Nice Dream Tower | Mixed-Use Building in Nicosia

Konstantinos — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:31:46 +0000

This article by Konstantinos was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Interactive shell

The mixed-use building extends across sixteen levels in the heart of Nicosia, located on one of the city’s most important arterial roads, Themistokli Dervi Avenue, on a plot with distinctive geometric characteristics.

Functional Organization

The program includes retail spaces on the ground floor and mezzanine, six levels of office spaces, one level dedicated to communal leisure areas with a café and gym, six residential levels, and a semi-covered roof garden level with a rooftop pool. Parking requirements are met by four underground levels, with entrance from Nikokreontos Street and exit onto Themistokli Dervi Avenue.

The mixed-use concept responds to contemporary urban needs, particularly in city centers, where buildings are no longer strictly defined by a single use but instead become multifunctional cells within the urban fabric. As a result, the project maintains a constant interaction with its urban environment. Unlike the typical case of commercial buildings that remain closed at night and residential buildings that remain inactive during the day, Nice Dream sustains an uninterrupted relationship and activity with the city.

Façade Design

This relationship is reinforced by the detailed design of the envelope: an external mediating layer between the building and its surroundings, which constantly changes depending on the occupants’ activities, turning each façade into an active, interactive communication membrane. The envelope employs gradations of transparency and contrasts of materials to create a subtle and ever-shifting sense of space, movement, and light. The aim is to generate a distinctive atmosphere for both workspaces and living spaces.

Material Palette

The envelope is constructed of vertical aluminum panels, integrated within the structural grid and building levels -some solid, others perforated and operable- opening and closing according to the users’ needs. During the day, it can be fully closed, shielding against strong sunlight without losing visual connection thanks to its perforated surfaces. Externally, depending on the position of the louvers, the façade transforms, producing a play of transparency and permeability. At night, as light diffuses outward, the volume appears as if it almost loses its materiality.

The post Nice Dream Tower | Mixed-Use Building in Nicosia was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

“No Such Thing” Boutique in China

Konstantinos — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 05:31:07 +0000

This article by Konstantinos was published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications.

Local interaction

The project is a curated concept store located in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. It offers a retail space that spans fashion, accessories, footwear, home goods, and art derivatives.

Design Philosophy

The store occupies a commercial unit with an impressive original ceiling height of about seven meters. The design strategy introduces two rectangular core zones, assigning the outer glass views to distinct spatial units. Structural variation emerges through the interplay of staggered heights in these zones. The area near the glass façade retains the building’s original ceiling height, alleviating the potential confinement from the spatial layering. The second floor serves as a multifunctional space accommodating display, office, and storage functions. Through its tiered layout, the design effectively separates the open product area from the private office zone, creating a clear circulation flow that enhances the shopping experience.

Brand Identity

The brand name embodies the philosophy of intentional choice and exploration, inviting consumers to make selections that bring them closer to their ideal lifestyle. Situated in Shaoxing, the store reflects a local ethos that moves beyond imitating first-tier cities, embracing a deeper enthusiasm for participating in and exploring the unique qualities of local life. Grounded in regional context, the design integrates a climate-responsive lifestyle framework, harmonizing the shop with its streetscape in both appearance and sensory experience.

Unlike traditional curated stores that focus solely on product display, this design prioritizes human interaction. Reflecting Shaoxing’s slow-paced lifestyle, the store introduces a leisure zone at its entrance, offering light refreshments. Outdoor seating further extends this concept, providing the community with a welcoming space for rest and conversation.

Local Materials

Located in Shaoxing’s Keqiao district, the heart of China Textile City, the store leverages local textile resources for its design. Walls are adorned with fabric panels sourced from nearby markets, replacing conventional materials to imbue the space with a sense of place. Irregularly arranged columns inside the space serve as key supports for the second floor. To integrate these visually dominant steel columns into the overall design, they are wrapped with softer wooden finishes. Inspired by the verdant street trees outside, the spatial arrangement mimics the layout of a forest. Artistic detailing with varying line diameters around the core creates a fluid, walkable environment that blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

The post “No Such Thing” Boutique in China was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

interactive design Archives | ek magazine | Architectural Publications

Nice Dream Tower | Mixed-Use Building in Nicosia

Interactive shell

“No Such Thing” Boutique in China

Local interaction