Fresh Hotel in Athens has debuted a fresh new look, courtesy of Italian interior designer Paola Navone and her studio Otto. Connecting its original modernist building with a neighbouring neoclassical structure, the hotel now opens onto a historic boulevard, with a new restaurant, roof terrace, and 15 additional guestrooms.
The property has been transformed into a microcosm of the city beyond, where contradictions are points of celebration. Finding inspiration in the lively street it now faces, the hotel brings together seemingly disparate architectural and design choices, mixing modernism with neoclassicism, nostalgia with avant-garde designs.
To simultaneously renovate and honour the building, the neoclassical façades facing Athinas Street and the adjacent Sofokleous Street have been meticulously restored. Outside, preserved original features include double-height archways, window joineries and balcony balustrades, while the interiors have been rebuilt, with the introduction of a new mezzanine level and two additional floors in the form of a glass box atop the original structure.
Inside, the two structures are united – conceptually and aesthetically – through Paola Navone’s design language, which is rooted in the mixture of modernist, neoclassical and folkloric elements. Modernist-inspired sofas, chairs, consoles and display cases are in dialogue with neoclassical sculptural marble tables and double-arm wall sconces. Meanwhile, playful takes on folkloric pieces include Buffet de Granny lamps made from recycled glass and wall-mounted installations of hand-painted ceramic plates.
In guestrooms, ceramic and marble tiles have been designed by Navone, complemented by a vibrant palette of blue hues and a range of graphic patterns. Upholstery, handmade kourelou rugs and wallpaper make bold statements through stripes, checkers, polka dots and abstract forms.
