The project, however, is more than a refined exercise in residential design. It is also the personal sanctuary of the studio’s founders, architect Sotiris Tsergas and interior designer Katja Margaritoglou, together with their family of four. Perched on the top two floors of a newly constructed building along a quiet, leafy street in Papagou, the duplex transcends the notion of an apartment – it is a “forever” home, conceived to evolve with its inhabitants.

From the outset, the designers pursued a clear set of ambitions: the home had to be imbued with personality, intimacy, and a site-specific character, reflecting the values of their studio. Above all, it needed to remain in Papagou, the neighborhood they already called home. Their search led them to a sun-drenched corner plot adjacent to a small woodland. Collaborating with Thekla Construction, responsible for building and developing the project, Block722 envisioned a boutique complex of five apartments, reserving the top two floors for themselves.

The building asserts itself with confident geometry, a nod to Papagou’s Golden Age and the International Style that shaped much of Athens’ twentieth-century urban development. Yet the forms are softened: gentle curves, timber details, and lush Mediterranean planting introduce an organic dimension that allows twenty-first-century aesthetics to emerge. 

Inside, every detail was meticulously curated, from spatial layout and art placement to built-in and bespoke furniture, much of it designed by the studio itself. The family’s daily routines were extensively analyzed to ensure the home fit their lifestyle like a glove. The 230-square-meter residence unfolds across two levels: the lower floor houses two bedrooms and a flowing living area, organized into discrete zones through furniture and light partitions, with a kitchen designed for entertaining. Upstairs, the primary suite opens onto a planted roof terrace with a swimming pool, deck, and half-size basketball court – an experience more akin to a skyborne single-family home than a traditional apartment.

Wellness and biophilic design are central to the home’s concept: natural, tactile materials such as marble, timber, travertino rosso, and ceramic define the interiors, while generous openings frame constant glimpses of greenery. Each room interacts with sunlight, attuned to the daily rhythm of life and the body’s circadian cycle. Surfaces age gracefully, celebrating patina and imperfection, amplifying the project’s character and the artisanal craftsmanship woven throughout.

Lumen Residence emerges as both a case study in urban living and a lived-in sanctuary – a place where daily life intertwines with context, nature, and the passage of time. The home is not merely inhabited; it is profoundly experienced. Through this project, Block722 demonstrates its ethos: prioritizing emotion, connection, and memory, transforming domestic architecture into an intimate, timeless narrative.