The project concerns the construction of a new building, with an area of 1585 sq.m, for housing a 34-bed Chronic Dialysis Unit, in the area of Aktaio in Patra.
The plot on which the building will be erected is located on the Old National Road Patra-Corinth, in “Kastelokambos”, within the settlement of Aktaio, Municipal unit of Rio, Municipality of Patra and has an area of 2964, 14 sq.m.
The proposed building is arranged along the plot and consists of 2 levels, the basic Level 0 with access from the Old National Road and the lower Level -1. Due to the slope of the plot, the building is one-storey on the side of the road and two-storey on the back, while there is the possibility of direct entry-exit on both levels.
At Level 0 (ground floor from the road and 1st floor from the back) are located the two hemodialysis rooms of 16 beds each, which face the view of the Rio-Antirrio bridge, with the auxiliary support areas, the entrance-waiting area and the offices of director and head nurse. Internal communication between the patient rooms and their auxiliary spaces is ensured without interference with the entrance-waiting area.
At the main entrance of the building, there is an extensive sheltered space for the patients’ access.
At Level -1 (basement from the road and ground floor from the back) is located the administration with the possibility of an independent entrance from the low side, as well as the other auxiliary and mechanical areas, while an independent entrance-exit for supply and collection is provided.
The building consists of two volumes in displacement, of which the longest one leans along the road in order for the building to be exposed and better visible from the road, while in the retreating volume the appropriate recess is created for the main entrance. In addition, due to the slope of the plot, the building appears one-storey from the road and two-storey from the back with its side sides half-buried. This configuration led to the organization of the facades in two zones, one at the base of the building and one at the superstructure, using different materials and architectural elements.
Generally, the building is cladded on the base, with panels of a concrete texture that refers to a more “heavy material” and on the superstructure, with vertical strips of HPL panels, of variable dimensions and two colors. Due to the complexity in the layout of the stripes, two light shades of gray were chosen.
The sun protection of the spaces is achieved through perforated blinds in white shade, which while protecting from the sun do not obstruct the view. On the side sides for both sun protection and for the delimitation of the escape exits, pergolas in white shade are also provided.
Scale: < 5.000 m²
Rehabilitation of Eleftheria Square
The magnificent Byzantine mosaics pulsing in time and space, and the consideration of the city’s formation as a huge mosaic was the inspiration for the concept of our proposal. We borrowed the compositional structure of Byzantine mosaics to organize the space of Eleftheria Square. We created a spatial grid covering the whole study area, a deformed in three dimensions grid caused by “tensions” due to the “dynamic” elements of the region. The design shapes the square as part of the broader city mosaic.
A review of all targets set by the tender competition led to the hierarchy and evaluation of priorities in relation to the program data. They led us to a series of decisions that characterize our proposal, which are briefly:
The extension of the area of the square until the building facades of the surrounding streets, keeping a low traffic. In that way the square is integrated to the urban fabric serving mainly the pedestrians.
The creation of an urban park, a combination of a square and park without strict demarcations. All elements (movements and stands, planting, shelters and seating, lighting and other street furniture, water features and themed gardens) are carefully placed as larger or smaller units – inlays in the mosaic – in places defined by the axes, except the violent gap that reveals the findings of the old sea wall, connecting the city’s past with the present. The formations extend, penetrate the surrounding streets and end up in the sea, as a complex platform immersed in the water. The diversity of forms, shapes and materials create a sense of “disorientation” and spiritual tranquility.
The use of a repetitive element that highlights our proposal. A simple triangular pattern, inspired by the recent victims of Nazi brutality appears in almost the entire area of the square. Clusters of such repetitive triangular patterns seem to emerge from the ground or penetrate it. They create gaps or lead the bright rays of the sun, they sparkle on the shelters or even surge into the sea.
The incorporation of several elements and systems aiming at improving the comfort conditions of the users as well as enhancing energy savings
The urban furniture acts supplementary and contributes to the aesthetic and functional integration of the architectural design of the square. All elements share a common morphological logic adapting suitably to each type. These include sitting benches, special lighting fixtures, bollards, bicycle parking, liter bins, electronic boards and bus stops.
Landscape design is an important part of the architectural design in regard to the reformation of Eleftheria Square. The proposed interventions involve four main actions with the aim not only to reshape but also to preserve the current state of landscape vegetation in the square. These include: management of existing trees, planting of new trees or other vegetation, either used for shading purposes or for covering the ground (such as broadleaved trees, herbs, small shrubs, aromatic plants and lawn-covered areas), installation of an irrigation system, depending on the irrigation needs of the plant species, as well as on the optimal water saving requirements, and conservation of the landscape.
