48 Hours at 10AM Penthouse: Fragment of an Experience

The night is distinct in its stormy insistence. The glass partitions before the bathtub are retracted. Immersed in the water, I observe the intervals of neon signs, traffic lights, mountains that frame the hill of Acropolis. A triangular void separates the bathroom from the living room, adding further dimensions to the view. A passage I particularly enjoy crossing leads to the living room and its extended terrace: Athens, from east to west; the neighbourhood of Gazi is reflected across several layers.

The penthouse is situated on a former warehouse that hosts 10AM. The project is defined by an intentional, unrefined minimalism, true to the heritage and identity of the site, and its context. Respect lies not only in the recycled structure. There is empathy for the location that lends the project an exceptional depth. The venue is an ongoing project, that began as a creative agency, extended to lofts, and has been complemented by its apotheke of curated goods and a recently opened bakery.

 

In the project lingers a sensibility that feels familiar. I recognise that in the rough simplicity of the surfaces, in the unpolished honesty of materials, in the scent of mountain herbs that fill the apartment, and the apotheke downstairs. Interactions that recall the country’s deeper heritage; the clarity of its sunlight, the austerity of its stone, the tactile presence of its ruins, sculptures, and vessels. Recurring images that engage all the senses: in a contemporary form of objects, spaces, and rituals, that introduces an aesthetic rooted in affection. It’s a recognition that the creative interpretation of tradition can restore culture.

From this height Gazi appears deceptively resolved. Yet the district carries the contradictions Athens has rehearsed for decades; the persistence of weathered structures, the improvisation of life, and the desire to revive. The view is a reminder that Athens renews itself through its fragments. The narrative of reuse is here a necessity, for a city of crisis-driven improvisation.

By morning, the view is intact. The sunrise is revealing the textures of the washed walls and dark stone tiles, bringing the transparency of the spacious layout to a grounded sensuous rest. While traversing through the curved staircase from bedroom to the living room below, I encounter every detail, particular to the space it occupies. The sunlight shifts and emphasises visual sequences, subtle intersections, and the interior’s warmth.

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10AM is founded by Eva Papadaki, who collaborated with Gavalas Ioannidou Architects and Studio Andrew Trotter to refurbish a 1970s industrial building in Gazi, Athens,  transforming it into 1OAM Lofts, Penthouse, and Apotheke. The project is complemented by a 500sqm venue, designed to host a diverse and evolving programme.

Photography: Salva Lopez