10AM Lofts repurposes a warehouse as an event venue and penthouse of contrasts

Formerly a warehouse in the neighbourhood of Gazi in Athens, Greece, 10AM Lofts is a new venture that is part creative space and part residential building, accommodating an event venue, photography studios, offices, and guest suites as part of its multifaceted functionality. With a nearly five-decade long history, the six-storey structure underwent a thorough renovation and rebranding as part of a collaborative adaptive reuse intervention by Studio Andrew Trotter, Gavalas Ioannidou Architecture, and Eva Papadaki, the space’s founder. Now a 500 sqm home for all things creative, 10AM Lofts boasts a diverse program that merges the typologies of residential design and event space, yielding a result that can appeal to a broad range of users.

Under their scheme, the team of collaborators transformed the lower two floors into a flexible event venue. As part of the refurbishing, the floor finishing was gutted, however, the original concrete finishes dressing the structure’s walls were retained and channelled into the project's new industrial aesthetic. In this vein, the space has been moulded as a "brutalist concrete box” shaped by light and texture through a blend of concrete, glass, and steel. A black concrete floor was implemented in this section of the building, producing a muted juxtaposition between the light and dark concrete hues. The façade design of the structure features the new windows that have been incorporated into the walls, and a layer of glass blocks has been used to clad certain portions of the exterior wall.

Crossing over into the entry area, visitors will find a concrete spiral staircase leading to an office on the mezzanine floor. Minimalist in its expression, the spiral staircase’s run is enclosed by a slender metal handrail that winds around it like a black ribbon. Decorating the space is an array of antique wooden furniture that departs from the austere, neutral toned theme, alongside delicate curtains and sofas that complement it. The rear of this zone accommodates a kitchen, which is partly mobile and can be placed in front of the main counter for show cooking.

An airy and bright ambience pervades the ground floor and mezzanine, flooded with light through large windows and glass block walls in their enclosures. By contrast, the basement level of the venue is much darker and more mysterious, with light filtering in solely through cracks in the ceiling and the central patio. The effect generated by this mode of illumination is quite dramatic, a far cry from the soft tones of the level above it. Here, the industrial-style aesthetic is extended and modified to conform with the darker palette, as the raw concrete ceilings, beams, and walls define the space’s character. During the building’s makeover, the central patio was opened up to the basement by means of a sinuous staircase design constructed using corten steel. The entire space can easily be partitioned or used as a continuous event venue, lending itself well to a plethora of applications, such as those of a permanent gallery and showroom.

The two floors above host four loft spaces, of which two function as apartments while the remaining can be used as photo studios or a range of other purposes. Exposed concrete, wood panelling, terrazzo, and white-painted brick walls have been incorporated into each loft’s unique material palette, with the interior design emitting delicacy and elegance in each case. On the other hand, the two topmost levels are home to the penthouse. Split over the building’s fifth and sixth floors, it is a luxurious loft housing unit, affording serene views of the urban landscape of Athens through large windows. Lime plaster has been applied on the walls and ceilings to maintain the building’s rough yet refined appearance, creating a tranquil living experience in the centre of Athens.

On the lower floor of the penthouse, the large living and dining area features an armchair and sofa from Madrid-based brand by Blasco, placed along with an alabaster lamp by Barcelona-based designer Jordi Veciana, chairs designed by Charlotte Perriand, and lighting by Contain. Neighbouring this space, the kitchen has been designed with artisan-made fittings and finishes, which include taps by the brand VOLA, that operates out of Denmark.

A bathroom with a full wall of windows overlooking the Acropolis provides an experience like no other within the confines of this living unit. In addition, the upper level of the penthouse is home to the master bedroom and bath - both featuring expansive glass windows overlooking the cityscape of Athens. As in the case of the rest of the design, the warm tones of the lime plaster provide a counterpoint to the dark wood and stone furnishings and fittings.

Contrasts take precedence throughout the penthouse, which has been configured as an open space with a dark, earthy palette of colours, comprising dark wood furniture, black stone tiling on the floors, along with the bathroom fittings. In fact, they are a running theme throughout the entire project, which blends earthy tones and furniture with industrial materials and fixtures to produce a melting pot of influences and styles that honour the spirit of the industrial building's past while defining its look for the future.