A project upon the architectural study for the renovation and adaptive reuse of the existing 8-storey office building located at the junction of Veranzerou and 3rd of September streets, in Omonoia, Athens.
The project claims to modernize and upgrade functionally, aesthetically and energetically the existing ten-story building, that is a conventional construction of the 60s.
The building retains its original use, with shops on the ground floor and offices on the upper floors, now fully adapted to the requirements of the modern era.
A comprehensive redesign of the interior spaces with a neo-industrial aesthetic and remodeling of the building’s facades was carried out with the aim of integrating it in a smooth way into the urban landscape of the area, highlighting both the building itself and the wider area, without it competing with or degrading the neighboring historic buildings.
The main element of the proposal, the vertical fins – “The Wings” – on both sides of the building, makes it a landmark of the area.
The new shell has a modern architectural vocabulary, as vertical fixed fins were installed, which, in addition to the aesthetic upgrade of the appearance, also function as shades for the interior spaces, achieving sun protection throughout the day.
The materiality of these vertical elements is timeless, making them resistant to weather conditions with their color palette consisting of earth tones, giving a “warmer” style compared to the characteristic gray that prevails in the urban landscape of Athens.
Regarding the interior remodeling of the office spaces, the existing partition walls were removed, and the wet spaces were redesigned, creating flexible spaces according to the logic of the open plan, allowing them to be adapted according to the needs of each company they will potentially host.
Finally, an important driving force of the project was to be financially sustainable and viable. The reuse and highlight of existing elements were vital.
After an inspection of the body and the necessary reinforcement of the static elements, as many existing building materials were preserved as possible, limiting the production of waste and energy losses.
“The Wings” is an elegant and contemporary proposal. The new skin, an interpretation of the existing morphology, creates a contemporary, sharp, and future-proof building.