Central Square

The redesign of the company’s administrative building not only enhanced its functionality but also revitalized its image to align with modern working standards. The renovation resulted in expanded office space, upgraded air conditioning, and lighting systems geared towards enhancing comfort and optimizing the facilities.

 

Design Objective

Built in 2007, the building initially failed to accommodate the company’s growing demand for office space. Consequently, management opted to renovate all office areas, a total of 7000m2, to meet the organization’s expanding needs. The study was developed with the aim and the vision of crafting a design proposal befitting a pioneering company, while also prioritizing the quality of the working environment it offers to its employees.

The design incorporated suggestions from employees who had participated in recent projects, fostering a collaborative approach. These suggestions included creating spaces conducive to relaxed discussions, facilitating work outside the office environment, and fostering an atmosphere that encourages freedom in work and, consequently, in thought and creativity. At the same time, the objective was to establish a welcoming atmosphere that prioritizes comfort and versatility in the space, catering to the employee’s varying needs. Additionally, the design aimed to offer an escape from conventional routines by incorporating interactive elements within these spaces.

 

Architectural Concept

Taking into consideration all the programmatic modifications, the architectural concept revolves around freeing the “dark centre” and replacing it with a vibrant “heart.” This central space offers a multitude of functionalities, fostering personal expression and creativity for every individual. By cultivating an accessible, intimate, and inviting environment, the design promotes innovation and collaboration, while staying aligned with contemporary trends as well as the new generation entering the workplace. The concept’s originality lies in elevating public spaces and reimagining the “square” -drawing reference from the Renaissance period- as the “heart” of the city. Embracing the Greek character, the local “language” and lifestyle led to the architecture being conceptualized around the notion of the Greek square.

 

Open Layout

The building’s core unfolds to integrate meeting rooms in a dynamic arrangement, emphasizing diagonal positioning and prioritizing transparency. Within this space, circulation spaces intertwine with refreshment areas, break rooms, seating sections as well as an open kitchen. The “square’s” public nature is accentuated by natural elements, such as a tree-sculpture, fostering a sense of openness and drawing people together for communal interaction. The building’s original architectural structure was preserved.

The design leverages its existing geometry as the foundation for the proposal’s distinctive diagonal pathway, which breathes new life into the previously enclosed centre. Central to this design is the triple-height atrium, around which the remaining structure revolves, facilitating the vertical diffusion of natural light throughout the space. The proposal’s strength lies in the abundant natural light entering the space, illuminating the building’s core, while also flowing through the central space and the transparent perimeter, bathing all floors in its glow.