand dune. ‘It feels often like we’re becoming one, and I thought, how do I do this in my work?’ offers Teller. ‘I’ve never done that before, double exposure or superimposing things. The dunes were great; I photographed her rolling down, she photographed me. It’s like a metaphor for how you stumble through life, there’s something boring, something tragic, something beautiful…’

Woven into the rhythm of the nudes are landscapes and portraits of stuffed animals from a taxidermy museum they visited with their young daughter, Iggy. ‘Iggy really enjoyed it, but I super enjoyed it,’ shares the photographer. ‘Then in the studio it became clear that this work is about life on the planet, and love and nature.’ The series' title, a reference to Aristophanes’ speech from Plato’s Symposium, characterising love and the feeling of becoming whole, followed later. ‘Josselin [Merazguia], my exhibition manager, read me this text and I thought fuck me, this is exactly fucking brilliant for this show in Greece, it’s just perfect.’

Love, family, relationships and religion are frequent threads throughout the wider show. Elsewhere on the ground floor are further photographs of Drizyte, as well as Iggy (not to be confused with Iggy Pop, although features in the show too), the Pope, Teller’s parents, friends, collaborators and self-portraits, while downstairs in the basement is a more conceptual interpretation: a small video room showcases fashion films made between 1998 and today, while The Path of Hope occupies the main hall. Initially conceived for Harper’s Bazaar Italia, photographs of models in variously decorated Italian churches are blown up to mammoth size. Towards the back of the hall, a sleek grey pavilion screens Men, the photographer’s love letter to male relationships inspired by his father-in-law (nearly seven minutes long, the film sees Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård cutting Teller’s frozen faeces away with a stick).

‘The whole thing could have been square, really boring,’ suggests Teller of the exhibition’s design. Instead, he worked with Tom Emerson of 6a architects, with whom he collaborated on the 2023 show ‘i need to live’ at the Grand Palais in Paris, and who also designed his RIBA award-winning studio in London. ‘Tom’s extremely sensitive [to the work] and brings ideas which help me to be excited; he’s an important part of the show. There are many architects who are like dictators, doing it without really thinking about the work, but with Tom, we have fun.’

Of the curatorial intention, Teller adds, ‘I wanted to have it specific to the space, the place, the people, and to what I feel right now in that moment.’ His fascination with football is well documented – during an earlier preview he notes that his beloved Bayern Munich are playing against Dortmund at the same time as the exhibition’s opening party (they’ll win, 2-1) – and when we speak, he uses this to underscore his precision in choosing which works to show, pointing out an image of a bare-looking goal, shot in Sifnos earlier this year, before swivelling in his chair to highlight the training ground of local team Olympiacos, on the other side of the building.

Immediately to our right are vitrines filled with images from The Myth, shot with Drizyte at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio in 2022, examining the old wives’ tale of raising your legs in the air to get pregnant. It’s the concrete nucleus of the show, and feels emotionally so too. ‘It’s the heartbeat in a way, the centre of the whole thing,’ agrees Teller. ‘I find it very beautiful and romantic, but it can be easily dismissed. It’s what surrounds me, what my head and body are occupied with. It’s an abstract fairytale of a family, it’s not a reportage – even with the coffee series [Guten Morgen Sonnenschein], you have no idea what my kitchen looks like. It’s the same with my self-portraits, I’m not any better or worse than Isabelle Huppert, but I’m always around.’

In a vitrine on the outside perimeter is a close-up of a can of Gaza Cola, the nails of the hand clutching it, belonging to the designer Katharine Hamnett, decorated with the Palestinian flag. It’s part of a wider series about Brexit that the photographer made with Hamnett, with whom he first worked in the 1990s, and reads as an anomaly against his otherwise largely apolitical showcase. ‘You react to the environment of what is now, culturally what you do is a mirror of things,’ says Teller. ‘That’s why I put the table opposite Why Trump [an image made in 2017 of the David King book, Why Trump Deserves Trust, Respect & Admiration, poking out from a jacket pocket]. It’s important what she’s doing and what she stands for, similar to what Vivienne Westwood was doing. I’m very proud of that work, and I put it in because it’s an important statement.’

Juergen Teller, 'you are invited', until 30 December 2025 at Onassis Ready, Athens, onassis.org

A fashion homage

Nick Vinson, contributing editor

On Sunday, I flew to Milan to attend the 50th Anniversary of Giorgio Armani – a black-tie event held at the Pinacoteca di Brera. The evening featured the late designer’s final collection for spring/summer 2026, shown in the cloisters, as well as the opening of the exhibition Giorgio Armani. Milano, per amore, which showcased 133 historical looks representing his five-decade career, displayed among the artworks in the upstairs galleries. The night concluded with a chic dînatoire.

Some of Armani’s favorite models, including Gina Di Bernardo – who walked his shows in the 80s and 90s and was a face of his iconic ad campaigns shot by Aldo Fallai – returned to the runway, accompanied by a live performance from pianist Ludovico Einaudi. Mr. Armani passed away on 4 September – naturally, the details of this event were planned months in advance, and every aspect was personally approved by him (as was his way). His design team followed his wishes to the letter.

I enjoyed rubbing pagoda shoulders with Cate Blanchett, dressed in Armani Privé, as well as Glenn Close – but the real treat was seeing Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton (dressed in a white silk smoking jacket) sitting side by side in the front row. Earlier that same week, I had rewatched American Gigolo, made in 1980 when the Giorgio Armani brand was just five years old – a notable beginning to the designer's long relationship with Hollywood. Richard Gere’s now 45-year-old outfits, supplied by the then-young designer, still look perfect today. In the film, Gere wears several versions of a two-pocket shirt – I’d kill to wear them now. That is the essence of Giorgio Armani’s timeless and enduring style.

A Stirling Prize preview

Ellie Stathaki, architecture & environment director

In the architecture world, October means Stirling Prize, and the announcement of the award for the UK's best building of the year is fast approaching. In anticipation, and to explore projects and themes, I was invited by the RIBA to chair a panel discussion among the six practices on the 2025 RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist at the Barbican this week. It was such a privilege to take on the task, hear more about all the projects and chat about what they mean for their clients, wider communities and the architecture world beyond. Big thanks to all involved. Can't wait for the 16th October, when the top gong is revealed.

A flavour journey

Tianna Williams, staff writer

abc kitchens was Monday night’s dinner spot, nestled on the ground floor of The Emory on Old Barrack Yard. Weaving through polished corridors, the restaurant opens up with high ceilings and tarnished wood, inspired by naval architecture and concealed from the outside world behind a glistening glass façade. Designed by Rémi Tessier and featuring artworks by Damien Hirst, the restaurant boasts modernity and elevated sophistication. The kitchen is helmed by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and the menu offers an assortment of dishes inspired by Mexico, Asia, and Europe.

The evening began with a cucumber martini, swiftly followed by an array of table snacks, from sweet pea guacamole to green chickpea hummus. For starters, I would recommend a selection of fresh salads, such as the crispy cabbage and kale Caesar salad. I find decent Mexican food hard to come by in London, but the BBQ pork tacos – garnished with pickled pineapple and Fresno chili relish – had a fun Californian spin. To finish, the light and zesty coconut panna cotta with tropical fruit was divine.

A city sojourn

Sofia de la Cruz, travel editor

Last week, I spent an eventful 24 hours in Antwerp, a sojourn I’ll remember for a long time. I was invited by the city’s fashion museum, MoMu, to see its new exhibition ‘Girls. On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between’, a multidisciplinary exploration of girlhood’s cultural significance through works by artists such as Sofia Coppola, Louise Bourgeois, and Alice Neel. Afterwards, I tried to squeeze in as much as possible, visiting photography institution FOMU, eating a ‘croque vegan’ at the steel-clad cafe Tinsel, and browsing the multilayered Ann Demeulemeester store. A chiaroscuro piece from the Belgian designer’s beautiful Serax collection has now joined my ever-growing mug collection.

A design deep-dive

Anna Solomon, digital staff writer

I spent the better part of this week in València, where the balmy 25-degree weather was a welcome last hurrah for summer. Or, it would have been, had I not been sequestered in a gigantic expo hall on the city’s outskirts for the duration of my stay. The occasion was Feria Hábitat València – Spain’s leading fair for furniture, lighting, home textiles and interiors. I was there to take the pulse of contemporary Spanish design.

My biggest takeaway was that furniture design seems moving beyond just visual appeal, emphasising instead clever, customisable features (invisible to the naked eye, of course). Invisible tabs reclined seats; connections between infinite modular configurations were hidden; and new materials allowed furniture to move between indoor and outdoor use. The old trade-off between style and function? A thing of the past.

A cultural exploration

Jamilah Rose-Roberts, social media editor

Earlier this week, a friend of mine received tickets to the ICA for the launch of Liz Johnson Artur's new book, I Will Keep You in Good Company. The book gathers pages from more than twenty of Johnson Artur's handmade workbooks, begun in the early 1990s – part diary, part experimental playground. Through layering, annotating, and collaging, they chart the evolution of her photographic language and her way of processing both images and life.

The evening began with screenings of three short films: Real Times (2018), Black Balloon Archive (2016), and Afro Russia (2019). Each expanded on themes running through her work, from Black British history and resistance to the complexities of others’ mixed African/Black and Russian heritage. Watching them together was a reminder of how Johnson Artur's practice navigates identity, community, and the politics of belonging with a rare tenderness and clarity.

Following this, there was a conversation with designer Martine Rose and Johnson Artur, drawing out the intersections between art, fashion, and cultural memory, before the night closed with a book signing. While the films are not currently available to view, I Will Keep You in Good Company can be found online or at the ICA.

Art in Athens

Gabriel Annouka, senior designer

Whilst in Athens, I visited Sylvia Kouvali, a gallery housed in a converted industrial space in Piraeus, which I had first encountered at Condo London back in January. Inside, Haris Epaminonda's retrospective, VOL. XXXIII, plays with space with both mischief and precision. Built walls hide objects, images flirt with each other in stacks, and a video plays in an enclosed space you can only spy through a small porthole. The rooms are intimate, slightly unruly, and composed of fragments of memory, books, and history. Nothing is ever complete; everything feels deliciously on edge.

A revived legacy

Bill Prince, editor-in-chief

On Friday, I popped in to see La France de Bernard Buffet at Opera Gallery in Mayfair. Co-curated by my friend and colleague Nick Foulkes, it demonstrates one of the reappearing acts of the last few years: the rehabilitation of a French post-war figurative artist at one stage thought lost to the vagaries of fashion.

We are all intrigued by the way our culture overwrites itself at regular intervals, from silent movie stars to the polymath artists of the music hall era, we find ourselves drawn more to the forgotten than to the ritually trumpeted. Buffet was once one such casualty. Now, thanks to the work of Nick and co-curator Giulia Lecchini, deputy director at Opera Gallery London, no longer.

A talent showcase

Charlotte Gunn, director of digital content

Last night I attended Abbey Road's annual Music Photography Awards, held in the renowned Studio One and Two. A couple of legends in the field – David Bailey and Anton Corbijn – received the Lifetime Achievement and ICON awards, respectively. But it was exciting to see the wealth of emerging talent on show. We loved Melissa Gardner's winning photo of Lava La Rue.

A joyous launch

Anna Fixsen, US editor

Fun fact: my middle name is Joy. So when Marc Jacobs launched his JOY artist capsule collection, in which the designer tapped creatives David Shrigley, Derrick Adams and Hattie Stewart to design a series of happy bags and accessories, I was all aboard. Last night, the brand had plenty to celebrate, including the launch of the JOY Soda Shop at The Standard, Highline and the premiere of Fairyland, a new coming-of-age film set amid the AIDS crisis directed by Andrew Durham and produced by Sofia Coppola. Beneath festive umbrellas and cheeky decor by Adams, Stewart and Shrigley (I was partial to his ‘Joy is Bananas’ coasters), guests – including Coppola and her daughter, Romy Mars – sipped daiquiris, noshed on fries and caught up with fellow creatives. Because if there’s anything we need in this moment of uncertainty, it’s an excuse for a good time.

A new Athens gallery has made its appearance underneath the Acropolis. The space, titled Melas Martinos, has been designed by architecture studio Local Local and sits in the neighbourhood of Monastiraki, at the foot of the ancient hill. The reimagining of an existing building, its architecture was conceived to nod to its area's and original structure's historic character, but has been refreshed and crafted in close collaboration with the client as a 21st-century art space.

Tour this modern Athens gallery by Local Local

The existing building's bones were sturdy – an old shop with three floors of storage and secondary spaces upstairs, previously inaccessible to the public. It has belonged to the client’s family, who had an antiques business, for over a hundred years.

The emerging Athens architecture studio, headed by founder Sofia Xanthakou and set in 2022, worked this memory and function into the design - cleaning up the interior to house contemporary art shows, but allowing space for antiques and furniture displays to exist in between this programme.

The early 20th-century building is surrounded by Athens' dense cityscape, packed with life and structures, as well as various archaeological digs and historical sites, such as the Roman Agora, the Library of Hadrian, and two former Ottoman mosques.

Within this rich urban environment, Melas Martinos brings its own architecture story to the mix. The 19th-century building had been added to and tweaked over the centuries, its fabric also including a series of arches on the first floor, which were added to the building in the 1960s by Greek modernist architect Takis Zenetos.

The architects tackled this sensitive and busy architectural mosaic with care, maintaining, cleaning up and sharpening its features and identity, while ensuring the interiors work for the purposes of a modern art space. The entire top floor had to be reworked and now includes an accessible terrace with a red terrazzo floor that overlooks the surroundings.

The craftspeople involved in the renovation were selected for their superior knowledge and skills, bringing back period features or creating new elements that echo the building's original spirit - such as the terrazzo with white stones and red pigment user as flooring in the balconies, executed by Nikos, 'one of the few craftsmen using traditional techniques in this format,' the team explains.

localocal.org

‘Death is an evil. We have the gods' word for it; they too would die if death were a good thing.’ South African artist Marlene Dumas reads this poem attributed to the Ancient Greek poet Sappho, outside her exhibition ‘Cycladic Blues’, taking place across the neoclassical Stathatos Mansion in the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens. The poem cuts across time, framing death not as a transition to the next cycle of life, but as a failure – an affront even to the divine – and asserting its finality and violence. With this, Dumas sets the tone for ‘Cycladic Blues’, a deeply personal and expansive exhibition that moves through the many cycles that preoccupy her work: sex and desire, love and hate, life and death, guilt and innocence. The show draws connections between Dumas’ paintings, works on paper, and Cycladic and Hellenistic artefacts selected by the artist – some more than 4,000 years old – from the museum's permanent collection.

The majority of the ancient objects placed in dialogue with Dumas’ works – ranging from early pieces made in 1992 to new paintings created specifically for this exhibition – are Cycladic figurines. Carved from marble and originating from the nearby Cycladic islands, the figurines exude an eerie anonymity. Little is known about them with certainty; they were likely placed in graves and it is assumed they played a role in funerary rituals.

Their minimal, stylised forms – with folded arms, curved and smoothed-over features, and precisely incised lines marking sex and limbs – are a delicate abstraction of the human body, one that resonates with Dumas’ visual language. The ancient figures now stand in quiet proximity to her paintings, which chart the body in its most charged, exposed and intimate states. From the strip-club dancers portrayed in her Amsterdam series to martyrs, murderers and tender portraits of her daughter, Helena (1992), Dumas’ figures are consistently performing, ageing, desiring, or dying. The exhibition becomes not only a confrontation with death, but a meditation on how we face death, through the persistence of bodies, the repetition of ideals or gestures, and the act of image-making itself, in a dialogue that cycles across centuries.

The artist's relationship to Greek antiquity is shaped by conflict. Raised in Apartheid-era South Africa, Dumas witnessed how classical ideals were weaponised by fascist and colonial regimes to uphold order and supremacy. In that context, the smooth, idealised body of antiquity became a political tool. It was only later that she recognised the subversive potential buried within those same classical texts. On Robben Island, political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, staged and acted Greek tragedies, in acts of camaraderie and survival. In Sophocles’ Antigone, for instance, the prisoners saw a story of moral defiance against state violence. Greek antiquity, for Dumas, thus becomes a paradox: one in which traditional beauty is entangled with brutality.

This tension runs throughout her work. Dumas returns obsessively to death, not as a singular event, but as a persistent cycle that binds all things. In 50+ (2010–2018), painted over eight years and after her 50th birthday, the body is depicted as something already fading. Veins pulsate beneath a translucent skin, as a second face hovers like a spirit leaving the body. Dumas’ process is as much about erasure as depiction; in the studio, as she works, she removes more paint from the canvas surface than she builds. In Long Neck (Fragment) (c. 1998), ink pools and bleeds into paper, forming a dissolving, incomplete body. Her starting points are often photographs, many of them marked by violence and post-mortem images, including that of the young Chechen woman from the Moscow theatre crisis in Alfa (2004). A cropped image of a female’s side profile fades to a milky grey haze, her mouth softly ajar, and her eyes closed in what could be sleep, or deathly slumber.

The tension between presence and absence, eroticism and grief, is heightened in Immaculate, a close-up painting of a lower torso and vagina; the skin of the unknown figure is blue beside the lower torso of a Cycladic figurine. The effect is quiet but charged. Dumas’ painting invites the gaze, in an intimate, vulnerable and fleshy way, whilst the marble figurine, detached from its funerary origin, stands cold and symbolic of the transition to the next cycle in life. Their proximity does not resolve into harmony; rather, they orbit each other in a dialogue of opposites. One speaks to desire and immediacy, the other to departure. But in that friction lies the power of ‘Cycladic Blues’: a refusal to idealise the body as fixed to one state. Rather, the body constantly has the capacity to transform and change, to slip between desire and decay, intimacy and distance, past and present.

The conversation between Dumas’ paintings and the Cycladic figurines is neither seamless nor reconciled, and it is in this friction that gives the exhibition its charge. The Cycladic islands, from which the ancient figurines originate, take their name from the Greek word kyklos (meaning ‘circle’), a reference to how the islands encircle the sacred island of Delos, mythic birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. But the term also evokes larger, more existential cycles: birth and death, memory and forgetting, creation and decay; the very cycles that animate Dumas’ work.

The figurines, with their smoothed limbs and closed forms, speak to the cyclical nature of ritual and mourning. And yet, both ancient and contemporary bodies resist realism, preferring distortion and abstraction as ways of reaching what lies beneath the surface. Their connection lies in the rhythm of recurrence in how form returns in different guises, and how death persistently haunts life.

‘Marlene Dumas: Cycladic Blues’ at the Museum of Cycladic Art until 2 November 2025, cycladic.gr/en

We’ve long kept an eye on Greek jewellery brand Lito for the evocative way it fuses historical symbols and traditional techniques with a modernist approach to shape, colour, style and precious stones. Founded by Lito Karakostanoglou, the brand is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and, to mark the occasion, it has chosen to add nine one-of-a-kind designs to its striking ‘Tu Es Partout’ collection.

Instantly recognisable for its reimagining of the all-seeing-eye motif, used for centuries by a wealth of cultures to ward off negative energy and protect from evil, the original collection features bracelets, necklaces and earrings, with each piece individually hand-painted, in a variety of colours, then enamelled, encased in gold and adorned with precious stones.

Launching on 16 June 2025, the nine new amulets elevate Lito’s signature eye motif into bold new realms of artistry, creativity and collectability. ‘“Tu Es Partout” has always been the soul of the brand, its gaze, its story, its magic. It only felt right to dress it in its finest, most radiant form for this milestone moment,’ says Karakostanoglou, who always sets out to create jewellery that her clients can connect to.

‘I wanted every piece to tell a different story. Each carries a different message on the back, which is one of my favourite things to do when designing – creating secret messages between me and the wearer. There is more than what the eye can see! Once you read the message, the jewellery resonates in so many more ways. It becomes more than a piece of jewellery. It’s that message that you carry with you always.’

Crafted in Athens in gold and hand-painted enamel, alongside a rainbow palette of semi-precious stones, from tanzanite to spinel, the new pieces include a spectacular pink and yellow gold brooch, featuring mother of pearl, diamonds and rubies, and a yellow gold necklace with sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds.