The plant species will be chosen in terms of the phytosociological, morphological/aesthetical, climatic and other practical conditions. In particular, the plant species were chosen based on their characteristics, as being part of the Hellenic Flora (in majority), as well as being resistant to the particularities of the area (urban area with air pollution, in close vicinity to the sea).
Electromechanical installations concern mainly lighting, irrigation and concentration of rain water for watering of plants.
Lighting plays a significant role in the design of the square. The chosen luminaires further highlight the grid as they are placed at the intersections of the various elements of the “mosaic”. A new and modern lighting is provided according to CEN 1320, supported by lighting control system for the maximum energy conservation. Furthermore a software is used for the best performance of lighting in the following three sectors: pedestrian areas lighting, green areas lighting and architectural lighting identifying important landmarks.
Anatolia Pinewood
Our proposal aims at satisfying all requirements and specifications set by the tender, and at the same time provide a contemporary and innovative building complex, which will meet all functional, technological and aesthetic needs of an educational building. The main issues set at the top of our architectural agenda, was how to smoothly incorporate the new building in the Historical complex of ANATOLIA COLLEGE and how to create a friendly shell for an International School like PINEWOOD.
Design concept
Present architectural proposal aims to attribute the vision of α building complex to a distant horizon, whose roof outlines the SKY LINE, in a bid to create a new community of culture and education. Already used in the existing traditional buildings, the archetype of “house with a sloped roof” element and its multiple random combinations refers to the timeless image of multicultural community.
The new building, as a friendly shell, but also as an extroverted enclave of life, in constant interaction with its surroundings, is enriched in the ground floor level, with the element of an intermediate connecting space, a CULTURAL HUB, merging the new building with its attached open space and offering a transitional area that can host students everyday life, along with special cultural and leisure school activities, as an open and dynamic communication meeting point.
Architectural design
The building consists of ground floor level with two floors on top of it, plus a small basement area for auxiliary uses.
The allocation of the various uses in different levels is described below: Basement: Parking, MEP areas. Ground floor: 4 Classrooms, Gym-Multi Functional area, Theatre Lab, Art Lab, Admission’s Office, Infirmary and WC. 1st floor: 6 Classrooms, Elective Courses Classrooms, Flexible Learning area, Teacher’s Office and WC. 2nd floor: Biology & Chemistry Labs, Administration Offices, Student Support areas and WC.
The building is served by two staircases and one lift.
Basic material used for the building facades are stone, timber and aluminum panels, while both building and landscape areas are designed on a bioclimatic basis, in order to achieve the best possible sustainability performance and consume the less possible energy, while thermal and visual comfort is offered to its users.
Daios Luxury Living
The building is located where the old American consulate used to be, close to the White Tower, at the joint of Niki’s Avenue and Chr. Snirnis. It is a luxurious flat building with shops on the ground floor and three-storey underground parking. The building is transparent. All the solid elements of its façades were removed and replaced with glassed surfaces allowing the view to the sea. To avoid the noise and luminance problems a secondary external glassed façade at balconies level was designed, having the shape of a sail.
Olympos – Naoussa Building
In one of the most recognizable spots of Thessaloniki, on its coastal front on Leoforos Nikis Avenue, the project highlights and utilizes the facade of a listed building, the historic restaurant Olympus – Naoussa, built in 1926 and designed by architect Jacques Mosse.
The project anticipates the preservation, restoration and integration of the listed facade of the historic building in a modern, multi-storey, luxurious “boutique” hotel.
The design carried out by METE SYSM appertained to the retaining structure of the listed facade during the construction of the new building, the 8-storey with two basements new building and the integration of the listed facade into it.
The retaining of the facade, respecting the architectural peculiarities of the existing construction, while satisfying the construction requirements of the work site, was carried out with six properly arranged steel frames with bi-directional diagonal bracings of adequate resistance and stiffness for resisting the horizontal wind and earthquake actions. On either side of the listed masonry, UPN cross-section beams are arranged, tightening it like a splint, which are connected to the steel frames through cantilever beams, transferring to them the horizontal wind and earthquake loads. Both the temporary retaining structure and the listed facade are supported by properly arranged micropiles.
