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UPTO35-UHV – URBAN HEAL VIRUS
UPTO35-UHV – URBAN HEAL VIRUS
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UPTO35-UHV – URBAN HEAL VIRUS
Welcome to
the “Urban Heal Virus” project! The “Urban Heal Virus” is a
student housing project taking place at the district of Metaxourgeion, in the
center of the city of Athens.
THE CONTEXT
The area is significant for its historic
references with several underlying layers of urban history, but also for its
diversity and controversy of its social, economic, and urban composition. It
accumulates many of the typical urban problems that modern Greek downtown areas
are facing, as well as issues of deterioration, abandonment, aging population,
lack of investment, and even social phenomena of ghettoization. Its diversity
also includes a significant mix of architectural styles and ages, but also land
uses. In most cases uses are competing and incompatible with the district’s
location within the central area of Athens
and its overall characteristics. Gradually Metaxourgeion has lost its sense of
place…
At the same time these same problems and
issues provide great opportunities of reinvestment and redevelopment.
Redevelopment efforts should aim to the improvement of the area’s historical
character and its adaptation to the heart of a modern Greek capital, as well as
high standards of living quality that would integrate a creative mix of activities,
people, incomes, and ages. These have been our main goals for the creation of a
new housing model dedicated to host student needs and activities.
CONCEPT AND
DESIGN
Our project is one of controversy
itself; although it is articulated as a Virus that has the ability to spread
and adjust in any condition, it can also Heal
many of the foresaid issues. With a high level of adjustment, our Virus can
well “hide” in the narrow, rectangular-shaped vacant lots of the project area.
It consists of two “particles” – distinct building volumes, 3-4 meters wide but of
different length, divided by a “nucleus” – a transparent horizontal light well
which comprises the connecting element among these two particles. The latter is
the main circulation body and natural ventilation element. The Virus can fit in
different “bodies” – lots; its building program allows it to stretch relatively
to the lot’s dimensions in both directions. When the lot’s width exceeds 10 meters, the Virus
splits and regenerates itself with one more “particle” to fill the lot’s width.
As you can see, the Virus is pretty flexible and tolerates any conditions…
The idea of this particular Virus simply
derived from the urban fabric; the analysis of the urban grid, with a predominant
repetition of a simple grid interrupted and distorted by streets and blocks of
different angles and sizes, led us to a pattern which was applied to shape the
UHV. The pattern comprises of square and rectangular shapes and it spreads in
all three dimensions of the Virus; it shapes its floor plan and its façades, as
well as the façade itself, with specific extrusions and recessions.
The shape of the Virus and its
repetition among the vacant lots forms a unified building complex,
distinguished from the typical repetition of building facades along Greek
streets. The different length of the Virus’ “particles” creates open, shaded
spaces along the street and ultimately a yard where young students can get
together and hang out. The “nucleus” are side-to-side corridors which also
function as light wells; it connects the front yard with the backyard on the
street level and front with rear balconies on each floor. These features
together provide the sense of transparency, easy flow and circulation, as well
as a sense of commune where students and their apartments are not isolated, but
students are rather encouraged to meet and share different spaces of the
building, paired with the attributes of contemporary living.
The design of this model of student
housing, aims to provide comfort, brightness and functionality. It represents a
strong difference than the typical Greek housing model which rather promotes
privacy within isolated residential “cells”. Our model promotes interaction and
combines both privacy to accommodate the students’ obligations, and interaction
among students with common and semi-private spaces throughout the entire
building, not only confined in a specific area.
GREEN BUILDING DESIGN
In terms of ventilation, shading, heating, cooling, and the overall
ecological footprint, the UHV fulfils many of the green building design
principles. As mentioned, the horizontal lightwell, combined with a vertical
well at the corridors’ edge, function as a solar chimney allowing warm air from
all levels to escape through the roof perforations. This way air circulates
both horizontally, through numerous openings, and vertically, through the
chimney, providing natural ventilation for the building.