The 25th Anniversary Eyes collection starts at £7,000 and will be available online from Lito Jewellery and at Lito’s flagship Athens boutique

From the Japanese Genmaicha dotted with popped brown rice to the time-consuming but deliciously foamy West African Ataya, the world of tea is truly full of wonders. And it’s certainly not stuck in time: today, a new generation is discovering the beauty of bright-green matcha and fragrant masala chai. For her latest book, 150 Tea Houses You Need to Visit Before You Die, writer and editor Léa Teuscher – a long-time Wallpaper* staffer – explores what’s brewing, whether it’s in a cool café in Istanbul, a historic tea plantation in Darjeeling, an elegant hotel in London or a beautiful Kyoto ochaya. Here she picks ten tea houses serving great drinks and homemade blends in elegant, often architect-designed spaces, around the world.

Ten contemporary tea houses to visit now

Basao Tea, Xiamen

Designed by Norm Architects, this beautiful minimalist space is the flagship tea room of Basao Tea, a brand established in 2011 in Xiamen, Fujian. It is named after a Japanese zen monk who once wrote: ‘Having learned the ways of silence, within the noise of urban life, I take life as it comes to me, and everywhere I am is true.’ Its pared-back space aims to help visitors enjoy quiet contemplation and the calming sounds of tea being prepared, poured and enjoyed. Sit at the large stone tea counter to take part in a Chinese gongfu tea ceremony, or learn about more contemporary ways of tea making, like Basao’s nitrogen-infused cold brews. The tea sommeliers can also guide you through the company’s collection, which ranges from hand-rolled Nepali tips to Hangzhou’s ‘dragon well’ tea. Basao also has branches in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Basao Tea is located at 8 Jianye RdSi Ming Qu, Xia Men Shi, Fu Jian Sheng, China; @basaotea

Bellocq Tea Atelier, New York

Bellocq is known for its single-estate full-leaf teas and signature botanical blends, as well as its famous yellow tea caddies now found in the tea rooms of some of the world’s leading brands, from Tiffany & Co to Cartier. Designed by co-founder Heidi Johannsen Stewart, and her husband, architect Scott Stewart, its studio and tea room is located in a brick warehouse in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint, and celebrates the luxury of taking time to enjoy a fine cup of tea. Distilling inspiration from botanical traditions while embracing innovation, the brand focuses on sustainable production practices, sourcing teas from exceptional gardens that reflect the unique terroirs of China, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India and South Africa. Bellocq’s Earl Grey, for example, is made with an exceptional base leaf and, uniquely, the essence of Sicilian bergamot extracted from the entire fruit.

Bellocq Tea Atelier is located at 104 West St, Brooklyn, NY 11222, United States; bellocqtea.com

Cafe Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm

Leading Swedish interiors brand Svenskt Tenn was founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, an entrepreneur and a great tea lover who is said to have drunk five cups of tea every day. Fittingly, the brand’s beautiful shop in central Stockholm is also home to a café serving a wide range of teas, with everything from delicate, grassy Japanese green teas and Indian Darjeeling, to its own flavoured blend of Chinese keemun/Yunnan. The teas were selected by chef Petter Nilsson’s team at Petri, a fine dining restaurant that is known for its focus on tea pairings, so expect some pretty special drinks here, such as rare jungle teas from the Monsoon Tea Wat Ket in Thailand and Dongfang meiren (‘Oriental beauty’) from Nantou County in Taiwan. These can be accompanied by dishes such as smoked salmon on French toast, or rhubarb cheesecake, canelés and chestnut tartlets.

Café Svenskt Tenn is located at Strandvägen 5, 114 51 Stockholm, Sweden; svenskttenn.com

Casa de Chá, Brasilia

Designed between 1965 and 1966 by legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer, the Casa de Chá was conceived as a meeting point on the monumental Three Powers Plaza, the site of the three branches of the Brazilian government. It is a unique spot with floor-to-ceiling windows hiding under a long flat white roof, in the great modernist architecture tradition. Inside, you will find classic pieces such as Jean Gillon armchairs and a menu by local chef Gil Guimarães. Drinks include Itamaraty Chai (black tea with star anise, cloves and pepper), a house maté, and the Congresso infusion, with hibiscus, apple, clove and cinnamon. We’d recommend sampling these with a slice of corn cake or, if really hungry, a Niemeyer tartine with Parma ham and umbu jelly. Refurbished in 2019 by Bloco Arquitetos, the café is actually part of the local university and a training ground for its hospitality students.

Casa de Chá is located at Praça dos Três Poderes Três Praça dos Três Poderes - Brasilia, DF, 70802-140, Brazil; @casadecha.df.senac.br

Ksana matcha, Bangkok

Located in cosmopolitan Pathum Wan, this cave-like specialist matcha tea room offers a unique haven of tranquillity away from chaotic central Bangkok. Sourced from Japanese heritage farms in Uji and leading tea estates in Shizuoka, the powdered green tea is served here on simple wooden tables in a cocooning white cave designed by local practice JUTI architects. Ksana matcha uses the finest-quality tea leaves to create four teas, including Coastal Breeze, with umami flavours that evoke the fresh serenity of a coastal morning, and Smoky Peaks, a hōjicha with a hint of hickory. Also on the menu are traditional Japanese wagashi sweets, such as yuzu and yokan jelly. Ksana has just opened an equally slick new outpost in the nearby Central World mall.

Ksana Matcha is located at 2nd Floor, One City Centre, Unit R2-02, 548 Phloen Chit Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; ksanamatcha.com

Osulloc Tea Museum, Jeju

Set on an organic tea farm on the island of Jeju in South Korea, this stylish tea room and museum designed by Seoul-based practice Mass Studies was set up by the South Korean brand Osulloc, which started growing tea here only in 1979, after painstakingly transforming the rocky land into tea fields. It has since won a string of prestigious prizes for its teas, including Illohyang, a first-flush green tea handpicked in early April, and Sejac, the brand’s signature green tea. You can try them at the museum’s teahouse, which also serves blended teas, such as Samdayeon Jeju Tangerine, and lots of pretty tea-flavoured treats, such as matcha tiramisu and Jeju green tea cheesecake. Osulloc also has teahouses in Seoul, including a flagship location in the Bukchon district.

Osulloc Tea Museum is located at 15 Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea; us.osulloc.com

Oxi Tea Room, Melbourne

Known for its exquisitely detailed themed afternoon teas, this serene tea room in downtown Melbourne celebrates the tea terroirs of Kenya and Taiwan, the home countries of owners Mehboob and Andy. From Kenya come teas such as Nandi Gold, a fruity black tea with hints of roasted hazelnuts, while from Taiwan are sourced crisp Alishan and delicate dong ding oolongs. The 30 premium whole-leaf teas are paired with meticulously crafted menus, and an interactive app guides diners through a culinary journey, revealing the stories behind each dish. Designed by local practice Alta Architecture, Oxi Tea Room is well known for its themed afternoon teas, with past inspirations ranging from local honeys to artists such as Yayoi Kusama. All feature pastry chef Johnny Ping’s eye-catching creations, including surprising bites such as cheesecake with plum, blueberry and tofu.

Oxi Tea Room is located at T4/158 Victoria St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia; oxitea.com.au

Steep LA

Located in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, this teahouse, bar and eatery was co-founded by Samuel Wang and Lydia Lin, for whom tea is a family tradition. While Samuel grew up drinking oolong with his dad, Lydia’s favourite is pu-erh tea, which her family enjoys while eating dim sum. Their menu focuses on premium teas handpicked from China and Taiwan, which cover five out of six major Chinese tea categories: black, green, white, oolong and pu-erh – the latter including a refreshing Green Tangerine tea with notes of citrus and freshly cut grass. Come 5pm, Steep LA introduces its After Dark program, offering tea-infused cocktails such as Winter’s Whisper, with Jiaziyuan oolong tea. There is also a food menu with noodle bowls and snacks and a boutique selling pieces by local designers and craft makers.

Steep LA is located at 970 N Broadway #112, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States; steepla.com

Théhuone, Helsinki

As you’d expect for a boutique and tea room located in the Design District, the décor at Théhuone is pure Scandinavian minimalism. Tea is served in sleek white porcelain cups and transparent teapots, which are perfect to watch flowering teas unfurl. There’s only a handful of tables and a seating area with floor cushions by the window from which to enjoy a selection of over 400 teas, carefully selected by sisters Nina and Nea, who founded the tea room in 2005. Flavoured teas such as classic Earl Grey and cherry-flavoured Sencha Sakura are particularly popular here, as are rare pu-erh varieties from Yunnan and the finest oolong teas from Taiwan. In keeping with the pared-back décor by local studio Pure Design, which lets the teas do the talking, there is no food menu – but drinks do come with little biscuits, mochis or a piece of green tea chocolate on the side.

Théhuone is located at Eerikinkatu 10, 00100 Helsinki, Finland; thehuone.com

To Tsai, Athens

Owned by specialist Ceylon tea importer Mlesna, To Tsai opened its doors in 1993. Inspired by Japanese architecture, the sleek space by Georges Batzios Architects is divided into a boutique and a tea room, where tea is served in a variety of teapots (porcelain, cast iron or clay) depending on its origin. It’s a real treasure trove of hard-to-find teas, such as an organic orange pekoe, grown near Etseri in the mountains of Georgia, and mastic tea, a tea flavoured with natural mastic oil (a key Greek ingredient), from Dimbula, Sri Lanka. Another local favourite is mountain tea, or Sideritis scardica, grown on an organic farm on Mount Olympus – a delicious infusion with notes of mint, chamomile and citrus.

To Tsai is located at Al. Soutsou 19, Athens 106 71, Greece; tea.gr

High jewellery, that melting pot of precious materials and incredibly elevated craftsmanship, can often veer towards the traditional in its aesthetic, something Athens-based jeweller Nikos Koulis has been determined to avoid.

Koulis’ high jewellery is a breath of fresh air. Fluid, modern and cool, his embracing of clever engineering and diamonds in unconventional cuts brings something wholly new to the field. ‘A client once told me that my jewellery is “kind” to women,’ Koulis says. ‘They said it has a gentle attribute, feeling light, fitting right, flowing with movement. I consider fluidity as a core characteristic of my aesthetic, an integral element of how I shape each of my creations. Sometimes, it’s strikingly visible in the design; other times, it’s hidden in the details – how a piece rests against the ear, drapes around the neck or embraces the wrist. It’s in the way it moves, in its softness, in the seamless connection between form and feel. It’s a challenge for craftsmanship, but a very deliberate aesthetic choice. Women should not have any restraints in wearing precious one-of-a-kind pieces, they should enjoy them in a nonchalant and comfortable style.’

In the ‘Wish’ collection, Koulis is inspired by the spiky yet soft character of a dandelion, its spikes here translated into diamonds set in gold, on aluminium. The fluffy seed-heads become unusual diamond cuts, such as the moval, a blend of a marquise and oval cut.

‘It all begins with my deep, almost sensual connection to stones,’ Koulis adds. ‘I am fascinated by searching for unusual cuts, old-mine treasures, rare gems that stand out not for their carat weight, but for their enticing allure. Diamonds, as creations of nature, possess an inherent, timeless beauty. The irresistible charm of a no-heat blue sapphire or a fiery ruby is unmatched.

‘And the magnetism of Colombian emeralds? It lies in their colour and their imperfections, all the more enchanting for their subtle inclusions. The conduit to originality is to experiment with different materials and techniques.'

Koulis enjoys embracing these unusual techniques to bring his vision to life. ‘An anchor for me is black enamel, heated in very high temperatures with a traditional Greek technique. It’s a nod to art deco, made with my signature. I embraced innovation with the clear enamel, where diamonds appear as if floating in a translucent surface. I explored new materials, introducing aluminum in “Wish”. The metal has soft and sculptural transformative powers and it’s so light and smooth, a contrast to how people perceive it. My purpose is to evolve and feed my curiosity.’

nikoskoulis.com

With the flurry of art fairs coming up, there’s no shortage of masterworks to delight, inspire and seduce us. From Frieze Los Angeles 2025 and Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech this February to Art Basel Hong Kong in March, the art world and its patrons have shown that if you love art, you must travel for it. So, if art is life and life is art, why not embody the avant-garde sensibility and turn even your sleeping quarters into a Gesamtkunstwerk (German for ‘total work of art’)? From contemporary art at New Hotel Athens to surrealism at the Broadwick Soho and modernism at The Fife Arms in Scotland, the following art hotels make sleeping feel like a night at the museum.

The best hotels for art lovers

The Broadwick Soho, London

The Broadwick Soho is a wild, decadent hotel in the heart of London that draws on 1970s-era discotheque opulence and smoky, velvet backrooms. Yet its maximalist design, masterminded by interior designer Martin Brudnizki (also behind the makeover of members’ club Annabel’s), is thoughtfully supplemented by an impressive art collection. Selected from hotel owner Noel Hayden’s personal collection, a series of 300 original artworks curated by Jonathan Brook match the Broadwick’s eclecticism, ranging from iconic masterworks like Andy Warhol’s shoe sketches, À la recherche du shoe perdu (1955), that were once part of David Bowie’s estate, and works by Francis Bacon and Bridget Riley, to flea-market finds and works by contemporary artists such as Faye Wei Wei and Casey Moore.

The Broadwick Soho is located at 20 Broadwick St, London W1F 8TH, United Kingdom; broadwicksoho.com

Château Voltaire

Smack dab in the centre of Paris’ 1st arrondissement, between Opéra and Tuileries, Thierry Gillier, founder of the French fashion brand Zadig & Voltaire, brought to life a five-star, 32-room hotel that feels as personal as the art on its walls. At Château Voltaire, works from Gillier’s personal collection dot the space – each room is unique, so you might wake up under a piece by Picasso or Cy Twombly, or see works by Marlene Dumas, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Stephen Shearer and Francis Picabia in the lobby and lounge. With artistic direction led by Franck Durand, and interior design by Festen, the mood is one of highly curated contemporary eclecticism with elements of elegant gothic design, in buildings that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Château Voltaire is located at 55 Rue Saint-Roch, 75001 Paris, France; chateauvoltaire.com

El Fenn, Marrakech

Co-owners Vanessa Branson (sister of Richard), Madeline Weinrib (and her husband Graham Head, president of ABC Carpet & Home), along with El Fenn’s creative director Yann Dobry have all had a hand in defining the hotel’s eclectic art and interiors that blend Marrakech style with bohemian luxury. As a collector and gallerist, Branson’s taste in art has appeared throughout El Fenn’s hallways since it opened in 2004: pieces by William Kentridge, Antony Gormley, Bridget Riley and David Shrigley remain on display. The hotel, whose name means ‘house of art’, remains closely tied to culture – many contemporary Moroccan artists, such as Hassan Hajjaj and Yto Barrada are featured in the space as well.

El Fenn is located at Derb Moulay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, 2, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; el-fenn.com

The Fife Arms, Braemar

When two of the art world’s most powerful players open a hotel, you know that the art collection will be worth the visit alone. Owned by Iwan and Manuela Wirth of the famed gallery Hauser & Wirth, The Fife Arms offers artwork to rival many major museums. A 19th-century Victorian coaching inn located in the picturesque village of Braemar in the Scottish Highlands, just about everything at the Fife Arms is extraordinary. Its jaw-dropping collection is made up of nearly 16,000 pieces that range from Pablo Picasso’s Mousquetaire Assis (1967) and Lucian Freud’s Child Portrait (1962) to a painting by Gerhard Richter, and a piece by Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel the Younger. The Russell Sage-designed interiors incorporate Scottish heritage with tweed and tartan accents and antiques in keeping with the property’s history. Where else can you stay with two full-time art historians who were brought on board to research Scottish history, Victoriana and contemporary art?

The Fife Arms is located at Mar Rd, Braemar, Ballater AB35 5YN, United Kingdom; thefifearms.com

New Hotel, Athens

Owned by Cypriot Dakis Joannou, one of the world’s preeminent contemporary art collectors and founder of the Deste Foundation, the New Hotel in Athens is a hub for supporting and showcasing contemporary art. Revolving exhibitions feature contemporary artists from the Athenian scene, while 20 pieces from Joannou’s personal collection also dot the walls. Works by major artists such as Jenny Holzer, Laurie Simmons, Jeff Koons and Barbara Kruger are in the hotel’s permanent collection, and there's an installation by a Greek artist in every suite. For the bibliophile, 2,000 art books are on display in the hotel’s Art Lounge. Designed by Brazilian brothers Fernando and Humberto Campana, the 79-room hotel with views of the Acropolis harkens back to classic Greek architecture but is infused with hand-selected luxury design details that nod to a forward-thinking, eclectic sensibility.

New Hotel, Athens is located at Filellinon 16, Athens 105 57, Greece; donkeyhotels.gr

Pompey Jamaica

Located in Portland Parish on Jamaica's north-east coast, Pompey is a private estate owned by American DJ and music producer Diplo, surrounded by dense rainforest on 50 acres of land. The brutalist complex designed by Freecell Architecture in collaboration with designer Gia Wolff is complemented by an art collection that includes work by artists such as Sofia Londoño, Pedro Reyes, Lucas Muñoz, Asafo Flag, Garnett Puett, Veronica Ryan and Vince Skelly. Composed of a main house, a music studio, a yoga studio, a spa and a lagoon, the interiors by Sara Nataf and Katelyn Hinden and landscape design by Geoponika provide a homely contrast to the stark concrete structure that seems to be swallowed up by its jungle surrounds – a metaphor for the hideaway that Diplo envisioned.

pompeyjamaica.com

Rhinoceros Roma

If having artwork on the walls of your hotel isn’t enough, how about sleeping above a gallery? Rhinoceros Roma in Rome’s ancient Velabro district – home to Fondazione Alda Fendi Esperimenti, the contemporary art foundation of Alda Fendi, youngest daughter of the Fendi family – allows just that. Restored by architect Jean Nouvel, the 17th-century palazzo houses 25 apartments that exude luxury with ultra-modern, Italian minimalist chic (think: lots of chrome and concrete floors). On the bottom floor, an art gallery hosts rotating exhibitions, including a partnership with the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg that has shown works by Picasso, El Greco and Michelangelo.

Rhinoceros Roma is located at Via del Velabro, 9, 00186 Rome, Italy; rhinocerosroma.com

Les Roches Rouges, Saint-Raphaël

Set on the splashy landscape of the French Riviera, Les Roches Rouges in Saint-Raphaël embodies classic Côte d’Azur style with minimalist furnishings that ooze elegance. Interior design studio Festen Architecture gave the hotel’s 1950s modernist architecture a fresh vision in sun-drenched colours reminiscent of vintage Mediterranean style. Antique dealers Hélène Breheret and Benjamin Desprez selected furniture from designers such as Pierre Charreau, Willy Guhl and Charlotte Perriand, while sculptor Guy Bareff created custom Alpilles terracotta wall lamps. American artist Rosemarie Auberson made colour-block paintings based on a palette of blue tones, while artist Caroline Denervaud’s colourful abstractions add a light-hearted energy to the space.

Les Roches Rouges, Saint-Raphaël is located at 90 Bd de la 36ème division du Texas, 83530 Saint-Raphaël, France; beaumier.com

Glamping might not immediately conjure up images of Greek holidays; yet 91 Athens Riviera offers just that, bringing together contemporary luxury and design ambition with a well-connected setting and the year-round warm, Athenian sun. Located within an idyllic waterfront setting and unfolding as a family of low structures set within a richly planted estate, this is an entirely fresh offering when it comes to the Greek capital's hospitality scene.

Checking into 91 Athens Riviera

The boutique resort, a member of the portfolio of Greek hospitality group Domes, comprises a mere 28 cabanas of varying sizes (for couples and families), arranged around a garden planted with native Mediterranean species and a mesmerising reflective pool. Each has its own plunge pool and outdoor deck, surrounded by foliage which provides seclusion and privacy.

Inside, the relatively compact interior feels expansive through its large openings, outdoor space, smart design and rich amenity provision - residents will feel well looked after, thanks also to the responsive and attentive staff. Meanwhile, the tent structure's lightweight nature instantly transports you away from the Athens bustle - even if the resort is a short ride away from the capital's centre, including the Acropolis and its myriad attractions.

