Greek Out Over These Examples of Contemporary Commercial Architecture in Greece

Modern-day economic troubles notwithstanding, there’s no denying the architectural legacy of Greece. The Ancient Greeks’ ideas on proportion, scale, and order continue to influence many of the great architecture projects of the 20^th century. As design has evolved, so too has their response to landscape, environment, and public space. Even amongst the harsh conditions Greeks are facing today, commercial and public projects have emerged.

A collection of public and private projects, these seven designs showcase Greece’s approach to architecture across a variety of scales and locations. Whether they are spaces to learn, innovate, or experience, each design makes use of widely different material, formal, and spatial organizations. They respond to their contexts to different degrees, lightly floating above, resting upon, or evolving form their surroundings. While some of the projects embrace normative designs standards, other reinterpret them, creating a new architectural style that is simultaneously old and new. All the designs are unified in their investigation into contemporary ideas on Greek commercial and public space, each an exploration and physical realization of complex conditions.

Acropolis Museum by Bernard Tschumi Architects, Athens, Greece

Located in the historic of Makryianni district, the Acropolis Museum unites collections formerly dispersed in multiple institutions. The building lightly floats above an archeological excavation on the site while being within a short distance from the Acropolis itself. The collection is installed in chronological sequence, from pre-history through the late Roman period, experienced through an interior loop.

Onassis Cultural Centre by AS Architecture Studio, Athens, Greece

Wrapped in a monolithic screen façade, this cultural building in Athens combines an opera house, an amphitheater, a library, a restaurant, and an exhibition hall. The design includes open air seating and a hall-cinema, with 200 seats each.

White Noise / White Light by Höweler + Yoon Architecture, Athens, Greece

Comprised of a 50’ × 50’ fiber optic grid, “White Noise / White Light” was created for the 2004 Olympics in Athens. It was designed as a constantly changing and choreographed field in flux. The installation is activated by passerby, which thus creates an afterglow effect which follows users through the space. The result is a poetic and “unpredictable aggregation of movement, light, and sound.”

“Eight” office complex by PEOPLE, Marousi, Greece

Eight office complex was designed with a large, faceted and perforated white façade. The office building’s formal language stands in contrast to its surroundings, while the bottom floor opens up to circulation and passerby. Stark, minimal interiors make up the inside of the building; a clean, black-and-white space.

The Museum of the Environment by Demetrios Issaias & Tassis Papaioannou, Peloponnese, Greece

Displaying a variety of objects used in relationship to the landscape, the Museum of the Environment makes use of the context and materials. Built with local stone and simple, geometric lines, the museum allows visitors to circulate down and around the hillside. The building overlooks the valley and includes a variety of exterior spaces.

Placebo Pharmacy by klab architecture, Irakleia, Greece

Placebo Pharmacy was conceived as a spiral that touches on the rapid circulation along Vouliagmenis Avenue. The pharmacy includes a perforated façade, interior ramp, and radial pattern plan. Program is arranged off of the radial pattern and organizes a clear circulation while allowing light into the center of the building.

Aristotle University Research Dissemination Center by Polis s.a., Thessaloniki, Greece

The Aristotle University Research Dissemination Center is a large research facility completed in 2011. Located in the lively town of Thessaloniki, the building features a striking red façade that stands in contrast to its surroundings. This perforated façade becomes a monolithic and unifying element on one side of the design, and then it transforms into thin lines that become roof edges and exterior railing.

Municipal Building of Lambeia by daflos & panagouli architects [pan.da], Lampeia, Greece

A public building in Lambeia, this municipal building is based on the “informal” or sense of familiarity. Spaces were designed to be open and flexible, both structurally and programmatically, with minimal boundaries to allow for continuity between landscape and building while also carefully rethinking local material and construction techniques.

Author: Eric Baldwin

Based in New York City, Eric was trained in both architecture and communications. As Director of Communications at Sasaki, he has a background spanning media, academia, and practice. He's deeply committed to trying as many restaurants as possible in NYC.