“Everything doesn’t have to be traditional, as long as it’s respectful of the style, the context, and the place,” says Local Local founder Sofia Xanthakou.
When architect Sofia Xanthakou and her husband, Andreas, decided to return to their native Greece, they were looking for a home for their young family and a convenient base in the center of the city. Prior to the move, Sofia, the founder of Athens-based boutique architecture firm Local Local, and Andreas, an art dealer and gallery owner, had both lived overseas in the U.K. and the U.S.
Before: In Athens, architect Sofia Xanthakou of Local Local renovated a residence on a quiet, pedestrianized street in Plaka, one the city’s busiest neighborhoods.
Photo by Local Local
Before: Brown cotto tiles covered the entrance hallway, while the living room had dark wooden floors.
Photo by Local Local
“Having lived abroad for many years, I couldn’t picture myself having to commute every day,” Sofia explains. “I wanted to live in the center of Athens but, at the same time, we were starting a family and needed space.”
Plaka is the oldest neighborhood in Athens. Set on the northeastern slope of the Acropolis, it is famous for its ancient landmarks, including the Roman Agora and Hadrian’s Library, and narrow streets full of neoclassical buildings, Byzantine churches, and tiny stores selling jewelry, clothes, and local ceramics.
Even though parts of Plaka have become overrun with tourists in recent years, Sofia says her pedestrianized corner “feels like a village in the city center.”
Before: The overgrown garden blocked natural light from entering the house.
Photo by Local Local
See the full story on Dwell.com: Minimalism Meets Vibrant Color in the Home of an Athens Architect
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