A series of three-hinged timber frames spans the basketball court, combining structural expression, passive environmental strategies and the reuse of material from the existing gymnasium.

 

 

Kyathos is a proposed 4,000m² indoor basketball arena in Galatsi. Designed by KAAF | Kitriniaris Associates Architecture Firm, the project was directly commissioned by the Cultural and Athletic Organisation of the Municipality of Galatsi as a specialist public building requiring expertise in engineered-timber construction.

The programme includes the principal basketball court and spectator stands, together with an internal perimeter mezzanine. Changing rooms for athletes and referees, sanitary facilities, administrative offices, club offices and supporting spaces complete the complex.

The new arena will replace the existing timber gymnasium on the same site. The older structure has been designated for demolition, mainly because its materials cannot be certified according to current structural standards. However, a substantial part of its timber is intended for reuse as non-load-bearing components in the new building.

 

A concrete podium and timber superstructure

The arena rests on a reinforced-concrete podium containing the functions below the final level of the playing court. This solid base opens towards the adjoining pedestrian route and accommodates the programme that requires direct contact with the ground.

Above the court level, the building is formed primarily from engineered-timber components. The structural system combines glulam, plywood and cross-laminated timber, while steel is introduced selectively at connections and where additional stiffness is required.

The distinction between the concrete base and the timber superstructure gives the building a clear constructional order. It also allows the large-span enclosure to remain relatively lightweight above the more solid lower level.

Ten frames spanning 30 metres

The timber load-bearing structure is arranged around a rectangular grid measuring 45m by 30m, with a regular bay of 5m.

Ten identical statically determinate frames bridge the 30m span of the main arena. Each frame consists of columns and beams working together as a three-hinged arch.

The repeated structural units determine the principal rhythm of the building. Rather than being concealed behind an independent exterior image, the load-bearing system becomes the basis of the architectural composition.

Lightweight waterproof polymer components cover the roof. According to the project description, the material is recyclable, weather-resistant and suitable for printed surface treatments.

 

From the ancient kyathos to the building envelope

The project takes its name from the kyathos, an ancient Greek cup or ladle. Its curved profile provides a conceptual reference for the geometry of the structural shell.

A second reference comes from the cup-shaped inflorescence of Euphorbia, known in Greek as galatsida. The plant’s name establishes a further association with Galatsi, while its botanical form informs the repeated elements of the envelope.

These references are integrated into the structure rather than applied as decorative motifs. Form, construction and environmental performance are conceived as parts of the same architectural system.

 

A shaded and naturally ventilated perimeter

A principal objective of the envelope is to keep the building and its perimeter circulation areas largely under shade. The depth and repetition of the timber elements limit direct solar exposure while allowing daylight to enter the interior.

Open sections of the shell support natural ventilation and passive cooling. At the same time, the structural rhythm creates a gradual transition between Veikou Grove, the sheltered edge of the arena and the main internal volume.

Rainwater from the roof and the surrounding hard surfaces is intended for reuse in landscape irrigation. The landscape design also proposes the reinforcement of the existing Mediterranean vegetation of the grove.

These strategies are presented as design objectives and will need to be evaluated through the project’s detailed technical development.

 

Reusing material from the existing gymnasium

Timber recovered from the existing building will be reused in shutters, wall linings and purpose-made non-structural elements. This approach retains part of the material history of the site without relying on components that can no longer be certified for structural use.

The new load-bearing system is intended to use engineered timber from certified, sustainably managed forests. Approximately 2,000m³ of timber will be required for the proposed construction.

Concrete is concentrated below the court level, while timber spans the principal arena above. Through this combination, Kyathos proposes a public sports building in which structure, environmental response and architectural identity are developed together.

The first phase of the OAKA basketball arena renovation combines essential structural and technical upgrades with new hospitality, media and spectator facilities, while preserving the identity of the existing sports landmark.

 

 

The renovation of PAO BC Arena transformed the indoor basketball stadium at OAKA into the home venue of Panathinaikos BC. The intervention covered more than 50,000m² and combined the maintenance of the existing building with extensive functional, aesthetic and energy upgrades.

The core conversion was delivered within 75 days, while the wider design-and-construction process of the first phase was completed within four months. The accelerated programme required close coordination among the designers, project-management team, consultants and contractors.

Rather than replacing the identity of the existing arena, the project sought to clarify its structural character and adapt its infrastructure to contemporary requirements.

Infrastructure before image

The first stage addressed fundamental technical issues that had remained unresolved for an extended period. Works included waterproofing, the assessment and reinforcement of the roof space frame, hydraulic systems and the electricity supply network.

These interventions were necessary for the building’s safe and reliable operation. They also established the technical foundation for the new public, hospitality and athletic programmes introduced inside the arena.

The renovation consequently approached modernization as more than a visual transformation. Hidden infrastructure and structural performance were treated as equally important as the redesigned spectator areas.

 

New spaces for spectators and operations

The second level of intervention concerned the public and operational interiors. Circulation areas, sanitary facilities and food-and-beverage spaces were reorganized, while retail functions and areas for children’s activities were added.

New offices and press facilities support the daily operation of the venue. The Press Entrance, Gate 10 entrance and associated sanitary areas were designed by Decathlon in collaboration with Eva Lantzouni.

The hospitality programme includes a new VIP Entrance and VIP Lounge by Markos Vouzounerakis / RICHE. Dark surfaces, timber, marble and controlled lighting establish a more concentrated atmosphere within these spaces.

Sixteen suites designed by K-Division introduce smaller, private viewing environments within the large arena. Their interiors combine framed views of the court with integrated seating, storage and hospitality functions.

A digitally adaptable playing surface

The central court was upgraded through the installation of an interactive glass sports floor. Its digital surface allows graphics, markings and visual content to change according to the requirements of a game or event.

New audiovisual systems extend this transformation beyond the playing surface. Screens, sound and lighting reinforce the atmosphere of the arena and allow the venue to support a broader range of sporting and entertainment programmes.

The intervention also reorganized the visual identity of the seating bowl. Green seating, large digital displays and suspended banners connect the new technical infrastructure with the history and identity of Panathinaikos BC.

 

Lighting and external identity

The energy upgrade included the replacement of the existing lighting system. New functional lighting was introduced throughout the interior, alongside accent and atmospheric lighting in selected public and hospitality areas.

The separation of the building’s different levels was clarified, while additional sanitary facilities supported the updated circulation and spectator programme.

The external façades received a revised colour palette. The intention was to respect the form of the original arena while signalling its new identity and use.

The public space northeast of the building was also redesigned. Improvements to functional, accent and atmospheric lighting extend the intervention beyond the enclosed arena and reinforce its presence within the wider OAKA complex.

Preserving a public sports landmark

The project addresses the renovation of a major sports building as a process of adaptation rather than replacement. New systems and programmes are inserted within the existing structural framework, whose scale and architectural character remain legible.

At the time of the original publication, a second phase had been designed to include upgraded training courts, changing rooms and physiotherapy facilities. Additional offices, an outdoor café, a VIP restaurant, five further suites and a Panathinaikos museum were also planned.

These proposals should be understood within the December 2024 publication context. Their subsequent construction status requires separate confirmation.

The completed first phase demonstrates how the existing public sports-building stock can be renewed through coordinated architectural, technical and operational interventions. Its approach avoids an autonomous new image and instead builds on the principles and material presence of the inherited shell.

 

The project was first published in print in ek magazine 293 | December 2024, a monthly issue by ek Architectural Publications.