Three communal structures in the same tensile material host the main reception lobby, a shop and a bookable meeting room. Gym facilities, a tennis court, and an outdoor swimming pool ensure residents can stay active, should they wish to; while the nearby Soma Spa helps with winding down through a selection of holistic treatments in a separate, dedicated building.

On the beach end of the property, an outdoor lounge and bar with deck chairs and an organic, curved swimming pool complement the seaside offering in this section of the serene Voula beach. Some 130 sunbeds dot the private stretch of sand.

The famed restaurant Barbarossa, a long-term staple of Paros Island's culinary scene, brings a taste of the Aegean to this corner of Athens. A combination of Chef Dimitris Nikolis' fine dining menu and cocktails makes for the perfect foodie escape - open to both the resort residents and guests. Seafood is exquisite, and the deserts bring an interactive touch to the experience (try the Island Tree's sculptural mix of yoghurt, white chocolate, and sour cherry).

With the Athens hospitality scene booming and more design destinations opening in the Greek capital than ever before, 91 Athens Riviera is certainly a unique offering - and one worth the visit.

domesresorts.com

Artisanal representations of metaphysical ideas, the objects of desire coming out of Kiki Karayiannis’ jewellery atelier, Vasiliki, shine bright with this committed young designer’s individuality and innate flair. Some are bold, others subtle, but all Karayiannis’ designs convey the quality of originality that has made her one of the jewellery world’s most exciting names to watch.

For inspiration the designer turns to Ancient Greek, Japanese and Norse mythologies, plus postmodern novelists Borges and Ballard, before hand-molding offbeat forms that represent their stories and symbols in her own abstracted way. Whether earrings, necklaces, bracelets or rings, her creations tend to be fluid, bearing an artisanal charm that stands out in a machine-led world. Sometimes gnarly, always organic, each of her miniature sculptures feels precious to wear because of the passion and care put into its making.

Despite having killer looks, Karayiannis has been relatively camera shy until now, largely evading portraits and modelling requests from her creative scene friends for years. For our shoot with photographer Marco Arguello at her space beside Philopappou Hill in Koukaki – the neighbourhood between the Acropolis and contemporary art museum EMST – she’s paired a hotel pyjama shirt from her recent trip to Japan with a heavy kilt and ballet pumps, accessorised of course with a few of her own accents.

Proteus, Orlando, Ursula, Gilgamesh – this motley crew of charismatic personae inhabit the Vasiliki world, lending their assorted associations to be solidified at Karayiannis’ craft-worn fingertips. The designer says she enlists these archetypes 'as consoling protections against the violence of the here and now,' tapping into a fortifying psychic pool in which eternal associations reside. Each kink, gloop, (de)formation is a micro-tribute to randomness and digression, in contrast to the blandness of uniformity she feels has taken over.

Besides its founder’s vivid imagination, the treasure in Vasiliki’s toolbox is craftsman Spiros Amanatidis, now aged 73. He ran his own Classical and Byzantine revivalist jewellery company for years with his brother, and today makes pieces for the admired Lalaounis house. Karayiannis’ designs emerge from their close collaboration and hours of detailed conversations. 'We’ve had a strong emotional connection since we first met, and he’s one of the only craftsmen I know willing to create everything by hand.'

Amanatidis handmakes each Vasiliki chain, some requiring over 100 hand-turned links, which is a rarity these days and gives the label its organic style. Greece has a rich historical jewellery culture and Karayiannis learned her techniques by studying with local craftsmen, which is how she found Amanatidis. Spending long hours at their work tables, she not only learned about mould making and stone setting, she also picked up Greek.

Karayiannis is committed to sourcing ethical materials wherever possible, which is easier with metals than it is with stones (sapphires, emeralds, tourmalines, lemon quartz) but she persists, working with a network of dealers she met at London’s ethical gemstone fairs. Sometimes she repurposes antique diamonds from heirloom pieces she finds at auction, inherited by clients, or from her craftsman’s stash. She works exclusively with precious solid metals – recycled sterling silver and Fairtrade-certified gold. Over the years the designer has donated various pieces to raise funds for regional causes. Her mother had to leave Cyprus abruptly at nine years old after the 1974 Turkish invasion, and Karayiannis is sensitive to the conditions around the Eastern Mediterranean she’s chosen to make her home.

Bespoke one-of-a-kind commissions are where the dynamic designer’s talents come into their own as she imagines unique sculptures to suit an individual’s character, style and needs. In 2020 for example, she crafted a bouquet of protective amulet pendants for a painter friend to wear on a chain, re-envisaging the age-old icons of the cross and evil eye in her charming gloopy hand. More recently she’s come up with spherical solid gold vessels, gemstone-studded chains, irregular gold cufflinks, and molten splashes of kintsugi to rehabilitate a broken pearl.

There have inevitably been more than a few engagement rings too, for which she’s tested her capacity to transform something standardised into something unusual, creating a diamond encrusted organic band for a gallerist, a rich molten version of a solitaire with cabochon emeralds for an artist, and an ancient-looking eternity ring with princess-cut rubies for an architect.

You can find Vasiliki at Sense online, as well as small boutiques like Sekt & Sekt in Basel and Bureau in Taipei. When in 2022 she was commissioned by fashion brand Nanushka to design a silver collection for them, she came up with bulbous bracelets and fibrous ear cuffs. Last year, for chic new perfume boutique Phaon, she created delicate pinched gold candlesticks each on three twiggy legs, which she’s since made available to purchase upon request.

At a warehouse in Piraeus port district (previously used for plates designed to be broken at Greek weddings…) she collaborated with curator Alix Janta on an exhibition with fourteen artists from across Europe to install a series of object dialogues riffing on ideas of fantasy and metamorphosis. Faye Wei Wei made ceramics, Zoe Paul sculpted marble, and Matilde Cerruti Quara performed a poem, each adorned in Vasiliki. Karayiannis got a First in Fine Art and History of Art at London’s aptly titled Goldsmiths before coming to Athens on a trip in 2019 and deciding to stay. Besides being quite the aesthete, she’s a complex, detailed, ideas-led person, which lends her jewellery its variety and depth.

How does the designer feel about the way the Greek capital has changed in the years since she arrived? 'It used to feel like my hideout, like some kind of dreamworld bubble of ancient and urban ruins where I could work on my designs. Now it’s much more social, more collaborative, there’s so much happening.'

One of the things that’s very much happening is Vasiliki. The studio launch was heaving like a house party and private commissions keep coming in for clients ranging from the household names of fashion celebrity to grandes dames of arts patronage. So what does the future hold for this shapeshifting designer? 'I want to expand the Vasiliki universe, I like bringing its sensibilities into everyday life. We now have butter knives, ashtrays and hors d’oeuvres spoons – it might be time to start filling the room!'

vasiliki.studio

In the 1950s and 60s, Athens’ society swans gathered in a club in the old-moneyed Kifisia quarter, their pastime of choice, endless rounds of koum kan, a devilish Greek version of rummy. At the turn of this century, the venue was absorbed into the Karim Rashid-designed Semiramis Hotel as a restaurant and bar, from which it recently emerged from a tip-to-toe refurbishment by New York-based design studio, Manhattan Projects.

Koumkan, Athens

The makeover breathes new life into Koumkan by creating dramatically staged room sets. Each space is dressed to the nines in a palette that is at turns expensively moody and at others stylishly whimsical, its entirety, the designers say, is meant to evoke the vibe of an inter-war bar in Milan or Vienna. The tone is set at the entrance where a staircase encased in travertine descends from the street level into a pink-hued foyer, its bijou proportions cleverly disguised by floor-to-ceiling mirrored walls.

From this relatively austere entry, Manhattan Projects turn up the dial as it unfolds a sequence of spaces saturated in colour and textures. A darkly moody bar with all the feels of Batman’s lair is swathed in green marble from Tinos, 1960s stainless steel sconces and a futuristic, horizontal chandelier.

This opens out into a vast, cave-like space, its soaring ceiling exaggerated by four metre-high chandeliers of glass rods and mirrored panels that cast dizzying reflections and light – an effect Manhattan Projects describes as an ‘inside-out disco ball’. Framed by Iranian pink travertine, the elongated banana-shaped banquettes, meanwhile, are swathed in a light pink fabric produced by a local artisan who also supplies material to the Vatican and local Orthodox churches.

Against such an exuberant setting, the kitchen works hard to keep up with an eclectic menu touched with French, American, Italian and Japanese influences. Current crowdpleasers include buttermilk fried chicken served up with lime mayonnaise and Oscietra, Petrossian salmon crudo, a brioche of truffled grilled cheese, and a juicy slab of Chateaubriand draped with a yakiniku sauce.

Post-prandial treats range from a knickerbocker of ice cream and marshmallow, and Sacher torte, to lavish cocktails – think Negronis arriving at the table with buttered caramel popcorn, and spritzes with cherry soda – the latter best enjoyed either by the pool just beyond the restaurant, or back in the bar where live DJs obligingly keep the good times spinning till dawn.

Koumkan is located at Semiramis Hotel, Char. Trikoupi 48, Kifisia 145 62, Athen, Greece; koumkan.com

Though she runs an established jewellery and objets boutique in Greece, when it comes to imagining new collections, Greek jeweller Lito Karakostanoglou casts a wide cultural net. But then she’s enjoyed a global career, including a stint in US advertising and studies in sculpture and technical drawing in Paris. It was in the French capital that, during the 2000s, Lito started designing for fashion houses including Jean-Paul Gaultier and Kenzo, before finally heading back to Athens to establish her eponymous jewellery house.

Paris, however, is still a constant draw, and it was during a recent Fashion Week trip that Lito started to further explore the city’s art deco heritage. ‘I went to the library, collected a lot of images, bought books, took pictures, headed back to Greece and started listening to jazz,’ she recalls. ‘All these references put me so in the mood, that I started designing.’

The result is ‘Paris 1925’, a suite of jewels created in homage to the upcoming centenary of the city’s ‘Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes’, the exhibition that gave the art deco movement its name. By softening the exact geometry and avant-garde froideur of the era’s graphic style, Lito’s collection of dancing, tactile jewellery designs coupled with the designer's all-round lightness of touch, sets them free in a collection shimmering with sensuality. Here the jewellery designer singles out the thinking behind three key pieces:

‘I Put a Spell on You’ ring

‘This was the first piece I designed for the collection, while I listened to Nina Simone singing “I Put a Spell on You”. The ring feels deco, flamboyant, like holding a cigarette, and the amethyst at the centre, though smooth and domed on the top, is faceted underneath, so it came with a geometry of its own. I picked this stone up years ago in Jaipur, and I’ve always been drawn to how mysterious it feels – deep purple, glowing, and almost magical. There’s a hidden coral bead at the back, which I added to stop the ring tipping when worn, but it worked so well with the overall design that it has become part of the story. That coral, amethyst and the little diamonds all balance each other beautifully, I think. Together, they make this ring feel bold, elegant, and just a tiny bit theatrical.'

‘That’s my Desire’ necklace

‘The inspiration for this piece came from a vintage early 20th-century necklace I found. It had four strands of gold chain, and I became obsessed with capturing its art deco elegance. It made me think of Paul Poiret and how he wasn’t just designing clothes but incredible interiors, too. Poiret's use of fabric, the way he draped it so it flowed, really struck me, and it's that fluidity that I wanted to capture with this necklace. The way the chains fall make it feel like liquid gold against the skin because they move with you, so it feels almost alive. Then there are the details – the ends of the strands are paved with diamonds in clean, faceted lines, which add a kind of art deco architecture. I named it after Louis Armstrong singing “That’s My Desire”.’

‘Fallin’ Love’ earrings

'When I wear these earrings I want to move but then, as a designer, I am generally more into the movement and volume of a piece than its structure. Here, the earring tassels add a lightness and freedom – a sense of dancing to the design. That's why I looked for super-light chains with just the right amount of sparkle, iridescence and gleam. I have pared back the gold because I don't want the heaviness. The gold is there simply as a frame for the beautiful rubies, sapphires and moonstones, and not to make the jewels "weighty". The "Fallin Love" earrings are designed to feel in tune with your skin. So many jazz songs talk about falling in love, and that's the feeling I wanted to capture.'

litofinejewelry.com

June officially ushers in the summer season, bringing with it chilled rosé sipped poolside or along a sun-dappled coast just steps from the water – ideally from the terrace of a design hotel overlooking the Aegean Sea, though a view of Sag Harbor Cove would do nicely too. It’s also a good time for wine tasting in Tuscany and Porto, when both are full of the excitement of alfresco dining and drinking – and the buzz of new boutique stays. For seclusion and wildlife viewing, a swish and soulful new A&K Sanctuary is opening in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.

The world’s best new hotel openings

June 2026

Casa Cedo, Porto, Portugal

Porto is known for Port wine and the bridges across the Douro River, but it’s underrated when it comes to its boutique hotel scene. Casa Cedo has the potential to put the city on the design-driven hospitality map for a cohort of travellers who prioritise intimacy and curation over spectacle and scale. Daniela Franceschini, founder of Lisbon-based Quiet Studios, worked closely with local artisans and creatives – including Ayala Braidman, a ceramist based in Porto, and Portuguese visual artist Juliana Julieta – to imbue the property with character. The rich details carry from the eight rooms to the common areas: a lounge area, rooftop, private rear garden and a living/dining room that hosts special events with buzzed-about local chefs, as well as a hybrid reception and retail cabinet with ceramics, coffee, fresh flowers and Byredo fragrances.

Casa Cedo is located at R. de Cedofeita n. 334, 4050-174 Porto, Portugal

La Darbia, Chianti, Italy

A peaceful escape with access to wineries in Chianti and Florence (just a 25-minute drive away), La Darbia sits on a hilltop estate spanning 15 hectares of olive groves, meadows, and lavender fields. Restored by Studio Primatesta, the intimate retreat is the result of a meticulous renovation that preserves the 11th-century site’s original character and heritage. A contemporary spark comes through local materials – pietra serena, terracotta, travertine, and wood – and traditional craftsmanship techniques, such as intricate woodwork by Flavio Bettio, which ground its sense of place. Tucked into a trio of historic farmhouses, each of the 17 light-filled suites (four of which cater to families) is individually decorated with layered textures, while the windows frame the rolling countryside. The restaurant, led by Chef Sebastiano Pagliaro, serves seasonal Tuscan cuisine. All guests have access to two panoramic swimming pools.

La Darbia is located at Via Case Sparse (Greve), 16, 50022 Greve in Chianti, Italy

Eréma, Milos, Greece

Empiria Group arrived in Milos with the opening of Erema, a member of Design Hotels, located on the southeastern coast of the island near Provatas Beach. While the moon-like landscape may be hard to pull your gaze away from, the architecture and interiors by Athens-based ID Laboratorium, led by Stamos Hondrodimos, are equally arresting without pulling focus. The volcanic terrain lays the foundation for its sensibility and environmental consciousness. Minerals such as stone and marble, alongside sun-faded earth tones, contribute to a grounded feel. From the 41 suites, each with a private pool and panoramic terraces overlooking the Aegean Sea, to the two restaurants, the indoor and outdoor spaces flow together, an expression of the Cycladic lifestyle. The third location of Anthologist, a boutique curated by Andria Mitsakos, stocks global finds, Greek ceramics and vintage treasures.

Eréma is located at Cape Chalaka, Plaka 848 00, Greece

Faraway Sag Harbor, New York

Faraway, the hip, heritage-tinged brand from Blue Flag, with outposts in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, has expanded its reach out East. For Faraway Sag Harbor, Jenny Bukovec Studio, in collaboration with the in-house design team, gave the old Baron’s Cove a full facelift, reimagining the iconic hotel, located just a short walk from Havens Beach and Main Street, into a fresh-faced bolthole that draws on maritime history, merging a coastal palette and oceanic revival motifs. The 67 rooms and suites are clad in saturated hues and warm wood. The lobby lounge is envisioned as a hangout when not enjoying the outdoor spaces, including the covered porch, lush patio – conceived as the heart of the social scene – and outdoor pool. Guests also have access to Amalfi Coast–inspired dining at Zagara, a ground-floor bar and lounge and a gym.

Faraway Sag Harbor is located at 31 W. Water Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963, United States

Kitirua Plains Lodge, Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Abercrombie & Kent’s return to Kenya, with the opening of Kitirua Plains Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary in Amboseli National Park, marks a full-circle moment informed by the legacy of having defined luxury safari travel in the 1960s and a clear vision for the future. Pivoting from archetypal tented camps to something more permanent, Luxury Frontiers created structures from quarried stone with sculptural roofs that nod to traditional mud-building forms and timber screening. Interiors draw directly from the surrounding dust, grasslands and wetlands. Earth tones come to life in textured clay plaster walls, green stucco, green onyx accents, locally sourced Mazeras stone and handwoven sisal ceilings. Kenyan-made furniture crafted from mango wood and African teak is complemented by woven grass artwork and raffia accessories. The sculptural spiral staircase in the main lodge, open-air boma for storytelling and meals under the stars and yoga deck are also calibrated to the landscape.

Kitirua Plains Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary is located at Amboseli National Park, Ol Tukai, Kenya

May 2026

The Baby Grand, Coronado, USA

For its second hotel venture, The Baby Grand, San Diego-based hospitality group CH Projects (the team behind the power-clash cult-favorite Lafayette Hotel in North Park) snapped up a prime perch along Orange Avenue. Once an asphalt parking lot, the 31-key boutique is poised to become Coronado’s coolest stay, steering away from the dulcet tones synonymous with SoCal style. Brooklyn studio Post Company crafted a lush aesthetic that toes the line between overgrown jungle and fantastical underwater oasis. The lobby roars with sculpted rock formations, swaying palms and private lagoons. The under-the-sea themes play out vividly in the rooms, with iridescent clamshell headboards and oversized mirrored minibars mashed up against custom leaf wallpaper and bold leopard prints. The flashy, sensorial feast carries over into dining concepts: an oyster-and-champagne bar with an ornate mosaic of sea creatures and a craggy, Greek-inspired taverna.

The Baby Grand is located at 1315 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States

Hotel Corduroy, Montauk, USA

Montauk, the easternmost point of Long Island and the furthest of the Hamptons towns from New York City, retains a more laid-back appeal than the buttoned-up, busier East Hampton. Hotel Corduroy – the latest venture from Blue Flag Capital, which also includes The Beachside on Nantucket – takes over the former Sunset Montauk. To convert the old motor court into a cool summer weekend escape, Ward + Gray drew on the area’s surfing heritage and its Atlantic coastal setting, grounding the project in a palette of deep green, sun-faded red and light oak. Conceived with mingling in mind, the 29-key hotel will feature outdoor gathering spaces for golden-hour cocktails and firepit stargazing, while the rooms act as sanctuaries with grasscloth wallpaper, reeded bamboo bedside tables and rattan-wrapped consoles.

Hotel Corduroy is located at 437 West Lake Drive, Montauk, NY 11954, United States

Nômade Temple Madrid, Spain

Mexican-owned Nômade brings its breezy, wellness-centric bohemian ethos to Spain’s largest city with Nômade Temple Madrid, a creativity-driven urban destination for design, culture and healing. Housed within the restored Las Letras building on Gran Vía, the hotel’s layered aesthetic, the work of Oneness, is a visual expression of its eclectic vibe – sun-faded reds, geometric prints, modular seating, bold lighting. There's a deeply entrenched spirituality, yet it’s still very socialable. The 93 rooms and two penthouses are tailored for rest; likewise, GÖN House of Healing focuses on restoration. The scene beyond the guests' quarters and wellness wing is far more happening: a 112-seat restaurant draped in natural stone, aged brass and dramatic drapery; a communal cafe softly lit with vintage-style lamps; a speakeasy and nightclub for vinyl and vivid photo opps and a lush, romantic rooftop.

Nômade Temple Madrid is located at Calle Gran Vía, 11, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Sublime Sand, Comporta, Portugal

Following the well-laid roadmap of its destination-defining older sibling, Sublime Sand captures the wild, natural ethos of Portugal’s chicest coastal enclave. The architecture by Lisbon-based Fragmentos in collaboration with Sublime Comporta’s original architect, José Charrua, harmonises with the rugged, windswept landscape of Alentejo, where umbrella pines and cork trees perfume the air and rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see. The indoor-outdoor spaces, created by Andringa Studio, take a similar approach – drawing from the sun-faded palette of the surrounding landscape and incorporating minimalist textures, local materials like wood and stone and sculptural forms. These elements come together across the multi-bedroom villas, Beefbar, Davvero – the crowd-pleasing Italian restaurant from Sublime Lisboa – as well as the wellness facility and kids’ club.

