The site owned by DIOLKOS URBAN DEVELOPMENT SA occupies a strategic position in the Northern suburb of Athens, near a crossroads where the National Road Athens-Salonika crosses Kimis Avenue. Thus, one of the most important elements of the design is the oblique wall of the southeastern side, the first part of the complex visible when coming from the highway.
The three-story office building with underground parking is taking advantage of the momentum acquired when the permissible zoning changed from industrial to offices.
The basement consists of parking spaces for 104 cars which operate in a fluent one-way flow of cars and mechanical utilities.
The entrance of the complex is centrally located, and clearly marked by a glass canopy over the ground floor and an “L” shaped metal cornice at the top. The visitors are guided through a welcoming lobby, with natural light from above, to the reception area and the central staircase core with elevators.
The rest of the ground floor and the 2 upper floors of the building are entirely dedicated to the office units. In order to minimize the circulation areas and to enhance flexibility, the office spaces are conceived in an open space scheme.
The landscaped roof provides an important thermal insulation element, while the generous terrace at the second level offers, through the combination between vegetation and water features, an excellent recreation area for the whole complex. Alongside with the green roof and the favorable orientation of the plot, a careful energy study led to the use of horizontal sunshade and the alternation of the stone cladding with glass surfaces, enabling a total decrease of the energy consumption by 51%.
The main objective of the design was to pull together all these environmental concerns with the aim of the efficient use of land, in a unitary whole that creates a strong and personalized design.