Ogarden in Glyfada

Transparency and openness

The project involves the redevelopment and repurposing of a 1,050m² office building, transforming it into a multi-functional space. The new design features a self-contained boutique and short-term rental apartments on the upper floors, while maintaining office spaces on the ground floor.

Building Restoration

The majority of the building’s interior and exterior elements are removed, preserving the core structural framework, staircase, and lift and adding new canopies and exits on the second, third, and fourth floors. The central design concept focuses on the simpleness and integrity of the structure, with large openings providing interior views of the nearby waterfront and enhancing the building’s outward-facing aesthetic.

Spatial Organization

The building comprises of four floors -ground, first, second, third floors, and an attic- as well as two basement levels. The second basement is designated for car parking, while the first serves the ground floor, which features an open-plan office space. The first and second floors each house three apartments, ranging from 45m² to 50m². On the third floor, there are two larger apartments, each between 70m² and 80m², offering premium sea views. The fourth floor is home to a small penthouse, a transparent pavilion with a green roof, a deck, a barbeque area, and a spacious swimming pool with uninterrupted views of the sea.

Material Selection

The interior architecture follows an open-plan concept, with the selection of materials, finishes, furniture, and equipment thoughtfully referencing Greek elements, reinterpreted through a modern lens. Micro-mosaic flooring, custom-designed specifically for this project, spans nearly all interior, exterior, and public spaces, apart from the offices and penthouse, giving the building a unique identity. These mosaics blend seamlessly with the vertical exterior shading louvres, the building’s most prominent architectural feature: crafted from white concrete with Naxos and Tinos marble tiles, these louvres function as sculptural mosaic elements, adding a contemporary touch to the façade.

Façade Design

The fixed louvres encasing the building’s exterior form a secondary shell, providing both shading and privacy. Inspired by the nearby water, just 300 meters away, the design of the louvres mimics the flow of waves. Positioned at varying angles according to the Fourier series -a mathematical method for describing waves- these vertical elements create a curvilinear effect. This sensation is enhanced by sunlight and, more notably, by the shadows cast by horizontal architectural projections. As the sun moves throughout the day, the façades reflect this dynamic movement, displaying a pattern of shifting sine waves.

The horizontal shading systems, or pergolas, are designed similarly at both ground level and on the green roof, where aluminum is chosen as the structural material due to weight considerations. On the top level, fixed louvres are positioned outside and above the enclosed pavilion, enhancing energy efficiency and comfort, which also visually reinforce the central design concept on the building’s “fifth façade.” Additionally, significant emphasis is placed on incorporating greenery into the redesign to improve the building’s thermal, visual, and environmental conditions, as well as to enhance the microclimate of the surrounding, densely developed area.