Block722 creates a home in Athens where materiality, nature and calm coexist
In the leafy Athenian district of Papagou, architects Katja Margaritoglou and Sotiris Tsergas of Block722 have designed their own residence: the Lumen Residence. More than a refined duplex, it is an architectural expression of their lifestyle, their design values, and their idea of how contemporary living should feel — open, warm, grounded and deeply connected to its surroundings.
A duplex that lives like a house above the city
The 230 m² residence extends across two levels and feels more like a standalone home than an apartment.
The lower floor hosts the open-plan living, dining and kitchen area, along with two bedrooms.
The upper level forms a private retreat: the master suite, directly linked to a lush rooftop garden, pool deck and even a half basketball court.
Here, interior and exterior dissolve into one continuous experience — views of treetops and the Athens skyline create a sense of elevation without detachment.
Modern clarity, Mediterranean softness
The building takes cues from the International Style that shaped Papagou in the mid-20th century.
Yet Block722 softens the strict geometry with gentle curves, warm textures and abundant greenery.
The result is a home that feels both precise and human — minimal in form, but never cold.
Spaces shaped by everyday rhythms
The design evolved from observing how its inhabitants move through daily life.
Circulation, habits and use patterns informed the spatial flow.
The living areas are open, but not exposed; zoned by bespoke furniture and subtle transitions rather than walls.
On the upper level, the suite opens into a private world of light, water and greenery — a quiet refuge suspended above the neighbourhood.
Materiality as a foundation for calm
The palette is consciously warm and timeless: natural stone, wood, marble, textured plaster and oiled timber floors define the atmosphere.
These materials are tactile and honest, chosen not for spectacle but for longevity and emotional resonance.
They are meant to age gracefully, to develop patina, to record the life lived within these walls.
Light as a guiding element
True to its name, the Lumen Residence is shaped by the movement of light.
Generous openings allow the sun to animate the home throughout the day, casting shifting patterns and creating natural rhythms within the interior.
Morning softness, midday brightness, evening warmth — the architecture frames these transitions rather than resisting them.
Craft as identity
Much of the furniture and built-in elements were designed specifically for this home and crafted in collaboration with local artisans.
Tables, shelving, joinery, marble basins — many pieces are unique.
This handcrafted approach gives the residence a quiet individuality and links it to the culture of contemporary Greek craftsmanship.
A home that convinces through quiet presence
The Lumen Residence reflects the ethos of Block722: architecture that is not loud, but deeply felt.
It is functional without being rigid, elegant without excess, and grounded without losing its sense of openness.
A modern urban refuge that brings together light, materiality and nature in a way that lingers long after the first impression.
