Displaced volumes

The project αφορά a residence on a narrow, elongated plot, where the architectural composition is structured through two distinct rectangular volumes in displacement, developing linearly along the length of the site.

 

Design Philosophy

The residence is formed through the interplay between a solid, elevated volume and a more transparent ground floor. Their relative displacement generates a permeable nucleus of semi-outdoor living, functioning as an intermediate threshold between interior and exterior. This space establishes a direct visual and functional continuity with the main living areas. The linear development of the composition responds to the geometry of the plot, reinforcing clarity in spatial organization and continuity in the living experience.

 

 

Material Palette

Exposed concrete constitutes the dominant material of the composition, expressed with a clear, monolithic character that conveys a sense of mass and permanence. Along the eastern boundary of the plot, a rough stone wall with discreet openings defines the outdoor living zone, while simultaneously integrating elements of outdoor cooking and gathering. The juxtaposition of materials (concrete and stone) establishes a balance between the artificial and the natural, strengthening the building’s relationship with its landscape.

At ground level, the main living spaces are directly connected to the landscaped environment and the water element. Sliding glass panels, fully concealed within specially designed wall recesses, allow for the complete unification of interior and exterior spaces, dissolving their boundaries and creating a continuous spatial condition of habitation.

 

 

Lighting Strategy

The upper floor accommodates the private areas of the residence, protected by deep overhangs that incorporate planting and contribute to passive solar shading. Light is treated as a primary compositional tool: at the termination of the building, a long horizontal opening operates as a “ribbon” of light, relieving the mass of the concrete while selectively framing views toward the surrounding landscape.

A curved cut within part of this opening, positioned above the children’s bedrooms, introduces a softer geometric gesture, mitigating the strictness of the primary volumes. Through this intervention, the composition acquires a more expressive quality, where rigid geometry engages in dialogue with a more fluid formal articulation.

Digital ecosystem

The Viva Wallet headquarters constitute a model working environment, with sustainability at the core of the architectural design. By maximizing natural light and introducing 2,234 plants from 35 different species, an artificial landscape is created that promotes wellbeing and team cohesion.

 

Brand Identity

Mediterranean gardens, lush with lavender, thyme, olive trees, and almond trees, articulate an architecture with a strong ecological consciousness, offering ideal conditions for creativity and innovation within the fast-paced context of the fintech world.

The twin-building complex, organized around a central atrium, operates as an administrative hub for the company’s European activities, accommodating 450 of its total 1,000 employees.

The architectural branding strategy developed for this project established the foundations for a unified corporate identity, applied across all 24 countries where Viva Wallet operates.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The transformation of the workplace model after the pandemic calls for new approaches to spatial design. The new headquarters is thus conceived not only as a place of work, but as a hub for interaction and creative exchange.

Flexible collaboration zones encourage communication and interaction, while areas for individual work provide conditions for focus and seclusion. Meeting rooms, defined by glass surfaces with varying degrees of transparency, maintain spatial continuity while ensuring privacy.

The working environment is further enriched through multifunctional configurations such as brainstorming caves, lounges, and a planted roof, offering alternative modes of working, coexisting, and relaxation. The atrium hosts the “Code Bites” restaurant, promoting gastronomic wellbeing as an integral aspect of corporate culture, while the rooftop café functions as an alternative social hub. Both facilities are designed to transform into amphitheatrical layouts for presentations and corporate events.

 

 

Materiality & Bioclimatic Design

The building’s aesthetic balances technology and nature, with a color palette that combines the deep blue of the corporate identity with earthy tones and natural materials. The bioclimatic design integrates a wide variety of plants, functioning as a living filter that purifies the air and reduces noise pollution. Large glass surfaces allow abundant natural light to penetrate the interior, significantly reducing energy consumption and enhancing indoor environmental quality.

The new Viva Wallet headquarters is not merely a workspace, but a complex ecosystem designed to respond to the evolving demands of the digital era. It reflects the transition from a static, linear model of work to a dynamic, sustainable, and adaptable environment, where physical presence acquires new meaning.

Its architecture serves not only productivity but equally wellbeing, creativity, and sustainable development, shaping a holistic model that supports contemporary professional life and anticipates the future of work.

 

Geometric accents

The project concerns the creation of a car rental hub, located along the main road axis connecting the airport with the city of Chania. The central design concept is defined by the positioning of a pair of circular buildings along the imaginary extension of the nearby runway.

 

Design Philosophy

The geometry of the buildings is based on simple geometric forms, aiming to produce a clear and legible architectural ensemble. The two volumes are arranged on a unified plaza, which operates as a transitional element between built and unbuilt space. Between the two building entities, a metal canopy is introduced, functioning both as a unifying compositional element and as a threshold zone mediating the transition of visitors from the exterior into the interior of the complex.

The initial concept proposed the creation of two circular, single-space halls, organized through a peripheral arrangement of counters or kiosks, following a spatial typology commonly found in airport environments. At the same time, the design needed to accommodate the potential subdivision of the buildings into independent offices and retail units with direct access from the exterior. The circular geometry proved particularly effective in supporting multiple usage scenarios.

 

 

Functional Organization

At ground level, the buildings host the offices of four car rental companies, while the upper floors accommodate independent office spaces available for lease. The basement levels include auxiliary functions serving the retail units, visitor sanitary facilities, a car wash, and additional electromechanical installations.

The outdoor space is carefully configured to support the continuous circulation of small vans transporting customers to and from the airport, while also maximizing the number of parking spaces and vehicle handover points.

 

Material Palette

The folded metal envelope, aluminum cladding, and the use of high-specification glazing and panel systems form a coherent architectural vocabulary that aims to establish a distinct identity for the development, while simultaneously providing a flexible design framework for future expansion.