Type: New construction
Status: In progress
Services: Architecture 
Client: Private
Design Team: Aude Mazelin | Tina Papanikolaou | Vasiliki Ragia

Reframed Residences | Athens

Reframed Residences Athens is a contemporary architectural transformation that reimagines an existing residential building through a new exterior identity, redefining its relationship with light, privacy, and the urban environment. Rather than replacing the original structure, the project approaches renovation as a process of reinterpretation — preserving the existing framework while introducing a contemporary architectural language shaped by rhythm, permeability, and restraint.

The intervention focuses primarily on the building envelope. A perforated exterior skin wraps the structure, creating a secondary layer that filters sunlight, softens the building’s scale, and establishes a dynamic relationship between interior and exterior spaces. This architectural screen introduces depth and shadow throughout the day while enhancing privacy for the residences behind it. The facade shifts continuously with changing light conditions, transforming the building into a quieter and more atmospheric urban presence.

Located in Athens, the project responds carefully to the Mediterranean climate. Openings, shading systems, and transitional outdoor areas work together to improve natural ventilation and thermal comfort while maximizing daylight within the apartments. The new envelope acts both as environmental protection and architectural expression, balancing performance with visual clarity.

The ground-level spaces were redesigned to introduce moments of calm within the dense urban fabric. Landscaped courtyards and preserved stone elements create a softer connection between architecture and city life, allowing outdoor areas to become part of the residential experience. At night, integrated lighting emphasizes the layered geometry of the facade, revealing the depth and texture of the intervention.

Reframed Residences Athens explores how existing structures can evolve rather than disappear. Through subtraction, layering, and material restraint, the project transforms a conventional building into a contemporary residential environment that feels lighter, calmer, and more connected to the rhythm of Athens