contemporary art gallery Melas Martinos
Lying at the foot of the Acropolis within the historical heart of Athens, Local Local has unveiled a new modern art gallery in the vibrant neighbourhood of Monastiraki.
Melas Martinos sits within a diverse and layered urban landscape: densely built mid-century concrete buildings and neoclassical townhouses intermingle with archaeological sites that reveal the city’s ancient history.
Located in the centre of Monastiraki with unobstructed views of the Acropolis, the early 20th-century building had been used as an antiques shop belonging to the client’s family for over a century. In recent years, the family began using part of the building as a small gallery space which organically evolved into their vision to transform the building into an interconnected, multi-level venue for exhibiting contemporary art.
Local Local’s gentle transformation of the upper floors was developed through a close dialogue with the client and carefully preserves the building’s character, respecting its history and urban context. The architects have created a bright and airy backdrop that is neutral enough to effortlessly accommodate the artworks on display, leaving space for the family to display their antiques in between shows and exhibitions.
Structural interventions included the removal of several arbitrary walls that divided the second floor, now housing two well-proportioned exhibition spaces. The badly damaged floor was replaced with timber flooring painted in a light grey, the same finish has been applied above.
Above the building’s iconic red filled arches, gridded windows with grey shutters stretch the length of one, looking directly towards the Parthenon and Acropolis hill. Previously blocked by vents, visitors can now access a generous shaded balcony that wraps gently around the side of the building.
A terrazzo floor composed of white stones and red binder has been used for both the balconies, located on the second and third floors. Laid by a local craftsman, one of few in the area still using the traditional technique, its reddish finish references the traditional tiled roofs in the neighbourhood.
