house extension & renovation
100 sq. meter house in a plot of 250 sq. meters
Anavyssos, Greece
2013
Rehabilitating a charming but unsuitable holiday cottage on the outskirts of Attica as a permanent retirement home.
A complete renovation and an extension were required to make this a comfortable and livable retirement home for an Athenian bachelor – without losing all of its quaint cottage charm. The hand-carved railings and wooden posts around the porch, and the exposed wood ceilings were preserved with this prerogative in mind.
On the upper level, a 20 sq. meter extension was built to incorporate front & side porches into the main living area. This allowed space for an office niche & dining area, and the possibility of an internal staircase to connect the top & ground floors. Two large windows, with complete lateral opening, in the main living space provided optimal integration of interior & exterior spaces, framing the lovely garden and mountain views.
A new roof was put in place with matching vintage French-style roof tiles, while insulation was also added to the building exterior . Aluminum frames with electric blinds & mosquito-nets replaced wooden French windows & cumbersome shutters. Solar water-heating and interior heating panels completed the modernization and weatherproofing of this
40-year-old summer cottage.
The extension specifically aimed at flexibility: allowing for either joining the two levels to function as one home, or using the lower level as an independent rental property, according to the owner's future needs.
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mediterranean charm
This home's 250 sq. meter plot had mature trees in strategic places of the garden, all typical of the land. . . pistachio, olive, almond, fig trees, and a towering old pine offering welcome shade in the hotter months.
We added more native vegetation from the Mediterranean basin. . . lavender, marjoram, basil, thyme, and various shrubs and flowers suitable to the local ecosystem, requiring minimal effort to maintain with an automatic watering system. The landscaping and all around lighting created a peaceful haven enveloping this charming home.