Parallos

PARALLOS |seaview residences

Within a stone’s throw from the seafront of Patras, a five-storey residential building is rising at the corner of Maizonos and Kapodistriou Streets. Its location is uniquely privileged; set opposite the “Agios Andreas” suburban rail station, it overlooks the open horizon, ensured by the area of the old train depot and the linear axis of the railway. This setting creates a direct visual connection with the Gulf of Patras. To fully embrace this advantage, all apartments are oriented parallel to the façade facing Maizonos Street, granting them panoramic and unobstructed views.

páralos, -on [< Ancient Gk. pará (“beside”) + háls (“sea”)] (adj.): situated near or by the sea

The design concept is born from a dynamic interplay of parallels: the paths of the railway lines, the industrial memory of the depot, and the line of the sea’s horizon. This condition is what gives the building its name and identity. PARALLOS translates these parallel lines into a clean, contemporary living space in constant dialogue with the city and the sea. The name therefore perfectly captures both the building’s defining location and its core design philosophy.

The main façade is shaped by a clean, geometric grid that brings a sense of rhythm and order to the structure. Its most striking morphological feature is the set of white architectural projections. These elements introduce a third dimension to the grid, acting as “frames” that capture the view while lending a dynamic character to the façade. The material palette blends earthy plaster tones with the purity of the white frames and the warmth of wood, which is the dominant material on the top floor. The fifth floor is recessed, creating a lighter upper volume for the building and affording expansive private terraces.

The building’s layout maximizes the benefits of its location, with all apartments on all five levels being dual-aspect. While appearing as a single volume, it functionally consists of three independent buildings on pilotis. Each building contains eight one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom penthouse. A fundamental design decision was to exclusively orient all daytime living areas (living room, kitchen) to the façade overlooking Maizonos Street. This strategy grants every single residence the privilege of the stunning sea view. The bedrooms, in contrast, are oriented towards the quiet inner courtyard. This ensures not only a dual panorama —of the blue horizon and the city’s pulse— but also ideal natural light and cross-ventilation throughout the day. The large openings and seamless flow to the outdoor balconies foster a sense of extroversion and constant connection with the seaside landscape, offering every resident the ultimate experience of living ‘paralos’ —by the sea.