In addition, most surface of the facades, both front and rear, as
covered with shading metal panels following the foresaid pattern. They have the
flexibility to fold on the side and they function as a shading mean of the
balconies or they are directly applied very close to the glass facades where
balconies do not exist. The glass facades are divided into several glass panels
and openings where the lower and upper part can remain open to allow the air
circulation and the solar chimney effect to take place.
Finally, large solar panels are located on the terrace to increase
energy saving. Solar panels will provide with enough energy to lighten the
common spaces of the building and supply with warm water. Besides, most part of
the terrace is covered by vegetation, creating a green roof that will function
both as a rest area and as an insulation layer for the building. Overall the
building can achieve a low energy cost with plenty of shading and natural
ventilation. This housing model aims to create a healthy and friendly
environment for its residents which is necessary for the purpose of their stay.
MATERIALS
Building materials where selected in a
way to reduce the building cost, without degrading the quality of the design or
increasing the building’s ecological footprint. Concrete, insulated exterior
walls might be the only exception of the low-cost goal of the project, but
their total surface is not that much; large part of the exterior is covered
either by shading or glass panels as well. The side of the long “particle” is
cut by slits into the concrete wall to provide enough natural light for
interiors that are not facing the front or the rear of the building. Ultimately,
the exterior and the building’s silhouette changes constantly as you move
around its concrete, glass, and metal facades.
The interior is a modern application of
the old loft concept; exposed concrete ceilings and walls, electrical and
mechanical ductwork and other industrial finishes along with innovative low
energy strategies mentioned before.The
material used for flooring is simply one, the industrial epoxy flooring. It is
a low-cost material that allows both heavy-duty use, visual appeal, and
requires less maintenance. Interior space is divided by dry walls. The open
space on the street level, both front and rear, follows the foresaid pattern
with patches of greenery, industrial floor, and gravel.
BUILDING
PROGRAM
The UHV building is articulated by three
floors plus one in recess. Each floor has different height to allow the construction
of light, wooden mezzanines for placing beds and occasionally a desk. The
ground floor is 4,85m high (net) with a mezzanine of 2,25m high and a floor
area of 124,86 m2.The
first floor is 2,90m high (net) with a floor area of 123,43 m2 and the second floor has same
specifications with the ground floor and a floor area of 119,32 m2. The
third floor in recess is of same height with the first and with a floor area of
80,48 m2.
The building program of the UHV
comprises of a variety of apartments; studios, one bedroom, two bedroom
apartments, or three bedroom apartments, articulated in a single level or two
levels, including a mezzanine. 18 students are hosted in the following
apartment types:
-
8 studios
-
3 one-bedroom apartments
-
2 two-bedroom apartments
-
1 three-bedroom apartment
Mezzanines are occasionally utilized for
each of the above categories. Each apartment can use a storage space at the
basement, as well as the laundry and drier room. As foresaid, in some cases
apartments share a balcony or a semi-covered space which still does not
interrupt each one’s privacy, but on the contrary it encourages the sense of
commune. For the same purpose a common space is proposed on the ground level;
it is a study or meeting room and occasionally is it flexible enough to host an
event or a party by folding the light panel walls beside the entrance on the
side and opening up the room’s glass façade. Along with the open space on the
street level, they comprise a large common space that promotes the co-existence
of students, their interaction, and creativeness. The green roof can work in
the same way, as an open-air rest or study area. Yet, the backyard is another
utilized open space, unlike the typical Greek housing model; it hosts bike
racks for each student and besides it can be combined with the backyards of the
neighbouring buildings of the same Virus and create a large, lively open space
for all students living in UHVs, making the single commune of a single UHV a
large commune for all UHVs.
Overall, the UHV, unlike common practice
in Greece,
is an open and friendly building, playful and surprising, promoting creativity,
interaction and sharing of lifestyles within a lively space. It is a Virus,
“programmed” to Heal, not to infect!
