Urban upgrade

Along the axis that, from antiquity to the present day, connects the port of Piraeus with the center of Athens, Pireos Street, a concrete building of approximately 10,000 m² has been constructed, accommodating a fashion company alongside office functions.

 

Design Philosophy

The design of the building seeks to address two critical issues of the contemporary city: the maximization of greenery in relation to the built environment and the optimization of its environmental performance. The architectural composition is articulated through the coexistence of two distinct volumes: a single-storey retail space of 1,300 m² and a five-storey office building in an L-shaped configuration that encloses it, forming a clear boundary towards the adjacent structures and Pireos Street.

The roof of the ground-level volume is transformed into an intensively planted green roof, functioning as an elevated urban garden for both employees and the city. In this way, the project introduces a new topography, where greenery extends vertically, redefining the user’s relationship with the environment.

 

 

Spatial Organization

Employees benefit from a direct visual and functional connection to the garden, ensuring privacy and distancing from the noise of the busy urban artery. At the same time, ramps leading to the planted roof, in combination with the geometry of the curved volume, establish a spatial continuity that connects the ground level with a higher, publicly accessible plane.

The façades is differentiated according to orientation through shading systems such as louvers and stainless-steel mesh, regulating solar exposure and reducing thermal loads without compromising outward views. Each surface is conceived as an active filter mediating between interior and exterior conditions.

 

 

Sustainability & Technology

The green roof is maintained year-round through an automated irrigation system that utilizes rainwater collection and reuse tanks. The storage of significant water volumes supports the survival of the vegetation even during the summer months.

In parallel, the use of air-to-ground heat exchangers – large underground ducts – allows the introduction of naturally tempered air, contributing to the building’s microclimatic performance. A Building Management System (BMS) controls lighting, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as window operation and internal shading, ensuring optimal indoor comfort while achieving substantial energy savings.

The project embodies a holistic approach to sustainable design, where architecture, technology, and landscape converge into a cohesive system that redefines the contemporary workplace.

 

Environmental catalyst

The new passenger terminal of Kavkaz Airport is envisioned as more than a transport facility -it is designed as a symbolic gateway to the North Caucasus region. The architecture reflects the ambition to create a landmark that blends functionality with cultural and environmental sensitivity. Its form draws inspiration from the surrounding mountains, streams, and forests, translating these natural elements into a dynamic architectural language. The project embodies the idea of a modern infrastructure hub that honors both place and context.

 

Spatial Organization & Context

The terminal is organized around a central spine, ensuring clear circulation and intuitive navigation for passengers. Large open halls provide visual connections between the exterior landscape and the interior spaces, reinforcing the sense of place. The layout prioritizes efficiency while maintaining generous spatial qualities, integrating waiting areas, check-in counters, and circulation zones in a coherent flow. The orientation of the building maximizes natural daylight, creating an uplifting environment for travelers.

In parallel, the design seeks to integrate seamlessly with its broader context -geographical, cultural, and ecological. The architectural form resonates with the dramatic landscapes of the Caucasus, while green roofs and terraces enhance ecological value. The project supports the development of Arkhyz as a tourist hub, providing infrastructure that strengthens accessibility to the region. In doing so, the new terminal positions itself as a catalyst for sustainable regional development, balancing modern needs with environmental stewardship.

 

 

Design Philosophy

The functional program addresses the needs of both domestic and international passengers. Departures and arrivals are clearly separated, while shared amenities ensure smooth passenger experience. Retail and service areas are integrated into the circulation system, offering convenience without disrupting flow. Support areas for staff, security, and operations are discretely embedded into the structure, ensuring safety and efficiency. Flexibility is a key consideration, allowing the terminal to adapt to future growth in passenger numbers.

 

 

Material Palette

The material strategy combines modern construction technologies with references to local traditions. Glazed façades provide transparency and lightness, while natural stone and timber finishes establish a connection with the regional landscape. Green roofs and planted terraces further reinforce the dialogue between architecture and environment. The use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems is central to the project’s environmental performance.

 

Aluminum box

Living amidst the rapid growth of urban population and high rises in Bangkok, a critical question is raised: how can we adjust ourselves to live peacefully and privately in this speedily changed environment and lifestyles? In doing so, how can we avoid losing contact with the amenities that megacity provides us and accessibility to the greenspace?

 

Design Philosophy

The project proposes an alternative design solution to mitigate this urban-dwelling problematic issue by crafting the home-office buildings called “THE Haute”, a self-sustainable workplace and residence, to become a new solution concept for the next generation of housing development in Thailand.

The building concept is begun with simple idea as stacked boxes, between black stone box and aluminum box. These boxes are composed of 2 main functions as the working space and living space. The openable windows are designed for not facing each other, for reasons of privacy.

 

 

Sustainability Approach

The sustainable environmental design aspects are considered thoroughly with the private oasis concept which responds directly to tropical climate of Bangkok. All units are designed with the concept of living by nature, borrowing the green space from the neighbor’s view without compromising privacy. The key design concept is to create a 5-storey residence that gives the “Private Oasis” that shares the green space in vertically to the community and city. The trees are placed at every possible space in the building, creating a natural green character for the building envelope. While the project is designed to maximize both the usable area and the open space of the green area, their spatial relationship maximizes ventilation and openness in response to tropical climate. The internal spaces are designed to enjoy their own private garden.

 

 

Façade Design

The facades of the living spaces and bedrooms maintain a signature façade design: using the air gap and aluminum panels to relieve the house from being heated as well as allowing sunlight and air ventilation to pass through. The facade acts as an insulation protecting solar heat gain from outside which is a high concern in tropical climates. When measuring the temperature during summer season, these panels help cooling down the 39 degrees Celsius outside to 26 degrees inside. This façade also provides privacy by blocking the view from outside. The design provides full privacy in this dense surrounding while also being a prominent landmark of this neighborhood.

 

Spatial extensions

The project involves renovating and extending a Victorian-era house in West London, transforming it with a modern open-plan layout. The design enhances natural light throughout the interior while seamlessly integrating the home with a spacious rear courtyard for improved functionality and flow.

 

Spatial Layout

The common areas of the two-bedroom home are situated on the raised floor, while the private bedroom spaces are located on the ground floor. Lateral spatial extensions and strategic subdivision allow for an expanded living area, optimizing functionality for a growing family.

The existing rear courtyard is excavated and redesigned with terraces, providing the ground-floor bedrooms with direct access to the newly landscaped garden. Similarly, a small pre-existing balcony is transformed into a spacious loft, seamlessly linking the raised floor to the garden. Ceramic cobbles on the ground and a striking red handrail enhance the natural and visual continuity between the roof, garden, and understated courtyard.

 

 

Restoration Approach

The ground floor extension is clad in Accoya wood paneling, offering a sleek, contemporary contrast to the Victorian details of the upper floor. Strategically placed skylights draw natural light deep into the space, while a green roof visually connects the garden to the upper level living areas. Within the interior, the demolition of internal walls and the addition of new structural cladding enable a substantial expansion of the ground floor’s double-height spaces. This transformation creates a seamless, uninterrupted view spanning the entire length of the interior, from front to back.

 

 

Materials & Construction

Some original features of the building, including the fireplaces and roof cornices, are preserved and restored. In other areas, the plastered walls are stripped back to expose the original brickwork. New metal doors and glazed windows enhance the existing architectural elements, adding an industrial touch. The material palette emphasizes raw, elemental qualities, with solid Douglas fir planks on the floors, Carrara marble on the kitchen counters, and pink mosaic tiles in the hallways and new stairwell.