The new permanent structure is entirely made of reinforced concrete. To maximize the safety of adjacent buildings against displacements during excavation and to save construction time, the method of simultaneous Up and Down Construction has been chosen. Special consideration was taken into the integration of the listed facade in the new construction, which is ensured by the proper arrangement of special anchors and nails. The foundation of the new construction consists of a reinforced concrete diaphragm at the perimeter and of diaphragmatic elements (barrettes) of rectangular cross section on the inside.
School of Arts
The design proposal and space organization of the building complex responds to the principles set by the promoter and satisfies all the objectives set out in the call for proposals, such as the highlighting of the importance of the building, its integration with the environment, its connection with the existing buildings, the adequacy of the internal arrangement and the modern aesthetic approach.
The concept design of the complex aims at the creation of an intrusive building that develops around a central patio, but at the same time is open to existing buildings to which it is connected through a sheltered outdoor path. This enables on one hand, the creation of an enclosed, protected outdoor space – a focal / meeting point for the outdoor functions and on the other, the arrangement of the various uses into three distinct morphological units – wings, depending on the program requirements.
The complex is covered by a grid of roofs, alternating in size, orientation and slopes, allowing the natural lighting of the upper rooms. The volume configuration combined with the facades’ formation and the diversity of roofs emphasizes the complexity of the building making it the focal point / landmark of the area.
As already mentioned, the complex is developed around a central patio, and comprises of two floors, a loft and a basement. Generally, the educational areas are located in the east and north wing for better orientation, while the common areas, staff and administration areas are located in the west and south wing. At ground floor level there is a semi-covered space through which the entrance to the building and the communication of the surrounding space with the inner patio are implemented. In the basement of the building there are 20 parking spaces, MEP areas and storages.
The facades and the different morphological approach enhance the concept idea of the three volume-configuration units. The complex is “wrapped” around and on its roofs with a second skin / shell consisting of either concrete panels at ground level, or zinc linear elements at floor level and roofs. On the east and west sides of the west wing of the building, vertical sun protection louvres are provided.
The building complex is designed in accordance with the bioclimatic principles, to ensure the best possible sustainability and consume the least possible energy, while providing thermal and visual comfort to its users.
The landscape design generally follows the characteristics of the concept idea. The surrounding area enters the inner patio and extends to the existing buildings as well as to the east side of the plot.
The pattern of floors, green areas and surrounding elements follow the concept idea of split roofs but are differentiated as they rotate at an angle of 45 degrees, creating greater tension in the relation of open and closed spaces. The new building is connected to the existing one by a canopy integrated in the diagonal grid, with aesthetically similar covering to the new building.
Energiers Shop
The project is about a kids’ wear shop of 220 s.q., which is locaded at the shopping center “Mediterranean Cosmos” in Thessaloniki.
The design of children’s stores is unique due to the fact that they aim at the same time at children, teenagers and adults. They must, therefore, create a friendly and appealing environment for all ages.
The “key” to success of such a design lies in the harmonious coexistence of dynamic and symbolic elements that are addressed to adolescents, with mild and reassuring forms that create a safe environment for little children, inside a simple and functional entity that facilitates and attracts adults.
Having as a basic principle the above, we chose a combination of dynamic design with lighter forms.
As a dynamic element we have defined the shop’s window, the “first image”. Big, red volumes together with smaller, dark grey (horizontal) ones, frame the glass surfaces of the window attracting, in this manner, the visitor’s attention with their colour and form. The fundamental parameter was the distinguishable placing of the store’s logo on both sides of access of the store.
The movable partitions on the back side of the window essentially function as a border separating the “outside” from the “inside”, as a type of visual transition to the main store space through their semitransparency. Moreover, they operate as a reference to the houses’ “shutters”, activating the desire and possibly the curiosity of the passersby to enter the area.
Through its organic morphology, the main internal store area is defined as a mild form. A second, internal shell, with curved edges, is proposed. It is a kind of “cocoon” that associatively refers to the warm pregnancy environment and causes a pleasant sense to the visitor and mainly to children.
This shell encompasses some organically outlined niches with children’s and adolescents’ images that both “enliven” the space and visually separate its individual sections.
The simplicity and functionality of the entity is ensured by two distinctive height zones: The first one, from the floor to the 2.25 m., a neutral zone in which the exhibit predominates, and the second one, from 2.25 m and higher, that is dedicated to the creation of an atmosphere through the projection of alternate images that depend on the type of exhibit – merchandise in the niches.
In its entire perimeter and up to the niches’ height limit, the shell is distributed in a system of metal guides, which have hanging or display mechanisms placed by the user, depending on the needs of each separate store. The shell is made of single sided plaster-board. For the floor laminate-type, pale light coloured wood, that does not attract the visitor’s attention but warms the space, is proposed.