Design Team
-
FORMS TEAM
Angelos Kyrialanis
– Architect & Team Leader
-
Yannis Trichopoulos – Assistant Architect
& Urban Planner
the “Urban Heal Virus” project! The “Urban Heal Virus” is a
student housing project taking place at the district of Metaxourgeion, in the
center of the city of Athens.
THE CONTEXT
The area is significant for its historic
references with several underlying layers of urban history, but also for its
diversity and controversy of its social, economic, and urban composition. It
accumulates many of the typical urban problems that modern Greek downtown areas
are facing, as well as issues of deterioration, abandonment, aging population,
lack of investment, and even social phenomena of ghettoization. Its diversity
also includes a significant mix of architectural styles and ages, but also land
uses. In most cases uses are competing and incompatible with the district’s
location within the central area of Athens
and its overall characteristics. Gradually Metaxourgeion has lost its sense of
place…
At the same time these same problems and
issues provide great opportunities of reinvestment and redevelopment.
Redevelopment efforts should aim to the improvement of the area’s historical
character and its adaptation to the heart of a modern Greek capital, as well as
high standards of living quality that would integrate a creative mix of activities,
people, incomes, and ages. These have been our main goals for the creation of a
new housing model dedicated to host student needs and activities.
CONCEPT AND
DESIGN
Our project is one of controversy
itself; although it is articulated as a Virus that has the ability to spread
and adjust in any condition, it can also Heal
many of the foresaid issues. With a high level of adjustment, our Virus can
well “hide” in the narrow, rectangular-shaped vacant lots of the project area.
It consists of two “particles” – distinct building volumes, 3-4 meters wide but of
different length, divided by a “nucleus” – a transparent horizontal light well
which comprises the connecting element among these two particles. The latter is
the main circulation body and natural ventilation element. The Virus can fit in
different “bodies” – lots; its building program allows it to stretch relatively
to the lot’s dimensions in both directions. When the lot’s width exceeds 10 meters, the Virus
splits and regenerates itself with one more “particle” to fill the lot’s width.
As you can see, the Virus is pretty flexible and tolerates any conditions…
The idea of this particular Virus simply
derived from the urban fabric; the analysis of the urban grid, with a predominant
repetition of a simple grid interrupted and distorted by streets and blocks of
different angles and sizes, led us to a pattern which was applied to shape the
UHV. The pattern comprises of square and rectangular shapes and it spreads in
all three dimensions of the Virus; it shapes its floor plan and its façades, as
well as the façade itself, with specific extrusions and recessions.
The shape of the Virus and its
repetition among the vacant lots forms a unified building complex,
distinguished from the typical repetition of building facades along Greek
streets. The different length of the Virus’ “particles” creates open, shaded
spaces along the street and ultimately a yard where young students can get
together and hang out. The “nucleus” are side-to-side corridors which also
function as light wells; it connects the front yard with the backyard on the
street level and front with rear balconies on each floor. These features
together provide the sense of transparency, easy flow and circulation, as well
as a sense of commune where students and their apartments are not isolated, but
students are rather encouraged to meet and share different spaces of the
building, paired with the attributes of contemporary living.
The design of this model of student
housing, aims to provide comfort, brightness and functionality. It represents a
strong difference than the typical Greek housing model which rather promotes
privacy within isolated residential “cells”. Our model promotes interaction and
combines both privacy to accommodate the students’ obligations, and interaction
among students with common and semi-private spaces throughout the entire
building, not only confined in a specific area.
GREEN BUILDING DESIGN
In terms of ventilation, shading, heating, cooling, and the overall
ecological footprint, the UHV fulfils many of the green building design
principles. As mentioned, the horizontal lightwell, combined with a vertical
well at the corridors’ edge, function as a solar chimney allowing warm air from
all levels to escape through the roof perforations. This way air circulates
both horizontally, through numerous openings, and vertically, through the
chimney, providing natural ventilation for the building.
