Polly is a tiny rooftop flat (δώμα) overlooking Alepotrypa hill in Kypseli; its 20sqm hosted three generations of women from the same family during their student years in Athens. Built in the 1980s, had seen very few changes since its construction, and after decades of use, it was time to give it a new life. The brief for the renovation was to create a bright and comfortable space that could function as both a studio and a guest room, within a modest budget. We began by altering the layout, removing the preexisting enclosed kitchen — a “room within a room” that occupied most of the limited footprint. In its place, a compact open-plan kitchenette was introduced, optimising the layout and making space for a tailor-made living and dining area. The priority was to keep the living area as bright and spacious as possible; therefore a custom, multifunctional blue furniture piece wraps the main wall and ‘contains’ all remaining functions: it conceals the bathroom, wardrobe, fold-down bed, and a hidden storage area (ex - wardrobe). The bathroom retained its original layout but was given a fresh, playful character through a mix of new and reclaimed tiles. Mirrors, hidden doors, coloured and playful details mixes together to enhance the user’s experience of this tiny studio.

Photos: Yannis Drakoulidis
Year: 2025