Refurbishment of Commercial Streets
It is about the Refurbishment of Commercial Streets “FASHION STREET & HUB AREA”, “Mediterranean Cosmos” mall. The refurbishment concerns the two levels, Level 0 and Level 1, which have commercial use. The interventions include the construction of a new floor, ceiling, a gate between the two commercial areas, new claddings, new sitting benches and finally removal of the fountain in “HUB” area and the construction of new water feature.
The purpose of the new proposal was the introduction of a unified design in both areas and the simplification of individual morphological elements.
The new floors were designed in three zones, starting from the entrance in “Fashion Street” and ending at “Hub”. Ceramic tiles in three shades were selected, while in Level 1 and in the perimeter of the balconies and bridges kerlite tiles were placed.
The ceiling of “Fashion Street”, in the central double height part, consists of three rows of metal blinds in five shades of gray. The middle row consists of blinds of various heights, among which illuminated polycarbonate sheets are placed.
This ceiling extends until the “Hub” area, where the geometry is changed and the circular roof is filled with square metal frames, intersecting at random layout, creating an effect of optical vortex.
The gate that was built between “Fashion Street” and “Hub”, separated the area between the two commercial zones.
The perimeter parapets and bulkheads were cladded with lacquered wooden panels.
The existing fountain of the “Hub” was removed. Instead, 16 closed cylindrical plexiglass tubes were constructed, inside which equal number of water jets were placed.
Finally, sitting benches made of corian were constructed throughout the length of “Fashion Street”, while in the “Hub” a large semicircular bench of the same material was placed.
Old City Foodcourt
The project concerns the construction of a dining area (foodcourt) in part of the existing building C of the Shopping Center OLD CITY, the renovation and extension of the sanitary facilities and the aesthetic upgrade of the study area. The Shopping Center is located at 25 Zahou Street in Volos.
The proposal objectives were the unification of the different elements in space, the mild intervention in part of the facade of building B, the maintenance of the main circulation axis and the marking of the entrances to the foodcourt.
The unification of the different elements in space is achieved through the use of a three-dimensional element (blind), which functions morphologically in three dimensions, either as roofing or as cladding. The blind in its repetition and with its different types gives the feeling that the dining area expands, through the integration of the corridor of the basic movement and the cladding on the wall of building B. This creates an episode, an experience to the user, an identity to space.
The axis of the basic movement of the foodcourt is maintained and strengthened by the construction of two gates at the entrance and the exit of the foodcourt, which on one hand gives a sign to the visitors for the existence of “something new” and on the other hand includes protective elements both in terms of safety and wind protection (safety roller, air curtain).
The foodcourt area consists of four shops with a single ancillary space (BOH).
The sitting area includes two types of seating. The first type includes fixed seating (linear and L-shaped) that are placed on either side of the existing walls creating small hotspots of privacy, while the second type includes light and flexible mobile equipment that can be easily transformed according to the needs of the foodcourt.
Finally, the use of a green element, both in horizontal and vertical surfaces aims at creating a friendly and pleasant environment while at the same time gives the feeling of continuity of outdoor space inside the foodcourt.
Anatolia IB College
The tender competition announcement concerns the extension and upgrading of the premises currently housing the Baccalaureate (I.B.) course. This includes buildings Compton and Ladas.
Compton is a mid 30s stone building.
Ladas is a mid 60s concrete building of T shape, consisting of two wings, initially built to house students dormitories.
The basic concept of our proposal aims at satisfying all conditions and requirements set by the tender, and at the same time provide a contemporary educational building , which will meet all functional, technological and aesthetic needs of today.
This is a difficult but interesting challenge, because it creates the idea of composing contrasts in many levels such as the old and the new – the past and the future, traditional methods and contemporary trends, conventional mentality and the need of innovation, educational systems and sociable culture.
Contradiction becomes – through the environment – the direction (path) to sustainability.
Our goal is to organize the various uses and functions taking into consideration the available space and the restrictions of the existing structure as well as functionality and monitoring, familiarity and effectiveness of the environment.
Compton is a massive, introvert, simple-form stone structure, which is restored to its initial form.
On the opposite side the new building follows a lightweight and elegant type.
A transparent, extrovert, geometrical glass structure that brings the outdoor environment inside, and – at the same time – exports its unique identity in the immediate vicinity.
A composite shell covers the outline of the building.