Sublime Sand is located at Estrada Nacional (EN) 261-1, 7570-337 Muda, CCI 3954 Grândola, Portugal

Tierras Villas, Crete, Greece

A quiet departure from the thumping beats of Mykonos and the hordes swarming Santorini, Crete’s newest refuge, part of the family-owned Omicron Hotels group, focuses on heritage and halcyon. Designed by Manos Kipritidis, Tierras Villas embraces a peacefulness that’s both visual and visceral, signalling a shift in how the island is being discovered – slower, more intentionally, with a stronger orientation toward nature and an eye for aesthetics. Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Mediterranean, each of the five minimally designed villas features calming hues and organic materials such as stone and wood, along with a private pool and expansive terraces for sipping a crisp, chilled glass of Vidiano while soaking in sweeping views of the sparkling sea and blue sky.

Tierras Villas is located at Mononaftis, Ag.Pelagia, 715 00 Crete, Heraklion 715 00, Greece

April 2026

Airelles Palladio, Venezia, Italy

The first project outside France for Airelles reaffirms the French hotel group’s knack for transforming historic landmarks into richly appointed luxury retreats. Spread across impeccably restored buildings – including the church of Santa Maria della Presentazione – the property occupies the site of the late-16th-century Bauer Palladio. Architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer conjures a Venetian fantasy, steeped in heritage and the serenity of Giudecca. A warm palette of ambers, mahogany and deep blues, along with terrazzo and marble floors, custom Fortuny chandeliers, delicate Murano glass pieces, Rubelli wall coverings and hand-selected antiques gives the impression of staying at a noble villa. The elegant effect carries through the 45 rooms and suites, three restaurants, five bars, a spa and wellness area and swimming pools.

Airelles Palladio, Venezia is located at Fondamenta Zitelle, 33, 30133 Venice, Italy

Conrad Athens The Ilisian, Greece

Like the phoenix, the regenerative bird that rises from the ashes in Greek mythology, Conrad Athens The Ilisian emerges from the remains of its predecessor: the former Hilton Athens. Occupying the redeveloped mid-century modernist landmark on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, the 307-key hotel commemorates the building’s legacy, incorporating the original 620-square-meter marble façades by 20th-century Greek artist Yannis Moralis and exterior illumination by Eleftheria Deko, the Emmy Award-winning lighting designer behind the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. The interiors by AvroKO pay tribute to the past through original furnishings pulled from the archives, which contrast with the sleek finishes and pop art of its modern revival. There are tonal rooms and suites with skyline views, nine restaurants and bars – including Athens’s first rooftop bar, reborn as Galaxy Dispensary – a spa and the largest outdoor pool in the city.

Conrad Athens The Ilisian is located at Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athina 115 28, Greece

Delano Miami Beach, USA

Delano Miami Beach isn’t a new build – the landmark property dates back to 1948, when its 14‑story tower was the tallest on the strip. Yet if you weren’t aware of its past, the slick surfaces and gleaming fixtures might belie its age. The transformation, led by Elastic, celebrates the spirit and sun-dappled lifestyle of Miami, while honouring the hotel’s legacy. The glossy pool area is flanked by umbrellas, accented with playful fringe. Rooms are bright and airy with crisp linens, light chevron wood flooring, rugs that evoke the soft sands below and large, ocean-facing windows. Gigi Rigolatto, the first-floor Italian concept designed by Hugo Toro, is a soaring oasis of striped plaster walls, intricately carved wooden panels and yellow Sienna marble.

Delano Miami Beach is located at 1685 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States

Four Seasons Cartagena, Colombia

Located in Getsemaní, a vibrant neighborhood steps from the Walled City, Four Seasons Cartagena captures the rhythm, romance and Caribbean charisma of Colombia’s most seductive city while also offering a sense of tranquillity and resort-style amenities. WATG breathed new life into a collection of historic buildings, restoring the Cloister of Saint Francis, timeworn façades, courtyards and the original Club Cartagena grand staircase. French designer François Catroux, in collaboration with Wimberly Interiors and AvroKO, shaped the interiors, which unfold in a warm embrace of old-world charm: intricate woodwork, sun-baked hues, and furnishings and textiles created by Colombian artisan Poli Mallarino. Guests can choose between colonial-style or contemporary rooms, each infused with timeless character. French studio SBM Interior Design extends the visual identity across the eight food and beverage venues, including the cocktail bar dedicated to architect Gastón Lelarge.

Four Seasons Cartagena is located at Calle 30 Media Luna 8B #8B-44, Getsemani, Cartagena 130001, Colombia

Vestige Binidufà, Menorca, Spain

The buzz of Ibiza (thankfully) hasn’t yet reached Menorca. Nestled within an 800-hectare private estate on the island’s unspoiled northern coast, where native Minorcan cattle roam the untouched countryside, Vestige Binidufà preserves the bucolic side of the Balearics, sharing its sprawling grounds and amenities – including two restaurants, swimming pools and wellness facilities – with its hilltop sister, Vestige Son Ermità, which opened in June 2025. Shaped by the land and its history as a working farm, the in-house design studio, Vestige Estudio, restored a red-colored finca into an 11-bedroom, valley-ringed hideout that harmonises rustic farmhouse charm and serene sophistication, expressed through earthy hues, exposed wood beam ceilings, terracotta tile flooring, stone soaking tubs and antiques from the family’s collection.

Vestige Binidufà is located at Diseminado Binideufa, 18, 07750 Ferreries, Illes Balears, Spain

March 2026

1 Hotel Tokyo, Japan

Adding to Tokyo’s striking skyline, 1 Hotel Tokyo, the brand’s first seedling in Japan, is a masterclass in sustainable luxury within an urban setting, rising atop Akasaka Trust Tower. To create a biophilic oasis in one of Asia’s largest cities, Creme, in collaboration with 1 Hotel’s in-house design team, turned to nature, bringing the outdoors in through the thoughtful use of natural materials, a practice deeply rooted in both 1 Hotels’ philosophy and Japanese design. A vertical botanical installation, Oya stone and recycled timber panels greet guests in the 38th-floor lobby. Rooms are adorned with muted earthy hues, abundant greenery and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood in sunlight. The spaces feel like a breath of fresh air: a visual reset, a place to unwind above the bustle of the city.

1 Hotel Tokyo is located at 2 Chome-17-22 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan

Fairmont Hanoi, Vietnam

Fairmont Hanoi, the brand’s first debut in Vietnam, adds a splash of modern luxury to the city’s Old Quarter. Glimmering gold and dripping in glamour, the 241-key hotel is a contemporary take on the opulence of Vietnamese tradition, poised to become a landmark in its own right. Influenced by French Colonial and Indochinese architecture, the sculpted, articulated façade, with collonaded podiums and balconies, punctuates the ever-changing cityscape. The interiors by Aston Design extend the aesthetic, while layering in elements that echo Vietnamese symbolism and the surrounding landscape, from a large-scale floral installation in the lobby to the vertical tapestry of vegetation in the courtyard. The clutch restaurants, bars and lounges serve as the social hubs, while the 3,500-square-meter spa and light wood-accented rooms channel artistry into relaxation.

Fairmont Hanoi is located at 10 Tran Nguyen Han Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

Read our full hotel review of Fairmont Hanoi

The Huntington Hotel, San Francisco, USA

San Francisco is in the midst of a renaissance, driven by new culinary and hospitality happenings, most notably the return of the Huntington Hotel. Once frequented by luminaries like Truman Capote, the storied Georgian estate helped put the city on the map. The redux – now part of Leading Hotels of the World – seeks to reclaim its cultural legacy. For hometown designer Ken Fulk, returning Nob Hill’s crown jewel to its ivy-clad glory required a grand reimagining of its accommodations, restaurant and wellness facilities, alongside a careful polishing of original plasterwork ceilings and boiserie panels. The 143 rooms and suites capture the elegance of the hotel’s heyday, enhanced by the allure of warm, muted hues and bold art. The Big Four benefited from a gracious upgrade without compromising its character, while the emblematic Nob Hill Spa once again beckons with an atrium crowned by Moorish fretwork and a heated indoor swimming pool.

The Huntington Hotel is located at 1075 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States

The Lake Como Edition, Italy

Situated on Lake Como’s western shore in Cadenabbia, The Lake Como Edition balances heritage and hip, standing out among the historic landmarks of Italy’s most legendary lakeside destination. The Edition’s creative directors, Kirstin Bailey and Paul Haslhofer, in collaboration with Neri&Hu and architectural partner De.Tales, transformed a 19th-century palazzo into a modern interpretation of Italian glamour, translating the landscape – lush flora, turquoise water, pink sunsets – into a colour palette complemented by marble-faced archways and terrazzo floors. The lobby lounge is punctuated by a celadon green Sekoya marble bar and a custom Neri + Hu bauble chandelier, while the lakefront pool deck, dotted with striped umbrellas, looks ready to splash across postcards. Walnut furnishings and arched windows add character to the 148 rooms. True to the hotel’s forward-thinking ethos, there’s a state-of-the-art longevity spa for high-tech biohacking treatments and cryotherapy.

The Lake Como Edition is located at Via Regina, 41, 22011 Cadenabbia, Italy

Read our full hotel review of The Lake Como Edition

Six Senses London, UK

While most of London’s luxury hotels cluster around Mayfair and Belgravia, Six Senses London plants its flag in the heart of Bayswater. Taking cues from the building’s origins as the city’s first major department store, AvroKO looked to the heritage façade, the Great Exhibition and the streamliners of that era, weaving in modern, streamlined thinking and a soft palette that shifts the mood from retail to retreat. The residential-style rooms and suites unfold in a serene sweep of rounded forms, inky blues and warm woods. Some feature soaking tubs or glass stall showers that resemble old-school phone booths. Works by contemporary British artists complement a sculptural green bar, curved velvet seating and orb-like lighting in Whiteley’s Bar. Follow the restored circular staircase down to the basement spa, replete with a handmade porcelain petal sculpture by Ula Saniawa, a vaulted swimming pool and a biohacking recovery lounge.

Six Senses London is located at 1 Redan Pl, London W2 4SA, United Kingdom

Read our full hotel review of Six Senses London

February 2026

Alila Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Far removed from nightclubs and co-eds in Cancun, Alila Mayakoba shows off a more tranquil, down-to-earth side of the Riviera Maya. Huber Design Studio took a biophilic approach, celebrating the ecological beauty and deep cultural roots of the Yucatán Peninsula. Situated at the intersection of nature and culture, the five-star, adult-centric resort unfolds across mangrove-framed waterways, cenotes and the Caribbean coastline. Native, locally sourced materials – including tropical hardwoods such as tzalam, parota and rosa morada, along with stone ranging from hand-chiselled Mérida limestone to travertine – ground the design. Furniture, ceramics and henequén textiles handcrafted by Mexican artisans reinforce a sense of proximity and purpose, resulting in a retreat that feels deeply rooted in place while thoughtfully reducing its environmental footprint.

Alila Mayakoba is located at Carretera Federal Cancún-Playa del Carmen KM 298, Mexico

Ayan Zalaat, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Set on a 34-acre estate just outside Ulaanbaatar, Ayan Zalaat gives visitors a visually stunning and immersive introduction to Mongolian heritage. The combination of architecture led by the Mabetex Group and interior design by Fabio Friso reflect the country’s rich roots, while introducing a new echelon of glamour and grandeur to contrast its rugged surroundings. From the opulent double staircase and chandelier-studded reception to the 10 dazzling F&B concepts, it’s lavish on a considerably large-scale – but its sumptuous scene never overshadows its spirituality. The 32 rooms and suites show off bespoke furnishings, premium Mongolian wool carpets, marble bathrooms and expansive windows for soaking in the panoramic views. The property is also home to the Soma Temple and an ornately decorated Mongolian theatre, adorned with bright colours and intricate motifs, that hosts traditional throat singing (khöömii).

Ayan Zalaat is located at BZD - 11 khoroo, Ulaanbaatar 13241, Mongolia

The Newman, London, UK

Designed by the London-based studio Lind + Almond, The Newman is a new independent hotel that strikes a balance between a modern creative vision and nods to Fitzrovia's decades-long bohemian and literary heritage. Drawing inspiration from Art Deco design and the vibrant, creative spirit of the neighbourhood itself, the 81 rooms, including 16 suites, mix a soft yet warm neutral palette and geometric shapes with scene-setting art and a curated selection of books. Guests will also notice references to iconic figures such as the curves of the wood on the headboards, which recall the oversized bangles worn by British writer, heiress and political activist Nancy Cunard. Bathrooms feature bespoke tiling that echoes the façade of Gem Langham Court Hotel and sinks influenced by Shropshire House.

The Newman is located at 50 Newman St, London W1T 3EB, UK

Read our full hotel review of The Newman

The Vineta Hotel, Palm Beach, USA

The newest entrant to the posh Palm Beach scene, The Vineta Hotel, marks the first US opening for Oetker Hotels (the luxury hospitality brand behind Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc and Eden Rock - St Barths). Set on Cocoanut Row, just two blocks from Worth Avenue shopping, the elegant property revives what was previously The Chesterfield, a beloved Palm Beach hotel. Paris-based interior designer Tino Zervudachi headed the top-to-bottom renovation of the 1926 landmark, restoring iconic elements such as the distinctive Mediterranean Revival façade and leaning into its 100-year-old legacy with signature Palm Beach pastels and details like scalloped pendant lights that ooze coastal glamour. Snowbirds can expect 41 light-filled rooms, a flower-framed courtyard restaurant called Coco’s, a cocktail bar and a pool flanked by sun loungers.

The Vineta Hotel is located at 363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480, United States

White Elephant Aspen, USA

Colorado’s chicest winter hotspot welcomes a new stay aimed at the well-dressed coteries. White Elephant Aspen – the brand’s first Western outpost, joining properties in Nantucket and Palm Beach – introduces a contemporary, alpine-chic aesthetic to Aspen. The brainchild of Boston-based architectural firm EMBARC, the 54-key hotel showcases a mountainside colourway of white, cognac and charcoal, complemented by the natural textures of leather, wood and stone. Rooms and suites (some of which have crackling fireplaces) are kitted with porcelain tile, embossed headboards and oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures. The art collection boasts 125 original works, including landscapes by Alex Katz and rotating photography of nearby Maroon Bells by Bob Tabor. Guests familiar with the portfolio will appreciate the playful details, such as elephant door knockers.

White Elephant Aspen is located at 110 W Main St, Aspen, CO 81611, United States

January 2026

Andaz One Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand

For Andaz One Bangkok, a new lifestyle hotel on historic Wireless Road, Thailand interior design firm PIA drew inspiration from the pulse of the city, from the motorbike-jammed bustling streets to the hidden alleys. Envisioned as a base for ‘curious urban travellers,’ the design and energy aim to match the exuberance of the Thai capital. Colour and texture play an important role in expressing a sense of evolution. Arches – in mirrors, hallways and windows – nod to the curved lines of the Thai mid-century movement, while pops of sunny yellow and orange, bold works by Thai female artists and traditional window grills inject character and personality. As much a place to unwind as to sip cocktails at the swank lounge or swim in the outdoor infinity pool overlooking Lumphini Park, the 244 rooms are quiet with peaceful, leafy views.

Andaz One Bangkok is located at 201 Wireless Road, Lumphini, Patumwan, 10330 Bangkok, Thailand

Chesa Marchetta, Engadin Valley, Switzerland

In 2014, Iwan and Manuela Wirth, co-founders of the international gallery Hauser & Wirth, expanded into hospitality with the creation of Artfarm and, four years later, opened The Fife Arms in Scotland. The creative powerhouse couple has done it again with Chesa Marchetta, a cosy 13-bedroom retreat in Sils Maria, a small village in Switzerland’s Engadin Valley. Reimagined by the design-oriented duo and frequent collaborator Luis Laplace, of the Paris-based interior architecture firm Laplace, the seasonal refuge comprises four historic buildings dating back to the 16th century, decorated with arven wood panelling, traditional Engadin furniture and blankets from a nearby weaving collective. As to be expected, the art collection is exceptional: a mix of works by Old Masters and local artists, alongside murals by Corin Sands. There’s also a former barn turned 46-seat restaurant, adorned with stone and an exposed wood-beam ceiling.

Chesa Marchetta is located at Via da Marias 88, 7514 Sils im Engadin/Segl, Switzerland

Read our full hotel review of Chesa Marchetta

Oculto, Mexico City, Mexico

Oculto, the latest venture from Vida Lenta – the hospitality group behind Hotel Dama in Condesa and Hotel Parián in Roma Norte – is an intimate boutique gem in Mexico City’s trendy Juárez neighbourhood. Fernanda Diaz, of Mexico City-based interior design studio Eran, conceived the hotel as both an intentional hideaway for travellers and a tribute to Mexican craftsmanship and creativity. Tucked behind an unassuming façade on Calle Versailles, the 21-room bolthole veers toward minimalism with polished concrete floors and clean lines, yet the interiors are anything but sterile. The palpable warmth comes from the thoughtful layering of locally sourced antiques and contemporary art, creating an authentic atmosphere that encourages slowing down while remaining unmistakably spirited, like CDMX itself.

Oculto is located at Calle Versalles 80, 06600 Mexico City, Mexico

Soori Penang, George Town, Malaysia

​For Soo K. Chan, ​the founder of award-winning firm​ SCDA Architects, Soori Penang​ – the follow-up to the flagship Soori Bali – is deeply personal. ​Situated in the oldest part​ of George Town, the UNESCO-designated historic heart of Penang, ​the extraordinary undertaking reinvents a​ collection of Khoo clan​ shophouses​, where the architect was born and raised, into an intimate 15-key ​luxury boutique hotel. Centuries-old craftsmanship shines, reflecting an unwavering reverence for the past, thoughtfully reinterpreted through a contemporary mindset. The generously proportioned one- to three-bedroom ​suites are imbued with heritage details, from motifs inspired by the ornate Khoo Kongsi temple to carved stone and onyx lanterns, complemented by custom-designed furniture and latticed shutters. Inner courtyards, with reflective pools and bespoke stone fountains, provide a tranquil place to unwind between excursions.

Soori Penang is located at 48 Lebuh Aceh, George Town, Penang, 10300, Malaysia

Read our full hotel review of Soori Penang

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi

International architecture and design firm Studio Gronda transformed an older resort in the South Ari Atoll into a stylish vacation paradise where tropical escapism is elevated with sun-dappled sophistication. The newly unveiled V Villas Maldives at Mirihi, debuting as part of Accor’s MGallery Collection, echoes the barefoot luxury essence of Maldivian holidays. In tune with the rhythms of island living, each of the 42 villas showcases contemporary open-air architecture, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. Throughout the property, guest sanctuaries are accented with timber floors, vaulted ceilings, natural textures and handcrafted furnishings. Accommodations range from overwater villas with private sun decks suspended above the lagoon to beachfront abodes shrouded by lush greenery, as well as multi-bedroom suites complete with private pools.

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi - MGallery Collection is located at Mirihi Island, 00190, Maldives

Debuted at the Art Athina Fair in late September 2024, the Naos Stool Collection distils the fundamental golden ratio proportioning of Greek columns. These sometimes seats and occasional side tables – developed with Athens-based Studio Mare – are rendered in solid mahogany, with upholstered cushions. They have intricately hand-formed ceramic buttons that appear to have chipped off an ancient fresco with symbolic motifs such as Odysseus and the Ram or the Akrokeramo. These are the works of multidisciplinary designer Valerie Name, who has arrived at design via fashion, where she designed a limited edition outerwear collection for Bergdorf Goodman.

Get to know Valerie Name, a historically inspired contemporary designer

The Caracas-born, New York- and Athens-based up-and-comer centres her work on finding clever ways to channel historical references, giving fresh relevance to the age-old, even ancient, handicraft techniques. Whether outfitting an interior or crafting distinctive luminaires, such as the Scavo Glass lighting series, Name roots her experimental spirit in a deep appreciation for the practices that have transcended time.

