View of the Acropolis atop a rocky hill, with the Parthenon temple visible, overlooking a neighborhood with residential buildings and greenery under a blue sky.

an athenian adventure

Entry Date
4 February 2026

Image credits
San Stae
The Dolli Hotel


Athens has a way of announcing itself. It doesn’t whisper its history or politely contain its culture; it allows it to spill into the streets, the food, the buildings and the light. The city itself is a lesson in intent: lined with orange trees and planned like a sundial, with the Parthenon crowning the Acropolis and carefully revealed at the end of streets, it anchors movement, orientation and meaning. This research trip was about immersion - stepping into spaces that understand impact, narrative and a deep respect for place.

Arrival with Intent: The Dolli Hotel
The Dolli Hotel became the anchor of the trip and a destination in its own right. Voted Best Hotel in Greece 2024 by Condé Nast Traveller, and recognised among the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels, it was also awarded the Prix Versailles Special Prize for an Exterior making it the first and only hotel in Greece to receive this distinction. More than accolades, the hotel is a masterclass in creating a powerful sense of arrival.

Originally designed in the 1920s by Greek architect Andreas Kriezis - later responsible for converting the Royal Palace into the Hellenic Parliament, the building blends eclecticism and neoclassicism, carrying a rich architectural legacy. Today, that history is handled with confidence and restraint: double-height ceilings lift the gaze, arches frame movement, and contemporary Greek artworks are placed with intent. Nothing feels excessive, yet everything feels deliberate.

The Dolli unveils its newest avant-garde addition and “opens her eyes”: a fresh gaze on Athens, blending surrealism with everyday experience. It invites guests to shift perspective, encounter the unexpected, and experience the wow - a hotel to live, not just visit.

What stood out most was how artwork is allowed to lead. Rather than acting as decoration, it shapes how you move, pause and absorb the space. This approach has directly influenced our thinking on amenity spaces for our Paper Yard project, a 77-apartment development in Birmingham’s Gun Quarter. The Dolli demonstrates that impact comes from proportion, clarity and cultural confidence - setting a tone through architecture, art and narrative working in harmony.

Living the Brand: Ergon House
Ergon House offered a shift in energy - vibrant, grounded and deeply rooted in everyday ritual. Part bakery, deli, restaurant and hotel, it seamlessly blends hospitality, retail and lifestyle. The palette is honest and material-led, branding is integrated rather than applied, and wayfinding signage feels intuitive and playful.

What Ergon does brilliantly is create a lived brand experience. It feels local, contemporary and culturally proud - a reminder that strong design doesn’t shout; it invites.

Lessons in Display: The Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum offered a different but equally valuable perspective. Designed by Bernard Tschumi in collaboration with Greek architect Michael Photiades and opened in 2009, the museum sits at the foot of the Acropolis in Makrygianni, deliberately aligning contemporary architecture with ancient context.

Artefacts are displayed dynamically, discovered from multiple angles, and lit with remarkable sensitivity. Ancient objects sit within a modern architectural framework that enhances rather than competes with them allowing history to remain present and alive.

Championing Culture
Taken together, the trip reinforced the importance of designing spaces rooted in place, craft and narrative. Athens shows how orientation, symbolism and cultural confidence can shape how a city, and a space, is experienced. We return with a renewed commitment to creating meaningful arrivals, authentic brand-led spaces and thoughtful storytelling in our work. Athens doesn’t just leave an impression, it leaves a way of thinking.

Exterior of a hotel with large gold sculptures of eyes on either side of the entrance, palm trees, and classical architectural details.
Elegant interior of a building with large windows, indoor plants, and artistic decor including a silver sculpture and a gold abstract lamp.
A bronze sculpture of a standing man with a globe on his shoulders, placed on a pedestal near a mirror and houseplants in a warmly lit room.
A rooftop pool area with black and white striped umbrellas, outdoor dining tables with chairs, and a view of ancient ruins and greenery in the background.
People standing in line outside a bakery storefront on a city street with yellow buildings and balconies, and a blue parking sign.
Pastries and baked goods displayed in a bakery window, with handwritten labels for various breads and pies, and city buildings reflected in the glass.
A bedroom with a wooden four-poster bed, white bedding, and sheer curtains on large windows.
Black metal gate with decorative vertical bars and circular cutouts, closed in front of a staircase with a metal railing, beige tile floor, and white wall background.
A dimly lit restaurant table set with pink plates, stainless steel utensils, upside-down drinking glasses on white napkins, and metallic table lamps.
Outdoor restaurant patio with tables set with plates, glasses, and utensils, enclosed by glass walls and decorated with greenery, under a red and white striped awning.
A modern building with wood paneling, surrounded by leafless trees and a paved walkway, under a blue sky with some clouds.
People viewing ancient Greek sculptures and artifacts in a museum hall with large stone columns.
Archaeological site with stone ruins and modern concrete infrastructure, under a bridge or overpass.
A bust sculpture of a man on a transparent stand inside a modern building with large glass windows, concrete columns, and benches.
A colorful house with a pink exterior, blue door and window shutters, a small balcony with ornate black railing, and a balcony light fixture. There is a green tree with orange fruits to the left and a potted plant in the foreground. The sky is blue with a few clouds.
A tabby and white cat with piercing blue eyes sitting on a gray surface, partially obscured by dense green leafy branches of a plant.
Small stone chapel with wooden door, red tile roof, and a small window at the front, surrounded by potted plants, scooter, and city street with modern buildings and a yellow car in the background.
A vintage brown car parked on a street with a large orange tree overhead. Orange fruits are hanging from the tree and some are on the ground near the car. The building behind has a yellow and orange painted wall, with a staircase leading to a door and a small balcony with a railing.
The image shows a small outdoor area with green plants, including cactus, in a plaza. There is a tile floor, a drain, and a white modern building with a balcony. In the background, a street and disturbing graffiti art on a wall are visible under a cloudy sky.
A white seahorse sculpture made of paper or similar material attached to a beige wall next to a closed window with roller shutter, on a street sidewalk with a metal bollard in the foreground.