In addition, most surface of the facades, both front and rear, as
covered with shading metal panels following the foresaid pattern. They have the
flexibility to fold on the side and they function as a shading mean of the
balconies or they are directly applied very close to the glass facades where
balconies do not exist. The glass facades are divided into several glass panels
and openings where the lower and upper part can remain open to allow the air
circulation and the solar chimney effect to take place.
Finally, large solar panels are located on the terrace to increase
energy saving. Solar panels will provide with enough energy to lighten the
common spaces of the building and supply with warm water. Besides, most part of
the terrace is covered by vegetation, creating a green roof that will function
both as a rest area and as an insulation layer for the building. Overall the
building can achieve a low energy cost with plenty of shading and natural
ventilation. This housing model aims to create a healthy and friendly
environment for its residents which is necessary for the purpose of their stay.
MATERIALS
Building materials where selected in a
way to reduce the building cost, without degrading the quality of the design or
increasing the building’s ecological footprint. Concrete, insulated exterior
walls might be the only exception of the low-cost goal of the project, but
their total surface is not that much; large part of the exterior is covered
either by shading or glass panels as well. The side of the long “particle” is
cut by slits into the concrete wall to provide enough natural light for
interiors that are not facing the front or the rear of the building. Ultimately,
the exterior and the building’s silhouette changes constantly as you move
around its concrete, glass, and metal facades.
The interior is a modern application of
the old loft concept; exposed concrete ceilings and walls, electrical and
mechanical ductwork and other industrial finishes along with innovative low
energy strategies mentioned before.The
material used for flooring is simply one, the industrial epoxy flooring. It is
a low-cost material that allows both heavy-duty use, visual appeal, and
requires less maintenance. Interior space is divided by dry walls. The open
space on the street level, both front and rear, follows the foresaid pattern
with patches of greenery, industrial floor, and gravel.
BUILDING
PROGRAM
The UHV building is articulated by three
floors plus one in recess. Each floor has different height to allow the construction
of light, wooden mezzanines for placing beds and occasionally a desk. The
ground floor is 4,85m high (net) with a mezzanine of 2,25m high and a floor
area of 124,86 m2.The
first floor is 2,90m high (net) with a floor area of 123,43 m2 and the second floor has same
specifications with the ground floor and a floor area of 119,32 m2. The
third floor in recess is of same height with the first and with a floor area of
80,48 m2.
The building program of the UHV
comprises of a variety of apartments; studios, one bedroom, two bedroom
apartments, or three bedroom apartments, articulated in a single level or two
levels, including a mezzanine. 18 students are hosted in the following
apartment types:
-
8 studios
-
3 one-bedroom apartments
-
2 two-bedroom apartments
-
1 three-bedroom apartment
Mezzanines are occasionally utilized for
each of the above categories. Each apartment can use a storage space at the
basement, as well as the laundry and drier room. As foresaid, in some cases
apartments share a balcony or a semi-covered space which still does not
interrupt each one’s privacy, but on the contrary it encourages the sense of
commune. For the same purpose a common space is proposed on the ground level;
it is a study or meeting room and occasionally is it flexible enough to host an
event or a party by folding the light panel walls beside the entrance on the
side and opening up the room’s glass façade. Along with the open space on the
street level, they comprise a large common space that promotes the co-existence
of students, their interaction, and creativeness. The green roof can work in
the same way, as an open-air rest or study area. Yet, the backyard is another
utilized open space, unlike the typical Greek housing model; it hosts bike
racks for each student and besides it can be combined with the backyards of the
neighbouring buildings of the same Virus and create a large, lively open space
for all students living in UHVs, making the single commune of a single UHV a
large commune for all UHVs.
Overall, the UHV, unlike common practice
in Greece,
is an open and friendly building, playful and surprising, promoting creativity,
interaction and sharing of lifestyles within a lively space. It is a Virus,
“programmed” to Heal, not to infect!
Design Team
-
FORMS TEAM
Angelos Kyrialanis
– Architect & Team Leader
-
Yannis Trichopoulos – Assistant Architect
& Urban Planner
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