‘Time is the biggest challenge,’ she says. ‘Today, we are so accustomed to the immediacy of delivering objects, and general expectations can be quite demanding. Some clients initially expect quick results, but once they are brought into the process and see all the steps involved in creating such intricate pieces, they gain a newfound respect for the craftsmanship behind it, and their outlook shifts.’

For Name, there's an allure to resurrecting processes that haven't been used in centuries. The mystery of the unknown can be a powerful tool in holding our attention, especially in such an image-saturated world.

After periods of intensive and discursive research, much of which happens in Greece, Name seeks out skilled artisans upholding these age-old handicrafts and convinces them to break tradition just a bit, nudging them to apply their expertise to new formats. They ultimately forge a close bond and achieve a shared goal.

‘It’s an honour to learn from craftspeople that keep alive techniques that were once prevalent,’ she says. ‘By reinterpreting these age-old methods in a contemporary context, we preserve a cultural legacy while creating pieces that speak to today's world.

‘The connection to craftsmanship, rooted in patience, precision, and a deep respect for materials, infuses each project with a sense of timelessness.’ She often cites the Greco-Roman concept of Spoliā – taking an element out of one context and placing it in another – as a driving force.

Also presented during the Art Athina Fair in September, the Scavo Glass collection is derived from a deliberate and unrushed process. It began with Name stumbling upon a small glass vessel in a Swiss gallery and being drawn to its textured, weatherworn appearance.

‘I couldn’t tell whether it was from the third century or the 1920s,' she says. ’I investigated its origin and discovered that this level of patination resulted from the blown glass having spent centuries underground and before being exhumed. “Scavo” means excavation in Italian.’

After consulting a colleague, she decided to translate this ancient technique and turn the resulting glass vessels into an idiosyncratic lighting collection. After a year of experimentation with minerals, proportions, and colours, she and her collaborators arrived at the desired, if ever-evolving, outcome.

'What's most beautiful and exciting about this process is that the materials themselves ultimately determine the outcome, keeping us on our toes every time we start a piece,' she concludes. 'The language we developed will carry through to an ongoing series of lighting and furniture pieces.'

studiovaleriename.com

For decades, Glyfada on the Athens Riviera has been synonymous with the glamour of its 1960s golden age, when glitterati from Brigitte Bardot to Jackie Onassis lounged in exclusive hideaways on sandy beaches. Now, the profile of the scenic coastal neighbourhood – just a short drive from the city centre and still popular among Athenians for its luxury resorts – is being sharpened further with the arrival of Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens.

Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens

The hip New York hotel brand’s newest location spans an iconic 1970s hotel structure, renovated by French architectural and design studio Ciguë, with the area’s famed resort heritage still echoed in its brutalist façade of geometric white cube balconies. The hotel – home to Ace’s second Swim Club after Ace Palm Springs – aims to attract fresh creative crowds to Glyfada, with its 120 guest rooms, a layered lobby, a coffee counter and gallery, a restaurant and a pool.

A bold atmosphere is set immediately upon arrival, reflected in the four-storey property’s rhythmic white façade, with cantilevered balconies sitting alongside a large David Hockney-inspired mural in shades of blue by Claire Manent, an Athens-based artist from France. ‘The exterior is designed to stand as a landmark that bridges the past and the future,’ explains Alphonse Sarthout, co-founder of Ciguë. ‘The building was stripped down to its concrete skeleton to reinforce it without destroying it and to enhance its geometric purity.’

Inside, touches of Greek midcentury modernism are expressed through clean interior lines and curves, a curation of vintage furniture and the warm textures of a local material palette (sun-reflecting whites, stones, marbles and terrazzos). The raw energy of Greece’s rising contemporary creative scene is another key ingredient, with a variety of artworks, from bed textiles to paintings, by more than a dozen artists and artisans from across the country – a reflection of Athens’ ongoing cultural renaissance post-economic crisis.

Ace’s idea of creating community is a defining quality in all its hotels – and Athens is no exception. An atmosphere of relaxed modernism flows through two connected communal spaces, where bespoke furniture and vintage gems sourced by Athens’ Back to the Future sit alongside a 5m communal table with curated chairs (from Carlo Scarpa for Cassina to Sedie) and a rare pair of Harvey Guzzini table lamps. Threaded throughout is a showcase of contemporary Greek art: dynamic paintings by Eleni Psyllaki, sculptural objects by Despina Charitonidi and paper collages by Theo Michael (among 18 local artists in the hotel’s art programme).

The art of coffee, always taken seriously at Ace hotels, comes to life at Good Chemistry, a coffee shop with a sage green and black tiled counter, overlooking a small gallery space, which leads into Sebastian, a ground-floor restaurant. Here, sunlight filters through rotating wood panelling onto blue tiles, vintage Vaarni 1003 Hans Pendant lamps and curved banquettes, where guests are served bistro-style cuisine and natural wines, curated by Wine is Fine in Athens (a second restaurant will open on the rooftop in March 2025).

Playful modern dishes inspired by French and US cuisine are expressed through local Greek and Mediterranean ingredients – with creations ranging from Green Goddess Caesar salad and Sardines Kalonis on toast to chargrilled lamb burger and local market fish, served with wild green fricassee and chervil with drizzles of lemon and olive oil.

Signage – bold black font on raw-edged travertine by Athens’ studio Ogust – guides guests to their rooms, whose numbers are woven into traditional Greek linen textiles. A compact homage to contemporary Greek creativity, rooms have bright abstract bed covers by Greek-Egyptian Salma Barakat, green marble vanities, wall sconces in the form of half-bird half-women ‘harpies’ by Panos Profitis and framed works by a medley of artists (from Alekos Fassianos to Aristeidis Lappas) – plus, the Ace touch, turntables with vinyl collections curated by cultural archivists Greek Visions. ‘We wanted the guest rooms to reflect this idea of an urban hideaway,’ says Sarthout.

The heartbeat of the hotel is the Swim Club. Blue waters are theatrically fringed with tiered wooden platforms, playful yellow-striped sun umbrellas, Eero Aarnio’s Rattan Mushrooms and a time-weathered Greek amphora. Here, Ace’s playfulness is reflected in the DJ sessions, pool bar and another mural overlooking the entire scene, by artist Profitis, capturing purple seabirds. Sarthout explains: ‘The pool area is like an open-air theatre, surrounded by the balconies and the platforms to enjoy afternoon sunlight in custom sun loungers, draped in shades of pale olive green and graphic stripes, echoing the 1960s and 70s poolside mood pictured in Slim Aarons’ photos.’

Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens is located at Artemisiou 1, Glifada 166 75, Greece, acehotel.com

When we last visited Piraeus Tower on the Greek capital's coast in 2022 for our trip to explore the thriving Athens architecture and culture scene, the 1972 port icon was in the midst of a highly anticipated renovation.

A long-abandoned modern ruin and the second tallest high rise in Greece, the tower has now been reimagined as a mixed-use scheme, aimed at redefining the busy, yet somewhat architecturally neglected, port district of Piraeus. Local developer Dimand worked on a special new façade for the scheme with young studio PILA (local studio Betaplan acted as the lead architect for the overall scheme), founded by architect Ilias Papageorgiou, who left a partner position at New York’s SO-IL in 2019 to return to Athens and set up shop on his own.

Piraeus Tower: an icon revived

‘After ten years of a harsh economic crisis, Greece is undergoing a rapid transformation on many fronts,’ Papageorgious said at the time. ‘This building is situated on a really important part of the wider city of Athens. We see the “awakening” of the abandoned structure of the tower as sparking a broader regeneration, allowing for the life of the city to move closer to the water.’

During the same trip, Dimand COO Olga Itsiou added: 'The Piraeus Tower was an unfinished building, a sleeping giant for more than 40 years. It has never operated except for minimal commercial uses on the ground and first two floors. It was not filled with people. [Now], offices, shops, a gym, an all-day restaurant, and a café will enable approximately 2,000 people to work there.’

Completed this summer, the main building has been transformed into sleek offices and retail space. A second phase, currently in the works, will include public landscaping, aiming to further revitalise the surrounding context and reframe the port’s pedestrian access and circulation via a new green footbridge.

For now, Piraeus Tower is up and running, flying the flag for sustainable architecture and retrofitting. The team was keen to implement a range of eco-friendly strategies; for example, its louvres, which reduce solar gain on the façade by 45 per cent; façade elements chosen following light pollution studies; the use of photovoltaic panels; and the recycling of more than 5,000 sq m of glass during construction, a proportion of which was installed as new glass in the project.

The project, hailed by its authors as the 'first green high rise in Greece', is nothing if not ambitious, awarded the first LEED Platinum certification for a building of its type in the country, while highlighting the potential of adaptive reuse.

'The rejuvenation of Piraeus Tower exemplifies adaptive reuse at its finest. By reimagining existing structures, we can transform our city into a more sustainable and livable environment,' said Papageorgiou and his partner at PILA Christina Papalexandri on the occasion of the opening.

pila.studio

House D began life in the 1960s. The Athenian dwelling was built for private clients in solid concrete in the northern neighbourhood of Holargos in the Greek capital – and it has now been transformed to suit modern needs through a creative redesign by Spain and Greece-based studio Cometa Architects. 

Step inside House D in Athens

Spanning 150 sq m, the new home's volume sits on the original structure's footprint and foundations, reusing its bones to fit the fresh design. Portions of the slabs were cut to create double-height spaces, while a new steel structure was added to ensure the house is suitably sturdy and safe in the context of the region's high seismic activity.  

The architects, led by founders Faidra Matziaraki and Victor Gonzalez Marti, explain: 'The house is a volumetric exercise of solid faces and punctual openings, nestled in a corner of a residential neighbourhood with diverse housing typologies and varying heights. The decision to keep a low-rising building with a garden in a dense urban context is an exercise that achieves minimum impact of the new, and reuse of the structural core of the old.'

Inside, the main double-height space is punctuated by a new bespoke staircase feature, which connects the living area and kitchen below with the bedrooms upstairs. This circulation core is painted in a peach hue that offers a vibrant colour accent to the otherwise fairly minimalist interiors.

Indeed, the staircase system's curved geometries can also be found elsewhere in the design – both externally, in its volume and entrance door, and internally in decor and fittings. This playfulness echoes throughout and marks the architecture's contemporary nature – still, it's a composition equally born out of practical needs. 

The architects add: 'The surrounding buildings to the northwest and southwest rise high with large balconies that compromise the privacy of the house. In response, the house becomes an opaque volume. To introduce light, the volume is cut at its west vertex, creating an exterior oasis at the intersection of two streets where distance to the building opposite is greater, also disrupted by tall trees.'

Outside, behind tall walls, a courtyard garden unfolds in three levels. It contains the site's original fruit trees, as well as new ones, which were added along with Mediterranean vegetation, to help cool the property during the region's hot summers.

cometaarchitects.com

Three Object Apartment is a celebration of a modernist building's frame – as well as an ode to unfinished architecture. The home occupies the entire first floor of an Athens structure whose concrete skeleton was poured in situ but whose construction site was subsequently paused and left incomplete for 30 years. As a result, the building has become a contemporary, conceptual interpretation of its brutalist architecture bones, offering a raw, honest backdrop for Greek practice DeMachinas to create a sculptural, textural home for their private client. 

Inside Three Object Apartment by DeMachinas

'The renovation of the first floor flat of this modernist building upgrades the interior space to an up-to-date apartment, whilst also being a study on unfinished architecture. On this project, together with the clients, we explored and experimented with an aesthetic fully tailored to the existing qualities of the site, as acquired,' write deMachinas. 

The team was headed by the studio's co-founders Elina Loukou and Sabrina Summer (the firm has one base in Athens and another in London). The designers worked with the project's existing piloti feature – an open ground level characterised by a grid of concrete columns, made famous by Le Corbusier and a common element in many Greek polykatoikies (the country's version of multi-family housing) in this residential part of Athens. A round staircase leads up to the first level, where the home is located. 

'The family who bought the first floor perceived it as a “dwelling canvas”, both on the first level and the piloti’s level. Pilotis are usually used as a parking space in the city of Athens. In this case, it consists of a private covered area empty of programme, therefore available to be adapted by the users ad-hoc,' deMachinas explain. 

Internally, the designers maintained a sense of openness and fluidity, which suits the owners' need for flexibility. At the same time, textures are celebrated and add layers of interest that help define areas within the residence. 

There's multi-tasking too. A bespoke, round kitchen counter is at once a worktop, entertainment bar, and dining table. A compact storage block neatly contains the kitchen pantry, cloak, wardrobes and utilities.

Found objects, discovered during the construction form part of the story. The designers explain: 'Hidden layers were revealed and celebrated, in a process akin to archaeology. Concrete ceiling waffles have been carefully exposed and restored in all rooms. The existing marble floor was removed to be repurposed as terrazzo aggregate.'

'The marble pattern within the terrazzo floor was not arbitrarily placed: together with the clients we broke the salvaged terrazzo panels in-situ, in selected locations, retaining the fragments as they fell – freezing the moment of stone breaking into pieces.'

demachinas.com

Strolling the garden-filled paths of One&Only Aesthesis, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you are somewhere in the Cyclades. The peaceful, relatively minimalist environment would feel a fitting part of any island escape, consisting largely of blue skies, Mediterranean planting, a sense of quiet, and spaced-out, pared-down, low-slung structures that open up to their surroundings. 

Yet this is the global resort's Athens outpost, located just half an hour from the airport and a stone's throw from the capital's bustling centre – a city known for its vibrant streets and busy historic heart. It is also the company's first foray on Greek soil and the launch of a growing One&Only family there (a second location on Kea Island is about to open this spring) – and the hospitality brand brings with it its signature sense of quiet luxury and true retreat, mixed with a sense of place that draws on each destination's unique energy. 

One&Only Aesthesis: an Athenian resort for escape in the capital

The recently opened hotel occupies an enviable site adjacent to Leoforos Poseidonos in what is known as the Athens Riviera – a stretch of beach and waterfront that has been the playground of some of the country's rich and famous since the mid-20th century. The beach club previously located here, titled 'Asteria', was well-known in the 1950s and throughout the next couple of decades for its clientele that made up Greece's who’s who of movie stars and artists – yet had fallen into disrepair in more recent years. Developers Grivalia Hospitality and Kerzner International partnered with One&Only to bring this fabled site back to life. 

One&Only Aesthesis' architecture was led by a team of locally based talent, including AUDO, A6Architects, and 2012 Wallpaper* Architects Directory entry K-Studio, who are deft hands at blending modernist architecture notes with contemporary luxury in a variety of residential, commercial and hospitality schemes (including the Costa Navarino Residences in the Peloponnese). Here, the architects took their cues from the locale's midcentury legacy and the result feels pleasing – clean, low, white volumes, defined by cobogo walls and pronounced overhangs that create a feel not dissimilar to the desert architecture of Palm Springs. 

Dimitris Karampatakis, co-founder of K-Studio, said: 'We had to be very, very careful about using the exact same footprint for internal spaces [in the rooms and bungalows], but the freedom that we had with that in-between space, that Goldilocks moment between indoors and out, was what gave us the opportunity to stitch the architecture into the surroundings, and kind of elongate that moment of stitching.'

The result, mixed with interiors by specialist studio Muza Lab, branding by London design studio Afroditi, and gentle, native-to-the-region planting, encompasses a mix of 127 bungalows, residences and larger villas. 'We wanted to create a sense of soft luxury that specifically spoke to the Greek Riviera. It has that nostalgic touch, with the use of blue and white, the warmth of the marble and the olive wood, and the beautifully textured linens hand-designed in Greece,' says Inge Moore, founder of Muza Lab.

Balancing fine luxury with functionality and sustainable architecture, One&Only Aesthesis doesn't only talk the talk, but walks the walk too, as the property has gained the LEED and SITES certifications for its sensitive environmental approach. This is supported by the planting of some 200,000 Mediterranean and native species across the resort, strategic heating, cooling, lighting and taps systems, and using locally sourced materials. 

Upon arrival, a main building that evokes 1960s Hollywood-meets-Athens glamour contains the reception area. Down a dramatic, sweeping staircase is the Alelia bar, and the Ora by Ettore Botrini restaurant, where the Michelin-starred Greek-Italian chef serves sumptuous, modern Mediterranean food – such as shellfish pasta and lobster dishes. 

Stepping out from here, a cascade of terraces offer varying degrees of privacy for lounging and sunbathing between three pools – two larger ones and one for children, as this is a resort that welcomes families too, with carefully planned childcare and entertainment provision for its younger guests. All this is to be enjoyed, of course, if you don't want to go to the resort's private beach, a few steps away. 

A second restaurant in the building next door, El Bar de Paco Morales, offers refined meals with an Andalucian twist, in Moorish and Mediterranean flavours and street-style bites. A third restaurant is currently in the pipeline, seeking to enrich further the campus culinary options.

One&Only Aesthesis also comprises Greece's first Guerlain spa. Beauty, grooming and wellness converge in the serene, minimalist structure that houses the spa and gym, featuring a swimming pool at its heart and open-air pergola-covered terraces for al fresco yoga and Pilates sessions. 

Working with the French brand's world-famous products, specialists treat guests to anything from massages to facials – from an à la carte menu, or created bespoke according to individual needs. Highlights include experiences tapping on the rejuvenating powers of the Orchidée Impériale, a rare Black Orchid.

A private chapel with bespoke hagiographic art, and a tree-filled nature reserve that comes with its own set of ancient Greek ruins, complete the 21-hectare site – which is available to guests for connecting with nature through a variety of outdoor activities during their stay, including bicycle and running trails, but also tennis, Padel and more. 

oneandonlyresorts.com

This new Greek villa sits on a square corner site in a suburb of Athens. House Symbiosis is designed to contain two separate residences, occupied by two siblings and their families, which are arranged across five floors, with a floorplan that curves across the centre of the plot.

House Symbiosis: one Greek villa for two families

The brief was to keep the families close without compromising privacy, so each residence can be treated as entirely self-contained, with shared areas as and when required. The entire structure is enveloped in a fragmented white carapace, with angular columns, balconies and loggias that evoke the superstructure of a superyacht.

These insets and frames are all part of what the architects describe as ‘navigating the delicate equilibrium between privacy and socialization for two families that want to spend more time together while still maintaining their own private space.’

Although it makes for a striking piece of streetscape, the design was shaped by the internal circulation. Twin staircases link the bedrooms on the first floor with the twin reception and kitchen rooms - one on the second floor, the other on the ground floor.

Both sets of three bedrooms share a common staircase, which also acts as a central focus for the plan. Shallow curved lines, angular forms and more explicit geometric shapes are everywhere, from the specified furniture to the curved glazed wall on the second floor living space.

The residences effectively slot together like two pieces of a puzzle, with the garden and swimming pool allocated to the lower residence, and a roof terrace given to the upper residence. Both share the parking and basement storage area.

The ribbon-like façade also forms a motif that shapes the boundary wall and the rooftop terrace area, uniting the entire structure with a consistent aesthetic that further blends the multi-family nature of the house.

The architects point out that 75% of the site is effectively planted, thanks to the green roof and surrounding gardens, while the building also has geothermal heating and cooling. ‘House Symbiosis creates an architectural game between motion and rest,’ the architects write, ‘The dynamic horizontal and angled lines give the impression of a building that is heading in two opposite directions.’

John Kanakas founded Direction Architects in 2021. With offices in London and Athens, the firm is currently working on projects in Athens, Mykonos, Cyprus, London and Paris.

DirectionArchitects.com

A series of common connections led to the birth of this Filothei house for a private client in the leafy, affluent Athens neighbourhood. Set in a typical rectangular plot, this exercise in restraint and spatial mastery, by London- and LA-based architecture studio Kallos Turin, came about thanks to private collection curator and adviser Emily Tsingou, a common friend and collaborator of both the architect and the client, who has an extensive contemporary African and African American art collection.

Then it turned out this wasn’t the only connection between them as it soon came to light that Kallos Turin co-founder Stephania Kallos’ grandfather had been in business with the client’s grandfather for about 40 years in South Africa. More connections were later discovered, and the project started to feel like a pairing that was meant to be. 

