Blend acquired a 9-storey building downtown Athens (Omonia sq.) well located in the commercial triangle and on the historical street of Stadiou, whose original purpose was to connect central Athens to the ancient Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro). It was built in 1960, in the location of the famous ‘Megaron Balanou’, which housed some of the most important Athenian hotels of the 19th century. In 1979, it was characterized as a ‘traditional part of the city of Athens’ by government decree.
Underway development includes full refurbishment and upgrade to a 130 key 4-star hotel to be operated by Bob W, a leading short stay apartment brand, turning it to a contemporary, green, urban hub with simplicity, character and laid-back luxury. Design wise, the building will be a revival of timeless urban elegance of the mid-century, infused with contemporary Greek design elements as well as green building design and certification.