Casa D
In the charming suburb of Cholargos, Athens, a low-lying residence with a robust concrete façade stands as a quiet guardian of privacy. At once modest and subtly playful, it carves out a sense of retreat within the dense fabric of the city—a private garden home that feels almost fortress-like, where the rhythms of community life can be enjoyed in peace and ease. Though the house now wears a contemporary face, its soul traces back to the 1960s. Tasked with the transformation, Barcelona-based COMETA ARCHITECTS approached the project with sensitivity to both climate and context. Rather than erasing its history, they chose to build upon it—retaining the original concrete foundation and low profile to minimize structural intervention. Through a careful insertion of new architectural gestures, they injected rhythm, lightness, and renewed vitality into the aging shell.
Set apart from the taller apartment blocks that surround it, Casa D resists the convention of open balconies and exposed façades. Instead, it presents itself as an opaque concrete volume—discreetly carved with a west-facing aperture that allows natural light to gently filter through and animate the interior. This nuanced choreography of light and privacy extends into the garden: a lush outdoor retreat positioned at the intersection of two streets. Here, mature trees—some preserved, others newly planted—offer visual shelter from neighboring buildings, creating a space where residents can sit freely on garden steps, embraced by greenery and fresh air.
Inside, the ambiance shifts. Cool concrete gives way to a bright, white interior filled with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows and strategically placed skylights. At the heart of this double-height volume, a sculptural pink spiral staircase rises—serving not just as circulation, but as the emotional anchor of the home. Around it, each programmatic zone unfurls. From above, ribbon-like light fixtures in the same pink hue cascade delicately from the ceiling, infusing the space with a quiet sense of movement and visual balance. Spanning three levels, the house links its garden, living, and kitchen spaces through an open, continuous layout. During construction, the COMETA team carefully preserved existing fruit trees and introduced Mediterranean plantings that provide shade and enhance the microclimate during Athens’ intense summers.
Sustainability was integral to the renovation. A radiant floor heating and cooling system powered by air-source heat pumps, coupled with fan coil units, allows for efficient climate control and hot water generation. Solar and photovoltaic panels installed on the roof feed energy back into the municipal grid, making the house not only self-sufficient, but contributive. Through this thoughtful renovation and extension, COMETA ARCHITECTS have realized more than just a functional update—they have created a lasting synthesis of material, memory, and innovation. Casa D stands as a quiet but resolute example of how architecture can honor the past while embracing the future.
Principal Designer | Faidra Matziaraki, Victor Gonzalez Marti
Participate | Alavaro Portoles, Nicolas de Leon, Niki Chronopoulou
Character of Space | Residence
Floor Area | B1 (Existing) | 76 ㎡ / GF | 108 ㎡ / 1F | 60 ㎡
Site Area | 302 ㎡
Materials | Anti-seismic Steel Structure / Dry Block / Concrete Finish / Aluminum Profile
Location | Cholargos, Athens, Greece