Filothei House: take the video tour

After a visit to the site, Kallos and practice co-founder Abby Turin found themselves trying to decipher the Greek planning codes with the help of Moustroufis Architects, who acted as the local practice for the duration of the build. At this point, it looked like their design ambitions were in danger of being thwarted by the planning regulations, which, created to preserve the garden-based, green character of the suburb, ‘were made to push you to almost a block shape,’ says Kallos. ‘We thought, we need to embrace it.’

The site is angled, with the main street and entrance at its base. The architects pushed the house up the hill towards the rear end of the plot, leaving enough space for a courtyard garden with views of the mountain and nature reserve at the back. The property’s volume was designed to occupy the entire buildable area, making the most of what was available, while inside, ‘the confines made us be quite efficient,’ says Turin. ‘Everything is used. It’s a rigorously controlled floorplan.’

‘While we embraced the block, we also chose to press back against the rigidity of its shape, introducing curves into the volume specifically along the paths of travel,’ Turin continues. The team also worked with Athens practice Doxiadis+, who created the outdoor planting and landscaping. ‘We wanted to make sure the garden would act as a foil to the concrete form so that there was a dynamic interplay between the density and rigidity of concrete and the looseness of the garden.’ Designed as an organic, natural environment, the landscaped plot has now grown into a veritable wildflower meadow. 

The interior, meanwhile, was designed as a cosy family base, as well as a place to house the client’s art collection, which has been put together over many years. ‘The magical thing about concrete is that it has texture and a tactile quality,’ says Kallos. ‘It’s a hard material but with depth and even some luminosity. We were excited to use it for a home, but, even more so, to explore its qualities in relation to the gallery walls.’ It was also conceived as a space for entertaining, as displayed by the house’s meticulously planned kitchen, which takes pride of place overlooking some of the property’s best views over the Athens skyline, mountain and courtyard. Next to it sits a generous pantry.

The circulation across all four floors and the house’s 1,100 sq m footprint was key in the internal arrangement. A curvilinear path leads from the garden entrance to the front door and then progresses through the house via a curved concrete stairway. The ground level houses the main bedroom suite, gym and guest room. A lower level contains an art gallery, while the first floor houses the main living space and kitchen. An external staircase mirrors the geometry of the interior one, and takes visitors up to the roof terrace and pool (the perfect spot for al fresco dining using the on-site Argentinian-style barbecue).

This is a generous house that feels warm and inviting, thanks to the architects’ clever use of curves and ceiling heights (‘our subtle rebellion against the box,’ jokes Turin). A selection of Greek and imported marbles line areas of the house, such as the main bathroom, contrasting beautifully with the exposed concrete. And beyond the art gallery, the house was also designed to include niches and walls where a variety of non-specific paintings or sculptures can sit. It is a carefully orchestrated piece of architecture that works hard for its size, and is full of surprises. ‘The client said they wanted something outside the box,’ say the architects with a smile.

kallosturin.com

Video by Ronny Skevis, ronnyskevis.com

A new Athens restaurant has landed in the Greek capital's central neighbourhood of Koukaki. Gallina, the latest interior by award winning studio Objects of Common Interest, expertly fuses art, design, and gastronomy to a concept supported by the founders' Leonidas Trampoukis, Eleni Petaloti architecture arm -  LOT office for architecture. The result was conceived to provide not only a world class eatery for its guests, but also express the restaurant owner Philippos Tsangrides's sensibility and experiences of world travel and love of culinary culture. 

Gallina: an Athens restaurant by Objects of Common Interest

' The core mission behind Gallina restaurant was to create more than just a conventional restaurant,' the designers write. ' There is a clear intention to offer the visitor the experience of being an active user and fully immersed in the fusion of art, design, and gastronomy. [We] reflected all the above values and ideas and translated them into tangible forms, materials, and textures.'

Spanning a boutique 105 sq m, Gallina has a capacity of just 38 people. The design makes the most of the space's tall ceilings, adding subtle grandeur through height, and luxurious materials, such as the custom-made marble tables and chairs, bar and an open kitchen. 

Stainless steel and soft wood complete the interior material palette. As the owner is a collector, the restaurant incorporates his passion through moments that celebrate art; such as the hand-knotted wool and silk tapestry by artist Jannis Varelas, which graces the wall in front of a light column. 

Meanwhile, a staircase towards the back leads visitors to the mezzanine upstairs, where private dinning and wine tasting are on offer. Here, a wall shelving and cabinet system showcases the extensive wine collection on site. 

objectsofcommoninterest.com 

When Point Supreme Architects started working on this colourful Athens apartment, the redesign of a private home on Ignatiou Street, they knew typical architectural challenges wouldn't be their biggest difficulty; this was all about working with the limited space provided.

Spanning only 22 sq m of internal space and an expansive 27 sq m veranda, the project saw Point Supreme Architects transform a humble apartment into a neatly defined living space that provides a welcome escape from the Athens bustle.

A colourful Athens apartment replicating island living

You'd think the obvious choice when working with small spaces would be to keep to a monochromatic colour palette, minimalist architecture, and simply have less furniture that might make the interior feel cluttered. Of course, Greece-born founders Marianna Rentzou and Konstantinos Pantazis, whose own home, Petralona House, is an exemplar of fun and artfully put-together collage, did the exact opposite. 

The architects started by separating the floorspace into four distinct parts: kitchen and living room at the front, bedroom and bathroom at the back, with a small corridor leading to the outdoors. A seamless and flexible connection through all spaces is achieved by using an array of different floor materials, from peach and blue tiling to smooth concrete, delineating this way clearly each area, while adding a vibrancy. 

The primary entrance was relocated, now leading directly into the central room to ensure easy access to all areas. Painted wood, curtains, and partitions also allow flexibility for the resident to tailor the area to their preference.

Walking through the internal living space, guests are greeted by an open veranda painted white to bring to mind Greek island dwellings. A seating area is built into the wall, and is overlooked by the open kitchenette, perfect for friendly dining with friends and family. On cooler days a sliding glass door is fixed to be adjustable, allowing access to a cool breeze on a warm summer's day.

This reflects the architectural Mediterranean island inspiration, with azure and lapis lazuli blues being the focal colours, capturing the island skies and surrounding Aegean sea in this tucked-away veranda suntrap.

Light yellow curtains hang across the veranda opening, with a denser red drape tucked away by the sofa. Earthy brown features surround the bedroom area allowing the space to be full of movement and design identity, without being overwhelming.

The main draw to this project is the variety of textures. From the brutalist architecture-inspired ceiling to the colourful metallic railing surrounding the veranda, everything adds a quirkiness and originality to the house.

The contrast of such a minimalist approach with its maximalist colour and material palette, allows for a much welcome way of living, centred on embracing a richly textured space through design.

pointsupreme.com 

KKMK was formed in 2017 by practice principals Kate Karagianni and Marina Karamali. Now, the Athens-based studio has joined the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023, our annual list of exciting emerging practices from across the globe. For its entry, we highlight the Greek studio's K45 Residence, a geometric, minimalist architecture residential project in the country's capital.

Who: KKMK

Karagianni and Karamali see architecture as an 'intense and personal creation'. They strive for timelessness, taking into account the fact that their clients lives might change and needs evolve. Theirs is also an international practice, as while their headquarters is based in Athens, they have been involved in a variety of projects, spanning residential, tourism and commercial projects, in London, Australia, Indonesia and Egypt. No matter where they are, they are inspired by the cultural, historical, and social context of each given place – sprinkled with their own experiences in fashion, art and philosophy. 

Their studio is drawn to a research-based approach. 'We confront every project, even the smallest, as a new field of research,' they say. 'We try to understand deeply the needs of our clients and translate their vision into a built reality. In every project we experiment with a combination of cutting-edge design technologies, innovative material and sustainable design principles. We like to explore the limits of traditional means of construction and enhance them with digital fabrication methods. It is really important for our practice not to replicate ourselves and to develop each project with a unique fresh design attitude.'

What: K45 Residence

K45 Residence is a private home in the upmarket central Athens neighbourhood of Psychiko. The building's sharp, geometric, minimalist architecture looks are the result of a radical reimagining of an existing 20th-century property on site. KKMK worked with the original home's footprint and volume, bringing it into the 21st century. And while the street façade was completely redesigned, integrating its openings with a distinctive, sculptural relief surface, the interior was also transformed into a haven of calm. 

Clean surfaces and simple materials and colour combinations (namely timber and white plaster) dominate throughout. They act as a serene envelope for everyday life, while leading the gaze towards the home's hidden asset – its planted courtyard, visible only once you are inside. This contrasts with the frontage's expressive nature.

The architects write: 'Our scope was to create a façade that pulsates with the city. It reacts geometrically to stimuli and takes its final form based on these fluctuations. At the same time, remains the boundary between city and private life.'

Why: Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023

Conceived in 2000 as an international index of emerging architectural talent, the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory is our annual listing of promising practices from across the globe. While always championing the best and most promising young studios, over the years, the project has showcased inspiring work with an emphasis on the residential realm. Now including more than 500 alumni, the Architects’ Directory is back for its 23rd edition. Join us as we launch this year’s survey – 20 young studios from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Congo, Ecuador, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mozambique, Pakistan, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK, the USA and Vietnam, with plenty of promise, ideas and exciting architecture. 

kkmk.gr 

City living meets Greek tranquillity in the new Athens hotspot The Dolli hotel. Located in a 1925 neoclassical building in the heart of Athens, the light-filled hotel marries classic architectural detailing with original art and contemporary interior design.

‘My prospect was to reimagine Athens’ allure and create a home base for travellers who don’t only want to see the most ancient city of all, but to live it,’ says hotel owner and creator Mari Daskalantonakis, on what inspired the design. ‘To walk in its heart, explore the monuments, feel the energy and enjoy the vibrancy. The beauty of the listed building, designed by the Greek stellar architect Andreas Kriezis in 1925 (he designed the Hellenic Parliament building as well), became the driving force of inspiration for the interiors, the materials we used, the collection of art and design we aimed to present as part of The Dolli character.’

Located in Plaka, moments from the Acropolis, the hotel nods to its Greek heritage, from the 18th-century antiques to the ancient Macedonian motif featured throughout the space, preserved and restored by Andreas Kriezis. Contemporary design, such as custom-made furniture from Pierre Augustin Rose, meets historic art from Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau.

‘The restoration of the façade was a demanding process, as we aimed at paying homage to Kriezis’ grandeur and gifting a gem for Athens,’ adds Daskalantonakis. ‘A major challenge was the rooftop. An abandoned, forgotten rooftop with the most spectacular views Athens: the Acropolis and the Parthenon, monuments like the Ancient Agora, and the 19th- and early 20th-century houses and buildings of Plaka. It’s a unique viewpoint of the classical world, where time stands still.’

She describes the challenge as ‘How to treat an Athenian rooftop and not compete with the Acropolis. How to include it in the guests’ experience and make it stay with them forever. The challenge was taken up by Stelios Kois, a distinguished contemporary Greek architect. He’s a genius of understatement. He embraced my vision, and created what was to become Dolli’s restaurant. He gave a humble piece of divine architecture to Athens.’

thedolli.com

Monument Athens is not only one of the Greek capital's newest luxury hospitality offerings; it also offers a bridge between Athens' past, present and future, housed in a precious listed historic structure in the city's centre – a neoclassical building from 1881 designed by German-born architect Ernst Ziller (who is behind over 500 structures across Greece, including key municipal buildings such as the Presidential Mansion and the National Archaeological Museum). The particular piece, located in the Psiri neighbourhood, has now been sensitively transformed by Athenian architecture studio MPlusM into a contemporary hotel, preserving its original features, while being updated for the 21st century. 

Monument Athens: an icon reborn

Now, Monument Athens can proudly show off its original detailing – from gypsum decoration on ceilings and walls, to carved marble balconies, columns and murals. These have been delicately restored to their former glory, while complemented with a modern context of natural materials, and a mix of contemporary, vintage and bespoke furniture. 

The hotel offers a boutique nine rooms – each with its own identity, as well as high ceilings and customised architectural details designed to elevate the guest experience. The grandeur of Athenian neo-classicism and its glamour are mixed here with modern amenities, such as a 24-hour concierge service, a wellness spa and rooftop access. 

Monument Athens is 'a work of art', its team highlight. It has, as its name suggests, been recognised as a 'monument' to be preserved for future generations, as designated by the Greek Ministry of Culture; and it is one that has been reborn through meticulous restoration, design and respect to a classic's integrity and character. 

monumenthotelathens.com 

mplusm.gr 

Crowning 20 years of its far-reaching Mentors & Protégés programme – in which leaders in a multitude of disciplines are partnered with aspiring creatives for a year-long exercise in shared learning – the recently concluded Rolex Arts Festival was not only the first to be live-streamed by the brand but leaves its own temporary imprint on its host city of Athens. 

Besides luring numerous high-profile mentors, including William Kentridge, Joan Jonas, Sir David Chipperfield and Robert Wilson, to the Greek capital, Rolex supplemented the four-day festival of talks, panel discussions and performances with a week-long programme of 12 public talks and events that accessed nine partner venues across Athens. Each had been designed in collaboration with leaders in the local arts community to highlight the continuing artistic legacy of many of its former protégés – referred to as fellows – and in some instances the cross-disciplinary creative partnerships that have followed on from their participation in the programme. 

In the visual arts, a group exhibition is currently showing at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (until 4 June), featuring works by Sammy Baloji, Alejandro Cesarco, Masanori Handa, Nicholas Hlobo, Mateo Lopez, Thao Hguyen Phan, Camila Rodriguez Triana and Matthias Weischer. 

And in the field of architecture, a novel group exhibition by five fellows who comment on each others’ work can be seen until this Sunday (June 4th) at the Benaki Gallery (Pireos 138). Encompassing projects by Sahel Alhariya, Gloria Cabral, Mariam Issofou Kamara and Yang Zhao, the programme of short films is accompanied by gestural objects supplied by each architect to reveal more about their approach – in keeping with the resolutely global outlook of Rolex’s Arts Initiative, one that in this instance encompasses Switzerland, Jordan, Paraguay, Niger and China.

The 11th and current cycle of the Mentors & Protégés programme of the Rolex Arts Initiative is currently underway.

The Rolex Arts Festival events can be reviewed on the Rolex website. rolex.org

The Social Athens adds an exciting hospitality option to the scene for the waves of Greekenders getting ready to descend on the Mediterranean capital as weather warms up. Just launched in the city's central, upmarket Kolonaki district, the new property represents the transformation of a tired, existing 1960s public building into a thoroughly contemporary hospitality hub for the Radisson Individuals member hotel. Conceived by Greek-Swedish studio OOAK architects, The Social Athens blends modern design, prime location, and a strong hospitality pedigree behind a distinctive wavy façade that stands out among its more conventional peers. 

The Social Athens by OOAK

The architects, headed by studio founders Maria Papafigou and Johan Annerhed, are also behind idyllic residences, such as a rooftop retreat and a windsurfer's escape, both on the island of Karpathos. Here, they drew on their extensive experience with private residential projects to craft the perfect design-led home away from home in the heart of Athens. '[We] drew inspiration from the synergetic effect of a genuine urban Athenian experience and the need for an elegant and tranquil hotel stay as counterbalance,' the team explain. 

The refreshed building features 24 rooms in a boutique, four-star environment. An open and transparent towards the street ground level contains the hotel lobby as well as a new restaurant and bar space, which invite the neighbourhood in. Spanning seven, meticulously designed storeys, The Social Athens balances a vibrant, social aspect with more secluded rooms upstairs, leading up to a striking roof terrace, looking out towards Athens' hills and myriad landmarks. A gym is also located on the rooftop level. 

However, The Social Athens' most visually standout element remains its curvaceous façade. Made of a crisp, white thermal insulation panel system, united with green foliage, it creates a memorable sense of arrival as guests approach the hotel. 'The new façade makes clear allusions to Greek architecture and has accentuated the hotel’s arrival in the city,' the architects write. 

radissonhotels.com 

ooakarchitects.com 

When Greece first flourished as a popular tourist destination, somewhere in the mid-20th century, it was largely for its well-established charms – warm sun, good food, crystal-clear beaches and treasures of an antiquity that helped define today’s Western civilisation. Fast forward almost a century, and all this remains true – if a little clichéd by now. Yet contemporary Greece is far richer than its well-explored tropes. Athens, in particular, currently packs quite a punch, making a strong case for a type of transcendence, embodying various phases in the country’s history while providing a melting pot where fresh trends, global influences and time-honed local traditions meet. ‘Athens is breaking away from an over-edited, idealised, antiquity-driven image,’ says Nicholas Yatromanolakis, the country’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports. ‘Everything coexists here – different styles and periods - and we need to embrace it. We also have a strong outdoors culture and you are always exposed to a very layered urban space,it is its blend that makes Athens unique.’ 

Fresh takes on classic Athenian moments, mixed with entirely new offerings, represent an ever-evolving contemporary Greek identity that is much less about looking back, and more about a positive future for the Mediterranean country. There is a reimagining of some of the city’s finest modernist architecture; a boom in the hospitality industry; a move towards sustainability; and a wave of new cultural destinations. Creativity is running high, and Athens is on an upward trajectory, following a ten-year period of economic woes, political changes, and, of course, the troubles brought by the worldwide pandemic, all of which hit the city hard. Yet here we are, and the Greek capital seems to be heading towards sunnier times.

The former Athens Hilton

The former Hilton Athens, one of the city’s most recognisable 20th-century buildings, represents this well. Originally built between 1958 and 1963, during that era of optimism and growth, and designed by Greek modernists Emmanuel Vourekas, Prokopis Vasileiadis and Spyro Staikos, it features site-specific reliefs by celebrated local artist Yannis Moralis, the largest swimming pool in the city, and was its first international brand hotel – no wonder guests have included Aristotle Onassis and Frank Sinatra. It came to be such a landmark that the whole neighbourhood around it took its name. But the noughties found it in need of a refresh, and it was bought by Greek developer Ionian Hotel Enterprises (IHE), (TEMES, the powerhouse that owns the popular and ever-growing Costa Navarino resort complex in the Peloponnese, holds a controlling stake in IHE). Now, it is being brought into the 21st century with a brand new concept for a luxury hotel and private residences to be developed by Hilton and IHE, in partnership with Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Residences and Waldorf Astoria Residences. The team behind it, including studios such as AETER Architects Charry C Bougadelis & Associates, Tristan Auer and AvroKO, aims to offer an unprecedented lifestyle destination for the city, with a members club, multiple culinary, entertaining, leisure and wellness options, as well as a brand new poolside pavilion restaurant by Yabu Pushelberg. Construction is ongoing, and the first guests should arrive in 2024. 

The National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (EMST)

The former Hilton is not the only modernist jewel in Athens’ crown to be given a new lease of life. One of the city’s most notable cultural draws, the National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (EMST), launched its new home in 2020 – although the ensuing pandemic closures meant it wasn’t fully accessible until June 2022. It is now located in the transformed ruin of the former Fix brewery. Created in 1963 by Greek modernist Takis Zenetos – and dubbed by locals the ‘horizontal skyscraper’ for its elegant lines, but also its sheer scale – the building is now a modern art space thanks to a revamp by 3SK Stylianidis Architects, in collaboration with Kalliope Kontozoglou, I Mouzakis & Associates-Architects, and Tim Ronalds Architects. The space feels fresh and beautifully fit for purpose – if perhaps a little too removed from its previous life (the building’s past doesn’t come through particularly strongly – and 40 per cent of it was demolished to make way for the local metro, to considerable controversy, before it was reassigned as an art space). Still, it’s a significant arts hub for Athens, and its artistic director, Katerina Gregos, appointed last year, promises a new era for its displays too. 

