History & Architecture of Astir Palace Resort

It is 1960 and "Astir Palace Resort" comprises Bungalows that accommodate guests who are looking for a quiet vacation. Its guests have their own meeting point if they wish to have a light meal or a cocktail with their friends. The "Club House" (today: "Matsuhisa Athens" restaurant) was the first club that satisfied the needs of Astir Palace's elite clientele and wrote the first pages of the resort's history.

As the Bungalows were in great demand, that lead to the 1965 addition of the hotel "Arion" (today: Arion, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa) that opened its doors in 1967. Arion Resort & Spa interior décor and its sweeping marble staircase - unique in a hotel lobby - became the talk of the town. In 1980, a second hotel was added, "Nafsika" (known today as "The Westin Athens") - a symbol of the architectural style of the 70's, which was still in fashion. "Aphrodite" (currently under construction to become a W hotel within 2013), the third and final addition to the complex, was built in 1984, featuring majestic views of the Aegean Sea.

Astir Palace Resort, however, had become a legend, long before that. Since the 1970's, being a guest at Astir Palace was considered a privilege. The most notable Athenian families chose to spend their holidays there. Local and international artists and politicians made it a point to pay a visit every year. The lavish receptions hosted by the hotel became an established summer tradition.

The Bungalows and Arion Resort & Spa hosted the most high-standing guests. The Westin Athens (former "Nafsika") was ideal for fans of an intense social life, whilst "Aphrodite" was more of a family hotel.

Many show-biz celebrities, politicians, and businesspeople - everybody who's anybody - have spent their summer vacations here over the years. From Melina Merkouri and Jane Fonda to Tolis Voskopoulos and Frank Sinatra; and from princess Soraya and Jackie Onassis to Konstantinos Karamanlis and Tony Blair, they have all spent some time here and recorded heartfelt remarks in the guest's book.

Arion Resort & Spa:

Since 1967, when Arion Resort & Spa opened its doors, its glamour and international acclaim have remained the same over the years. The complex was renovated in 2004 according to the latest trends in architecture and interior decoration. The architectural design was done by the P. Masourides company and the interior design by Hirsch Bedner Associates. The legendary first hotel of the Astir Palace Complex, entered a new era. Maintaining its classical style, it is the epitome of discrete elegance. Its enchanting view never ceases to captivate guests. Arion remains by far the VIP's preferred hotel.

Stepping in Arion's Lobby and Lounge, guests are dazzled by the crystal chandelier that adorns the ceiling prompting them to discover the rest of the hotel's treasures. The split level of the Lobby area, an effective architectural device, remain the same after the renovation. The soft ivory shades of the décor create a pleasant setting that makes even the dark wooden bar seem lightweight. The atmosphere becomes even more enchanting as the lights dim, the piano plays in the background and the round, crystal chandeliers seem to be floating on air...

The Westin Athens:

Impressive, cut into the rock in a unique landscape, the Westin Athens (formerly known as "Nafsika") has been named after fair Nafsika for good reason. The princess, cited in the Odyssey, was renowned for her beauty and hospitality, just as Astir Palace resort is. Renovated by internationally acclaimed architects and interior designers, the hotel has kept the minimalist style of the 70's, enhanced to the maximum to bring out the establishment's luxurious modern profile. Nafsika is the preferred choice for those seeking the ultimate vacation experience, but also for professionals looking for an impeccable conference setting year round, where everything is taken care of with meticulous attention.

Architectural masterpieces

The Astir Palace main gate entrance

During its recent phase of renovation (2008), a new entrance gate was designed as well as upgrading the entrance of the Westin Athens hotel (the Canopy). In both cases the architects designed an interface.

The Gate is a border designed to allow space to pass through and dissolve. An existing huge ficus tree on site defined a point of reference. Two inlets in mild curves, one transparent, the other opaque, fluid space, vertical metal grids, a continous curve that unfolds in order to enclose, to create the in-between, to accept the natural. Steel structure painted white, transparent and semi-transparent glass, white matte marble on the floor.

The Westin Athens canopy

A series of undulating white metal vertical grids placed around the air-conditioning ducts on the roof offered an interesting interplay with semi-transparency and light. The curved form of the canopy extends on the two sides to create a sense of enclosure. The white collumns introduce strong verticality.

The shops: white matte marble ‘boxes' inserted into the slope. Round skylights penetrate the canopy. An artificial landscape of white marble and olive trees.

The two projects are hybrids. They were born on the common ground of what exists with that that is emerging. They were born through an osmosis between the interiority, that gives each one its individuality, and the exteriority, be it landscape, architecture, programme, image, or nature, that connects it with everything else.

Design: 2006-2007
Construction: 2008
Architects: Rena Sakellaridou, Morpho Papanikolaou
Collaborators:I.Kloni, N.Katsikis, G.Anagnostelis, G.Adhlenidou