On 27 March 2023, ULI Greece & Cyprus held a site tour and presentation of the One & Only Aesthesis Resort.

Located at the former Asteria Glyfadas, One & Only Aesthesis Athens had to carry on the legacy of one of the most iconic leisure destinations of the Athenian Riviera in the 60s. Spread on a site of 28 hectares, which has been transformed into a mediterranean garden of 400,000 new plants, the new hospitality development lives up to expectations. During our site visit we had the opportunity to hear from both Grivalia Hospitality team and the amazing design team of A.U.D.O., a6Architects and K-STUDIO, about the challenges they faced and their shared ambition to create a destination with a unique identity.

Embedding the structures in the landscape in order to echo the architecture of the original facilities was one of the main goals of the design team. Facing strict regulations that did not allow them to go beyond existing building outlines, they managed to create a distinct hospitality product where each room extends beyond the enclosed area into a private outdoor area, blurring the limits between inside and outside, and offering the experience of living in a garden.

The new development is certified with LEED Silver and the project team proudly shared details about their efforts for sustainable design, which included the reuse of onsite materials, like stone from the old structures, and a successful quest to a quarry that could provide additional similar stone. Most of the materials used were local, while the project boasts an extended use of timber structures.

During our tour we had the opportunity to get a first-hand experience of Villa One, the biggest key of the development, the bungalows, as well as the spa. We wish to express our warmest gratitude to Grivalia Hospitality and the design team for making this event a truly memorable experience.