Piraeus Tower and more by the port and Syngrou Avenue

Meanwhile the long-abandoned modern ruin of the 1972 Piraeus Tower, the second tallest in Greece, is currently being reimagined as a mixed-use scheme, aimed at redefining the busy, yet somewhat architecturally neglected, port district of Piraeus. The developer behind it, Athens based Dimand, is one of the city’s most design-led players in real estate. The project’s special new façade is by young studio PILA (local studio Betaplan acted as the lead architect for the overall scheme), founded by architect Ilias Papageorgiou, who left a partner position at New York’s SO-IL in 2019 to return to Athens and set up shop on his own. ‘After ten years of a harsh economic crisis, Greece is undergoing a rapid transformation on many fronts,’ he says. ‘This building is situated on a really important part of the wider city of Athens. We see the “awakening” of the abandoned structure of the Tower as sparking a broader regeneration, allowing for the life of the city to move closer to the water.’ Dimand COO Olga Itsiou adds, ‘The Piraeus Tower was an unfinished building, a sleeping giant for more than 40 years. It has never operated except for minimal commercial uses on the ground and first two floors. It was not filled with people. [Now], offices, shops, a gym, an all-day restaurant, and a café will enable approximately 2,000 people to work there.’  

The tower’s transformation into sleek offices and retail space also includes public landscaping, which will reframe the port’s pedestrian access and circulation via a new green footbridge. Sustainability has been a big part of the plan too, as the team ensured a range of eco-friendly strategies are used, such as its louvres, which reduce solar gain on the façade by 45 per cent; the use of photovoltaic panels; and the recycling of more than 5,000 sq m of glass during construction, a proportion of which will be installed as new glass in the project. 

Similar themes around community and sustainability are found in more Dimand projects. Some of the company’s assets in the nearby Agios Dionysios neighbourhood (also known as Papastratos, from the namesake tobacco brand that had its factory here in the last century) include office spaces that breathe new life into the area, coinciding with the arrival of neighbours that created a new international art district Galleries Rodeo, Carwan and The Intermission have made Agios Dionysios their home, reviving the formerly neglected industrial area.

Further up Syngrou Avenue towards the city centre, a new office hub by Athens- and London-based Divercity Architects and Bennetts Associates for Dimand is hailed as one of the city’s most eco-friendly workspaces, matching elegant design and minimalist looks with LEED Gold targeting green credentials – including the use of recycled or local materials, and careful shading and view-framing strategies - to promote health and wellbeing. ‘Having had the time to reflect on the lessons the last couple of years have taught us, the city feels more extrovert, more dynamic and more creative than ever, and it is infectious,’ says one of Divercity’s founders, Nikolas Travasaros. ‘Projects of all scales are on the rise. It is a great place to be for architecture studios, with the city shaping and reinventing itself into a more contemporary capital.’ 

The former Ellinikon airport

Athens also plays host to one of the largest redevelopment sites in the country (and at 6,200,000 sq m, probably the whole of Europe) – the former Ellinikon airport, which is being reinvented as a vast, mixed-use neighbourhood by owners Lamda Development. The substantial site will feature the city’s largest public park (by Sasaki Associates in collaboration with Greek architecture firm Doxiadis+); a selection of designs by local and international architects, such as Foster + Partners, Kengo Kuma & Associates and Aedas; and a restored piece of global architectural history – Eero Saarinen’s East Terminal (built in the 1960s), which has remained largely unused since the transport hub officially transferred to the current Eleftherios Venizelos airport in 2004 in time for the Athens Olympic Games. While the project is quite far off  from completion, some elements, such as Foster + Partners’ Marina Tower, are underway. A recently opened visitor hub, The Ellinikon Experience Centre, in a reimagined aircraft hangar on site, gives a taste of what’s to come. Skyscrapers, greenery and mixed-use seaside neighbourhoods dubbed by the developers ‘the Athens Riviera’, showcase how the city might change – quite drastically so too, given the distinct absence of ultra high rise buildings in the whole of Greece. 

Modern Athens hospitality

More opportunities for reinvention are available more centrally too, as the high-profile competition for the redevelopment of the National Archaeology museum is currently underway – one of the many opportunities for architects in the country, says Xristina Argyros, co-founder of London-based studio Neiheiser Argyros, which recently established a second base in Athens. ‘There is a range of exciting projects happening in Greece, and overall more opportunities than before for younger practices to participate. We have noticed a larger number of public competitions, but also many project initiatives by developers such as Dimand and Intracom that value the newer ideas and sensibilities that younger emerging practices are putting on the table.’.

This upsurge in cultural activity has inevitably brought an influx of hospitality venues. Hotels of all shapes and sizes have been popping up across town. Ksenodoxeio Milos is among them, a grand, luxurious contemporary space, designed by Divercity Architects. Its restaurant, Estiatorio Milos, serves some of the best fish in Athens – having relocated from its former spot in the Hilton to its new home a stone’s throw from Syntagma Square. Established venues such as Milos are juxtaposed with smaller, boutique outfits, such as the art-filled, live-like-an-Athenian, mini hotel M18 by Oliaros at the foot of the Acropolis; and Mona – an industrial-space-cum-experimental-hotel, members club, and event venue that also showcases as part of its concept a range of independent Greek designers and artists of all disciplines in the trendy Psirri neighbourhood.

Gagosian Athens

Such is Athens’ pull that international art dynamo Gagosian has bolstered its presence here with a new home in 2020, designed by Kois Associated Architects in the upmarket Kolonaki district. One of its recent exhibitions celebrated the country’s cultural influence through the work of legendary designer Marc Newson. The show presents new limited-edition furniture, including some of Newson’s most celebrated works – presented in Greece's national colours of blue and white. ‘Greece is a country that is close to my heart, my grandfather was from there. I have spent every summer there for the last 24 years,’ says Newson. He talks about the country’s enduring creative influence on his work. ‘It has always been in my consciousness, I draw probably more inspiration from it than I know. I was one of the first people working with marble in a contemporary way 25 years ago. I am trying to champion Greek manufacturers and skills that may be now dying – there is this wonderful expertise there. I always wanted to do something in Greece and the time was right, now, with Gagosian. Athens is an exciting contemporary destination. I am already thinking of the next thing I do there.’ 

Curator and researcher Katerina Papanikolopoulos feels that attraction towards the local cultural heritage too. The Greek-Cypriot-American creative moved from the US to Athens in 2020 and set up  the non-profit Athens Design Forum cultural festival. In many ways it is still in its infancy – only two editions in, it previously focused on architecture and art, with a third iteration turning its attention to film, craft and labour currently in development. The annual event aims to celebrate and explore the different dimensions of design thinking in Athens and the country beyond. Papanikolopoulos hopes to shine a light on Greek vernacular crafts, look at intersections of old and new practices, and discover design beyond the beaten track, in all its forms. Examples of her approach include celebrating the rarely seen Kypseli house which she opened to the public for ADF’s inaugural event, thereby highlighting the work of lesser-known Greek modernist Aristomenis Provelengios. 

Nikos Vatopoulous – art editor of the major national broadsheet Kathimerini, author of the book Walking in Athens and self-appointed flaneur – has written extensively about the capital’s layered identity and especially its lesser known, ‘everyday’ architectural gems, as opposed to the well-documented monuments. ‘You get crumbling houses juxtaposed with modern concrete buildings, all eras next to each other at once,’ he has said, referring to Athens’ ‘secret landscape.’ And it’s just that, the city’s evolving, multi-layered urbanscape, that is shining dynamically through today's Athens – fuelling its cultural rise, and possibly where its strength may lie. ‘Athens caters for very different tastes and experiences,’ concludes Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports Yatromanolakis. ‘And we have a vision to do more – showcase Greek crafts more, create space for artists and grassroots activity, explore less travelled paths of Greek culture. We also want to invest in developing artists' skills and enrich cultural experiences across all fields.’

 discovergreece.com

A version of this story appears in January 2023 Wallpaper*, The Future Issue, available now in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today

A tired, 40-year-old commercial building in the city's northern suburbs has been reborn as a fun, contemporary Athens workspace by London- and Athens-based architecture studio Neiheiser Argyros. Named Art1 Office, the project, for design-led developer Hellenic Properties, offers a fresh take to office architecture by blending sharp geometric shapes, bright colours and quality materials that balance elegance and a playful, vibrant atmosphere. 

Led by the studio founders Xristina Argyros and Ryan Neiheiser, the architecture team worked with the building's existing bones, revealing existing surfaces while adding bold elements that transformed both the exterior and interior of the original structure. ‘What used to be a confusing muddle of geometric clashes is now untangled and rearticulated as if the building is composed of twelve separate buildings, each with its own cladding logic and interior atmosphere,' the team explains. 

Subtle colour variations of white, grey, black, and gold highlight the building's exterior and celebrate its modern shapes and discrete volumes. In a similar vein, inside, strategic splashes of colour throughout mix gracefully with the existing black marble flooring that has been restored, and the exposed concrete formwork ceiling structure. The juxtaposition of rawness and polish of these elements creates a well-balanced whole that draws the visitor in and showcases dynamism and a thoroughly contemporary attitude. 

Neiheiser Argyros' redesign was not just about aesthetics. ‘The building incorporates a range of sustainability strategies – high-performance insulation and windows, the use of local natural materials, low-energy MEP systems, charging stations and bike parking, and integrated photovoltaic panels – and achieves the local A+ highest energy efficiency grade,' the architects said. Meanwhile, a green roof and a circular pergola crowning the top of the building invite users to connect with the green outdoors and the cityscape beyond this modern Athens workspace.

neiheiserargyros.com

For the Athens-bound, the well-known mix of Greek sun, sea and classical antiquity may feel like an obvious draw, but do not be distracted by the clichés; there are riches aplenty far beyond these in the Greek capital's cultural scene. Following almost a decade of financial troubles, topped by the challenges brought by the pandemic, Athens is now, again, on the up. Parts of the city are being rethought through art, including an unexpected corner of Piraeus, and the Pedion Areos park; some of the capital's most iconic 20th-century heritage is being given a new lease of life – there’s the ongoing renovation of the former Hilton hotel, one of Athens’ most iconic modernist buildings, into a new city destination, as well as the Fix brewery and Piraeus Tower; and a wealth of stylish hotels and eateries are opening all over town. And all that is on top of the Greek capital's existing charms and cultural haunts. Here, we pick some of the finest Athens architecture, design and art currently on offer, and flag up some of the exciting projects coming up in the Mediterranean metropolis. All you need to do is hop on an Aegean flight. 

Athens architecture and more

Piraeus art district

The ancient port of Piraeus has proven to be the capital's newest art hub, with a trio of international galleries flocking to the neighbourhood of Agios Dionysios (also known as Papastratos, from the namesake tobacco brand that had its factory there in the last century). Rodeo, Carwan and The Intermission have each recently launched an outpost there, bringing contemporary art and design to the industrial landscape of this part of the city. The area has more coming up, with modern workspace and some residential projects courtesy of local design-led developer Dimand, as well as the Piraeus Tower at its doorstep (more below).

Mona

The little sister of the established Shila hotel in Kolonaki, Mona is the freshest addition to central Athens' hospitality scene. The brainchild of creative director Eftihia Stefanidi and entrepreneur Shai Antebi, Mona is not just a hotel. Located in an eight-storey industrial factory from the 1950s in the edgy Monastiraki district, it features 20 rooms, a concept café, lounge and bar, and a speakeasy basement venue, as well as a members’ club rooftop terrace. The space has been styled with immaculate attention to detail, merging contemporary art and design objects from independent local designers as well as the owner's own design studio (Shila Maison d’Objets). Every beautiful piece found in the rooms can be purchased, and happenings make this stay as fun as it could possibly be.

The Ellinikon Experience Centre

When the new Eleftherios Venizelos airport opened in Athens in time for the 2004 Athens Olympics, its predecessor, Ellinikon airport, was left neglected and without purpose. After a few years spent working out how best to use its prime real-estate draws (located beside the beach and across a surface larger than the whole city-state of Monaco) and architectural heritage (it includes a main building, often referred to as the East Terminal, by midcentury modernist Eero Saarinen and created in 1959-63), it is now being redesigned by Lamda Development in stages as a mixed-use complex along with an extensive park. The Ellinikon Experience Centre, a reimagined airplane hangar, acts as a visitor centre for the area's redevelopment, telling the story of what was and what’s to come. The projects included feature local and international architecture studios, such as Kengo Kuma, Foster + Partners (see below) and Doxiadis+. 

M18

If you want to experience the city like a true Athenian, book a stay at M18. The rental, owned by Oliaros – the real estate powerhouse behind a string of design-led homes in the boutique island of Antiparos – used to be the company director’s own home. It is also right next to the Acropolis museum and hill, as well as the green expanses of Filopappou Hill, right in the heart of Athens. The property, originally built in 1923, consists of three units of different sizes that are available for short- or long-term stays. Interiors have been sensitively refreshed by architect Argyro Pouliovali of ARP - Architecture Research + Practice, and graced with the owner’s personal art and design collection. This includes work by a mix of Greek and international artists, a Gio Ponti dining table, Alvaro Siza lighting, Flos pieces, traditional azeri carpets, a Bang & Olufsen sound system and Martino Gamper garden furniture.

Piraeus Tower 

This tower is not only the tallest in Piraeus but also the second tallest in the whole of Greece. Now, local design-savvy developer Dimand, alongside emerging Athens architecture studio Pila (founded by Ilias Papageorgiou, who relocated from New York, leaving a partner position at SO-IL in 2019 to set up on his own), the 1970s building is being reimagined for the 21st century, bringing together modern workspace, generous retail and food and beverage elements, and public green spaces. Combining sustainable principles with sleek design, as well as urban gestures in the form of a raised, green public pathway that connects the tower to the port, creating a welcome promenade, the refreshed tower is set to be completed in late 2023.

Gagosian Athens

Set within a majestic building masterfully redesigned by Kois Associated Architects, in the urbane Kolonaki district, Gagosian Athens has not one, but two worthy offerings for the art-savvy traveller this autumn, uniting the worlds of fine art and high design. Sarah Sze launches her first solo exhibition in Greece here, blending new oil and collage panel paintings, and small-scale sculptures and video installations from existing work, in a show that merges the physical and the digital worlds. At the same time, Marc Newson draws inspiration from Greece, and in particular the islands, to put together an exhibition of new cloisonné and cast glass furniture, exploring materials, processes, and skills, and neatly following on from his partial takeover of Gagosian’s retail location in Burlington Arcade in London this summer. 
Sarah Sze, Early September - October 2022
Marc Newson, October / November 2022

Estiatorio and Ksenodoxeio Milos

The Milos restaurant (Estiatorio Milos) is well known in culinary circles for serving the finest fish in town and now its brand-new venue by London- and Athens-based studio Divercity Architects means it has some fine design to boast too. Sleek, seamless design featuring swathes of white marble, including a sculptural staircase, and minimalist decor mirror the beauty in simplicity found in the restaurant's dishes. Additionally, its new location, just a stone's throw from the heart of Athens and Syntagma Square, also comprises a chic hotel offering, Xenodocheio Milos, created by the same practice and featuring warm wood and elegant, contemporary interiors. 

Marina Tower by Foster + Partners 

Foster + Partners is behind one of the first residential schemes to be revealed at the redeveloped Ellinikon airport – while also masterplanning the whole estate. The Marina Tower is located right on the Athens Riviera, hailing its contemporary residential vision for this newly formed corner of the city. Surrounded by green expanses and blue waters, the project aims to be Greece’s first eco-conscious skyscraper, created following principles of sustainable architecture, as well as offering open-air planted terraces for residents. The tower is set to complete by 2026. 

National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (EMST) 

The former Fix brewery in central Athens has been a city landmark since its creation in 1963 by Greek modernist Takis Zenetos – for its elegant lines, but also its sheer scale, dubbed by locals the ‘horizontal skyscraper’. Following a lengthy redesign process, the building was recently reopened as the National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (EMST), reimagined by 3SK Stylianidis Architects, in collaboration with Kalliope Kontozoglou, I Mouzakis & Associates-Architects Ltd, and Tim Ronalds Architects, ready to lend its vast expanses to art displays. Unfortunately, the museum launched just as the pandemic started, so had to remain closed to visitors for a while, but it is now reopening with a bang and a wealth of cultural programming, including temporary exhibitions, special projects and dedicated foyer commissions by local and international artists.

Delta at the Niarchos Foundation

The cultural hub and green lung that is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens’ southern residential district of Kallithea has been open since 2016 – but one of its most prominent spaces, the contemporary restaurant at the complex’s very top, only just opened in the past year. Designed by Kois Associated Architects, Delta offers an open, flowing interior that allows the gaze to wander through its warm composition, and towards the striking city views from its glazed walls. Inside, contemporary, abstract shapes, such as the bar’s organic form – a functional sculpture specially made by artists Voukenas Petrides – create physical centrepieces for the diners within the otherwise minimalist architectural experience.

NEON

This expansive new cultural space sits within a remarkable renovation of the city’s former Public Tobacco Factory – a majestic, historical building from the 1930s, which was later used as the Hellenic Parliament Library and Printing House. NEON was founded in 2013 by collector and entrepreneur Dimitris Daskalopoulos and moved into its current home in 2021, promising a mix of contemporary art forms, wide community engagement and public space for all in its vast halls. Here, industrial architecture meets modern art, in a redesign led by architect Fanis Kafantaris.

Athens Design Forum 2022 

The Athens Design Forum, a festival dedicated to promoting Greek design, art and architecture, is back, following a successful first year featuring buildings such as the Kypseli house of Greek modernist Aristomenis Provelengios. Now, the late Athens artist Alekos Fassianos takes centre stage and the forum opens his island home in Kea, an Aegean retreat that is just a one-hour ferry journey from Athens. In collaboration with The Alekos Fassianos Estate, this will be the inaugural opening of the Fassianos residence and atelier, where visitors can enjoy his art as well as the home's typical regional island architecture of humble, white, low forms. The public launch takes place on 10 July 2022.

INFORMATION
discovergreece.com

Representative of Greek modernism, architect and urban planner Aristomenis Provelengios (1914 – 1999) is a renowned figure in the Greek architecture scene. Having worked in the office of Le Corbusier in Paris, he is one of the architects that helped bring modernist architecture to Greece, and several of his buildings are celebrated, still standing in Athens to this day. One of them, a relatively compact house in the downtown neighbourhood of Kypseli, is now the home of contemporary architect Dionisis Sotovikis – and one of the key sites to visit during the inaugural Athens Design Forum this autumn. 

A piece of Greek modernist history

Sotovikis acquired the building (originally created as an artist's atelier in 1956) in 2007, saving it from demolition. He operated a gallery in the space until 2013, when he converted it into his own home and workspace – still occasionally using it for exhibitions. ‘The house is one of the finest examples of modernism and an important piece of modern Greek architectural heritage, unique and different from other similar samples, due to its proximity to human scale,’ he explains. The studio building is relatively small, built in the courtyard of the artist’s adjacent residence, which dates back to 1928. 

Sotovikis’ transformation of the building into domestic space was guided by a very light touch. ‘Nothing was altered, apart from renovating all mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering installations and revealing the original colours applied by the architect to the window frames and old doors, in an attempt to “peel off time”,’ says Sotovikis. ‘The house is an important piece in the story I wish to tell regarding “building time” and the connection between past and future.'

While the project has been occasionally open to the public during Athens Open House events, its participation in the first ever Athens Design Forum is a critical move in making Athens’ modernist heritage more visible and accessible to all. And Sotovikis has more in store for the future. ‘[It's still] too early to reveal [my plans], but suffice to say that it will be turned into a type of museum in the future,’ he says. 

The architect, principal of his eponymous practice, Workshop Dionisis Sotovikis, regularly takes his cues from modernist teachings, having designed a slew of residences featuring naked concrete, clean, minimalist lines and an emphasis on functionality. More are underway, from a private three-storey residence in Koukaki, to a five-star hotel in Milos (Milos Cove), and a new hotel in Naxos. 

Athens Design Forum

Being part of the inaugural Athens Design Forum is a chance to meet and collaborate ‘with new people, through events that bring us closer to the public, showcasing all that we love to do’, Sotovikis says. The non-profit event, the first of its kind, aims to celebrate Greek design and architecture through a series of exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and archival studies that highlight the country’s creativity in Athens and beyond. Running from 30 September – 7 October 2021, the festival is supported by The City of Athens, The Behrakis Foundation, and design guide The Design Release. 

‘The first edition of Athens Design Forum brings together visionaries whose mission is to amplify the region's diverse history – bridging larger institutions such as the Benaki Museum in dialogue with designer-led initiatives by KN Group X Stamos Michael. We are a platform that aims to unify and mark Athens as both an emerging and historically established centre of creative production,’ says the Forum's founder Katerina Papanikolopoulos.

More highlights during the Athens Design Forum include a visit to Papagos House – the private residence and studio of iconic Greek painter Alekos Fassianos, which will be open to the public for the very first time – and a studio visit with emerging local designer Kostas Lambridis.

INFORMATION
athensdesignforum.com
workshop-s.com

Greek architecture outfit Point Supreme is an expert in creating vibrant, modern interiors that are brimming with colour and texture. Working with the country's heritage, and adding unexpected touches that bridge old and new, is part of co-founders Konstantinos Pantazis and Marianna Rentzou’s singature approach, and their latest Athens apartment interior design project is no exception.

Situated in the city centre, within a typical Athenian polykatoikia (the popular Greek multi-family apartment block typology), the apartment is a comfortable three-bedroom space with a flowing, open-plan living area, complete with a study. Part of the architects' brief was to refresh the tired interior and open it up. The team responded by completely gutting the living, dining and kitchen areas and uniting them to create a single, open-plan space. 

Key to this move was the redesign of an existing light shaft. Previously hidden away, the light feature has now been revealed, and with it, a whole new dimension and light source has entered and enriched the apartment interior. The team installed generous windows on all four sides of the concrete shaft, which bathe the interior with daylight. 

Now, ‘an abundance of natural light and cross views through the whole depth of the apartment are revealed and create an unexpected sense of grand dimension. This is strengthened by the rich variety of materials and finishes applied that create different atmospheres,' say the architects. 

In order to support this intervention and avoid breaking up the space with more walls and partitions, Point Supreme created a series of specially designed furniture pieces to support the various functions in each part of the home. There is a powder-pink kitchen island with a marble top, matching nearby darker pink cabinetry; a bespoke red and brown dining table; and an elegant timber screen that distinctly defines the entrance hall, along with its bright red floor. Meanwhile, built-in shelving in textured green and light pink ensures the owners' storage needs are met, while the space remains streamlined, open and flexible.

INFORMATION

pointsupreme.com

At first blush, the decision to open a boutique hotel on Adrianou Street might not have been the most sensible one given the steady flow of enthusiastic tourists trekking up and down the narrow, colourful, strip – it’s one of the main tourist arteries to the Acropolis – but the point becomes thoroughly moot the moment one steps through the portal of the 19th-century neo-classical pile.

The lobby turns out to be a sleek standalone fashion boutique stocked with a handpicked collection of international haute and Greek labels ranging from Chiara Boni and Missoni to local favourite Sophie Deloudi – all of which makes the check-in process particularly dangerous for shopaholics.

Upstairs, the 12 double-glazed, sound-proofed rooms have been dressed by Athens-based studio Mutiny in calm lines and colours, the creamy tableau accented by marble and timber floors, brass finishes, and understated black and white photographs by Katerina Messini.

Given the physical constraints of the original building, there are no facilities to speak of, neither restaurant nor gym – though that only means the bedrooms and bathrooms are unusually spacious and light. The best room in the house, room 10, offers a sweeping view over the antique rooftops and a thrilling snapshot of the Acropolis in the distance.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS 

77 Adrianou Street
Athens

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If you ever needed a reliable barometer of Athens’ reviving fortunes, look no further than the rash of boutique hotels that are cropping up all over the Greek capital, almost all in sensitively restored period buildings.

The latest to skim onto our radar is the six-bedroom Monsieur Didot, a lush creamy bolt-hole a few blocks north of the Benaki Museum.

Built in the 19th-century, the building’s sturdy bones have been reset by local outfit BaBatchas Design Studio. Taking their design cues from the French printer Firmin Didot, the interiors are meant to channel the tastes of an aesthete, a task made considerably easier by the painstakingly restored ceilings and original mouldings. In turn, the fin de siècle mood is quietly offset by contemporary touches, not least handmade ceramics, customized lighting, and furnishings specially designed by BaBatchas for the project.

The rooftop gives out over views of Athens, a particularly satisfying venue in which to have breakfast – here, stocked with organic fruits and local produce, alongside an all-day snack menu. There’s no in-house restaurant, but, happily, the hotel is in a neighbourhood of cafés, bars and restaurants, alongside an enviable haul of bookstores and museums.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS: 

Sina 48
Athens

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The family business Thomas and George Douzis started in 2011 to promote small-scale Greek producers, has a new mission. Just off Syntagma Square, Ergon House bills itself as a ‘Foodie hotel’, an intriguing combination of food market, restaurant and bar, with a 38-room hotel, gym and rooftop terrace. Communal kitchens permit guests to turn produce into meals, while lounges encourage sharing.

Local studio, USP Architecture, which has collaborated with Ergon before, including on its London branch, perform sophisticated tricks with raised beds, room dividers, plentiful wood, and a muted palette; Japanese Onsen chic, with a minute hint of Deco.

Rooms are compact but boast sweeping views of central Athens and the Parthenon through full-size windows, double-glazed to keep the buzz at bay. Come for lunch, stay for a drink, then spend the night and pick up a treat as you leave, Ergon House is a contemporary invitation to classical excess.

ADDRESS

23 Mitropoleos Street
105 63
Athens

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Communication and the exchange of ideas are key to modern working; especially in a creative field such as advertising. So when London- and Athens-based architecture practice Divercity and designer Carole Topin embarked on redesigning an interior within an existing 1970s building in the heart of the Greek capital, they drew on the same principles for their concept. 

At the centre of the new headquarters for dynamic advertising agency Frank & Fame, the architects ‘designed a central creative engine', they explain. This core space, divided in distinct zones, provides all the necessary areas and stimulation required for the smooth running of this creative hub. 

The team crafted spaces for larger, group meetings, informal brainstorming sessions (called the ‘Pin-Up Room'), and more private, one-to-one discussions (the ‘Confession Booth'). There is space for seclusion and reflection, while circulation areas cleverly double as a library zone, walls dressed with shelves and reading spots. Elsewhere, open-plan desk areas, private offices and meeting rooms are arranged around the ‘creative engine'. 

‘With fluidity and flexibility at its heart, the design responds to the needs of a contemporary workforce and provides Frank & Fame an office with longevity, where ideas and relationships will flourish', says the team. Greenery in bespoke planters and colour accents ensure a varied environment, all made using the expertises of construction specialists Escape.

Using immersive, dark colours, sharp lines, warm materials and strong geometries, Divercity and Topin's architecture is a celebration of the creative process; and the way architecture can foster and enhance it. 

INFORMATION
For more information visit the website of Divercity Architects and the website of Carole Topin

Athens-based K-Studio have converted a low-slung 1930s building into the sleek 38-room Perianth hotel. Set back a little distance from Athens’ jammed tourist tracks but still equally accessible to the Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum, the gentle curves of the grey art moderne pile open into a bright interior that’s awash with light streaking through glass brick walls and high windows, and bouncing off brass-framed mirrors.

The palette is handsomely sober with a distinct Grecian patina by way of contemporary Greek art, minimalist staff uniform designed by Sophia Kokosalaki, terrazzo floors and custom-designed furniture in the public spaces. This is complemented by bed-frames of walnut timber, grey marble benches, and modular mirrors and lighting in the bedrooms. 

The best room in the house is the sixth floor penthouse suite which features wraparound views of the Acropolis and Mount Lycabettus, a plunge pool and Jacuzzi. Though all of Athens awaits just outside in the Byzantine Agia Eirini Square, the Perianth hotel steals a march on its competitors with an on-site Zen Center which offers meditation, yoga and Eastern martial arts, apparently a passion of one of the hotel’s owners. In-house restaurant Il Baretto, meanwhile, features Italian standards in a chic grey room anchored by a rugged stone- and marble-lined bar.

ADDRESS

2 Limpona Street

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To look at the nondescript one-storey building – despite its tony address on a busy street in an upscale residential suburb in northern Athens – you’d be hard-pressed to imagine what a quiet feat of imagination Minas Kosmidis has wrought inside. 

Drawing on the mood and lines of bistrots in Paris and New York, the Thessaloniki-based studio reorganised the flow of the space by concentrating the initial buzz at the bar and foyer: a generously proportioned room with heavy bronze cross beams that’s anchored by a broad bar topped with white Volakas marble, and lit with glow-globes and furnished with Bentwood chairs, high stools, and Venetian rattan back panels.

Further in, the dining room with its crudo bar at the far end is equally evocative in its unabashed classicism. Trimmed with bronze, accented with Cole and Son floral wallpaper and walnut, the ensemble is capped with a glass pitched roof to accentuate the illusion that you’ve stepped into a fin de siècle European garden.

Stepping up to the mark, executive chef Giannis Markadakis harnesses regional produce into his Italian and French menu that’s sprinkled with the likes of pumpkin risotto with sherry cream, thyme and marjoram, a confit of duck leg glazed with Cabernet, and skate sauced with butter and capers. 

ADDRESS

Leoforos Kifisias 242
Athens

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Financially troubled Athens may not seem like the obvious place for the next big public building opening. Even so, the Greek capital has just seen a grand new cultural complex open its doors for the first time, courtesy of the non-profit Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and architect Renzo Piano.

The project has been a long time in the making. Located in the southern Athenian district of Kallithea, it includes the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera and a 210,000 sq m landscaped park. It was kick-started in the 1990s by the library and opera authorities and the SNF – the philanthropic organisation set up by the eponymous Greek shipping magnate – and commissioned to the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in 2008.

The area is one of the capital’s most densely populated municipalities and this injection of green space is a much-needed addition. Piano’s design also aims to restore the long-lost connection between Kallithea and the sea, through its carefully picked orientation and raised vistas.

The architect's proposal includes an artificial hill on the site’s southernmost tip, under the highest point of which are nestled the two buildings, and on which the large public park unfolds. The two-auditorium opera house and the library are topped by a glass-enclosed multifunctional space called the Lighthouse. A public piazza, called the Agora, links the two main functions together.

Offering great views of the sea (enhanced by the presence of a 30m-wide esplanade running along the site’s main north-south pedestrian axis) the park, designed by Deborah Nevins & Associates, is also packed with eco-friendly elements. These include solar panels, water recycling and flood defence mechanisms; sustainability and a green element for the neighbourhood were both key to the team’s overall approach.

The complex was built using foundation funds, but upon completion it will be donated to the Greek state. The coming weekend will be marked by a series of events, artworks and performances, called 'Metamorphosis: The SNFCC to the World', to celebrate the new Cultural Centre’s first viewing.

INFORMATION

'Metamorphosis: The SNFCC to the World' will be on view until 26 June. For more information, visit the SNFCC website and Renzo Piano’s website

Photography: Yiorgis Yerolymbos

ADDRESS

SNFCC Visitors Center
Evripidou & Doiranis Streets
Kallithea, Athens
Greece

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For Ai Weiwei, Instagram has been a friend and an enemy. The pros are that the platform has multiplied his international fame tenfold, turning him into one of the app's biggest stars and also a defacto real time newswire, documenting the Syrian refugee crisis in Lesbos, the Syrian border and Beirut.

The negatives are people’s skepticism over his presence, wary of an ethical grey area that has seen his photos of the crisis become a prestigious body of work. A self-titled new exhibition at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens – on view until 30 October – tries to answer these questions.

‘We have to protect humanity. Through my art I’m trying to give a voice to people who might never be heard,’ Weiwei said at the exhibition opening, a showcase of photography and new sculpture in part profiling a five month-long period documenting the Syrian crisis. ‘I think it’s terrible that European governments are pushing refugees into Turkey. As an artist you use your emotions to communicate information to the world.’ The five-foot tall sculpture Standing Figure (2016) articulates his ideas on the power of governmental solidarity for refugees, as well nodding to his previous work criticising governments – the sculpture’s outstretched arms a reference to his indictment of the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the photo series Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995).

Weiwei admires the political and cultural models practiced by the Greeks and his life sized marble sculpture riff on the popular style of crafting human bodies at the beginning of the Cycladic era, which he fused with his love for grand statements, making his own seven-foot version. But it is Greece’s morality that the exhibition really lauds: ‘Greece showed elegance and respect to let refugees in and not to push people into the ocean; Greece’s decisions will be remembered by history,’ Weiwei states.

INFORMATION

’Ai Weiwei at Cycladic’ is on view until 30 October. For more information, visit the Museum of Cycladic Art’s website

Photography courtesy the artist and the Museum of Cycladic Art

ADDRESS

Museum of Cycladic Art
4, Neophytou Douka str.
Athens 10674

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With its mild weather, green rolling hills, stunning views and easy access to the sea, the island of Euboea in Greece – the country's second largest – seems to have been made for outdoor living; and this is exactly what a professional couple had in mind, when they approached young Athens-based architect Natalia Kokosalaki with a commission for their dream summer bolthole in the small village of Aliveri. 

'The outdoor spaces, the swimming pool, the barbeque area and the vegetable garden became the driving force for the design,' explains Kokosalaki. In contrast, indoors living needed to be 'compact, versatile and simple', she adds about the house, which was designed to be all about the outside. 

Located relatively near Athens, the house spans 110 sq m, accommodating a relatively straightforward program; an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area sit inside, complemented by a bedroom and bathroom. All share majestic vistas towards the garden and the sea beyond. 

Take an interactive tour of House in Aliveri

Creating a generous outside space that would feel open but could also be secure and private was one of the project's key challenges. Thus, a tall stone wall hugs the property from the street side – extruded from the house's main volume and built with material found on site, using the specialist skills of local craftsmen – creating necessary protection from prying eyes. The architect also cleverly used it to carve out storage and seating niches in the garden.

Stone, raw concrete and white rendered walls make for a balanced external composition of hard surfaces, offset by the leafy nature and the pool's soft blue water. The house's environmental credentials include roof photovoltaic panels and water collector tanks.

We first spotted Kokosalaki's smart work when she was completing her studies with a master's degree in sustainable design from the Architectural Association in London in 2007 (she was featured in the Wallpaper* Graduate Directory in 2008). Kokosalaki has since set up her own architecture practice in the Greek capital – Natkoko Studio – and this summerhouse is one of her firm's first completions. 
    
See more of the house in our May 2016 (W*206) issue's Greek retreat outdoor furniture shoot

INFORMATION

For more information, visit Natalia Kokosalaki’s website

Photography: Dimitris Kleanthis

Thessaloniki-based architects Minas Kosmidis have designed a chic neighbourhood restaurant in Athens for first-time restaurateur Ntoumis Konstantinos who, after years of managing eateries for other owners, has struck out on his own. Located in the affluent suburb of Kifissia, the café slots neatly into the locale’s leafy streets, and the design complements its surroundings to a tee: the airy main dining room is adorned with updated homages to classical Greek architecture, such as patterned mosaic tiles and a sculptural antefix carved from solid wood, while mismatched chairs create pops of colour and visual contrast. A mezzanine and inner courtyard at the back modelled on old Athenian houses provides shelter from the thrum of the street outside, and is the perfect setting to enjoy a light assortment of dishes from a menu overseen by acclaimed Greek chef Dimitris Skarmoutsos. Commendably, local cheeses and cured meats, plus ingredients for traditional pies and tarts are sourced exclusively from small-scale Greek producers. The restaurant’s loyal clientele however, return for relaxed breakfasts of scrambled eggs and cinnamon-spiced tomatoes with handmade Zea bread, a heritage recipe that has enjoyed a recent surge in popularity due to its purported health benefits and gluten-free credentials.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Kasseveti II
Kifissia

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Athens café and store Philos occupies an elegantly decayed neoclassical mansion on Solonos Street, built in 1937 by entrepreneur Euripidis Koutlidis and largely unoccupied since his death in the 1970s.

The property is now open to the public, thanks to two young Athenian fashion insiders, Marilena Emmanouil and Sotiris Tsaglis, who have turned it into a unique retail adventure. A grand café leads on to various spaces showcasing fashion and homewares.

The latter ranges from Parisian Bacsac geotextile pots for plants to hand-carved Hella Slingshots from San Francisco. Apparel is craft-based with a tendency towards Scandinavian design and American heritage brands, such as Sandqvist and Suigeneric. This autumn, the owners are set to open two further floors and the roof terrace, housing a beauty lab, an exhibition area and a supper club.

This piece was originally featured in the September 2015 edition of Wallpaper* (W*198)

Athens' Michelin-starred Hytra restaurant not only has a new home in the city's gleaming Onassis Cultural Centre, it now includes an adjoining bistro, designed by architecture firm, Divercity. An understated black marble bar takes centre stage, framed by a dramatic overhanging structure shaped from the willowy limbs of the local Monk’s Pepper tree; this distinctive pattern, inspired by traditional Greek basket weave, is echoed elsewhere in the bar, lending the space an elegant, handcrafted feel. Rising star Tasos Mantis takes up the reins in the kitchen, creating accessible, relaxed takes on homely Greek classics like pork shank with citrus glaze and seabass with an ouzo vinaigrette and subtle fennel mayo. Throw in some cocktails from the bar and the lively space threatens to steal the limelight from its sibling next door. However, neither can quite compete with the upstairs deck, to which diners can retreat after a sumptuous meal to enjoy unparalleled views of Athens and the Acropolis.

INFORMATION

Anna Stathaki

ADDRESS 

Onassis Cultural Centre
107-109 Syngrou Avenue

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There’s something of the twisted genius at work in 'Ametria', the fascinating exhibition currently on show at the Benaki Museum in Athens. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the genesis of the idea came from the almost unclassifiable Italian artist Roberto Cuoghi – arguably most famous for a seven-year-long performance piece that saw the artist, then in his mid-20s, alter his physical appearance, his daily routine and almost his entire lifestyle to (convincingly) resemble his middle-aged father. Appearances can be deceptive.

Set in a dark, maze-like display area of looming pillars that map out a linear (but disorientating) space, the exhibition is a collaboration between the museum and the Deste Foundation, combining works from both collections. At first glance, the show could be a straightforward chronology of a civilisation’s evolution, but deeper immersion sends the viewer on a strange journey.

'Ametria' is defined as an expression of a purposeless drive; the rejection of an overall vision; the error that turns out to be right. And so the exhibition begins by presenting various beautifully drafted antique maps of Athens; maps that visibly display the signs of centuries of wear, along with the ideas and ambitions of generations of cartographers and civic planners. (The exhibition map, echoing the display space, seems deliberately confusing, so the viewer struggles to work out what exactly they are looking at since the walls are free of labels. Numerous visitors seemed lost within minutes of entering the show and could be seen closely studying their maps, like tourists lost in a new city.)

The walls of the exhibition space soon close in and different avenues of works appear, leaving the viewer unsure which way to head. Unexpected pieces begin to sneak into the mix. A 1960s proposal for improving the streets of Copenhagen, diagrams of ‘human energy’ in a city and then more contemporary, loaded works appear – Peter Nagy’s cryptic faux histories, Dominic McGill’s politically charged and nightmarish pencil drawings. The initially subtle juxtapositions gradually become more pronounced until, in the space of ten minutes, the viewer has been led from plans of ancient cities to the apocalyptic visions of artists such as Dionisis Kavallieratos and Ralf Ziervogel. These strange associations and sequences work –  the ancient and new pieces sparking off one another and suggesting alternative histories (civilised or otherwise).

Nearly all of the work in the exhibition possesses a conspicuous intensity – almost hallucinatory in places, as with Dominic McGill's, Jakub Julian Ziolkowski's or Matt Leines’ work – but every so often the space unexpectedly opens up to reveal an area devoid of any art, in which to gather your thoughts. At one point, a simple, large gold panel provides a reflective contrast to the darker work; at another the walls split to reveal two gigantic floor-to-ceiling columns of solidified melted chocolate, by the American artist Terence Koh. The sweet smell of chocolate lingers in the air as, around the corner, the self-regarding skeleton of Urs Fischer’s Skinny Afternoon gazes at its reflection in a vanity table.

The curators who have realised Cuoghi’s idea have picked an incredibly powerful selection of work, one that shows the deep power of both establishments’ collections. With over 150 works shown in this bold way, unexpected and unforeseen connections appear and the ‘purposeless drive’ presents a dark and absorbing alternative path.

ADDRESS

Benaki Museum
138 Pieros Street Annexe
Athens
Greece

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