Kokkinou - Kourkoulas Architects and Associates

Shop & Trade

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

SHOP & TRADE

Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Helli Pagalou

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT
Marianna Athanasiadou

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Maria Kokkinou and Andreas Kourkoulas

CONSULTANT ASSOCIATES
Artemis Halari, George Nikopoulos

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Dimand

PROJECT TEAM
Eleni Papanastasiou, George Iliadis, Despoina Lafazani, Marianna Lizardou

ENERGY CONSULTANT
Aris Tsangrassoulis, Vasilis Geros

CONSULTANT ARCHITECT
John Peponis

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
T. Tsiknias & Associates

LOCATION
Pireos 222, Moschato Tavros 177 78, Greece

MECHANICAL ENGINEER
LDK – Consultant Engineers & Planners LTD

CATEGORY
Mixed Use Architecture

AREA
10000 m²

YEAR
2010

Text description provided by architect.

The mixed-use complex for Shop and Trade, a company for clothing imports and distribution, is located on Pireos Street, the historic road that connects the City of Athens with the port of Piraeus.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

Since the end of the 19th century, the surrounding areas have been dominated by industrial uses and warehouses.

In the last ten years, brown field redevelopment, the construction of museums and the reuse of the old gas factory as a cultural center have revitalized the area, reasserting the historic significance of the Street.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

The site of Shop and Trade is surrounded by distinct urban morphologies and scales: subsidized modernist housing estates, industrial areas and traditional urban blocks. The complex was designed to mediate and redefine their relationship.

The property is surrounded by streets on three sides. The L-shaped four-storey office volume is placed along the back street and the boundary with the adjacent property, thus providing the backdrop for a roof garden over the single storey retail podium.

By opening up towards Pireos Street at the intersection with Kydonion Street the garden contributes to the quality of public space while at the same time providing a visual focus and an environmental buffer for the offices. The set-back also endows the interior with panoramic views.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

The garden slopes towards Smyrnis Street at the back, under the main office volume, suggesting perceptual continuity of public and private open space while at the same time demarcating a boundary between the retail podium and the entrance floor of the main offices and showrooms.

The distinct treatment of front and back elevations expresses the relationship between the industrial character of Smyrnis Street and the emerging identity of Pireos Street.

The structure and all external wall surfaces are of exposed concrete.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

The choice of material is aimed at providing a sense of timelessness. More important, the treatment of raw building materials as final finishes projects a discipline of design and construction.

Detailing expresses the logical hierarchy of design decisions and the articulation of the distinct layers of the building envelop.

The front facades are visually continuous woven surfaces which also serve as screens. The vertically curved elevation of the main building is rendered as a curtain that expresses the flow of energy and breezes across the site.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

Thus, it becomes the memorable image of transverse spatial openness.

The garden is planted with trees, indigenous grasses and herbs that require minimum maintenance and irrigation and mark the seasons through their scents and changing colors.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade

Internal partitions along the length of the main block are glazed; thus, the perceptual boundaries and the character of interiors are defined by the external envelop.

Transverse partitions, aligned to building structure, are opaque in order to assist the definition of organizational and departmental units.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

The proportions of the secondary wing allow the interior to function well as an open plan oriented towards the garden.

The complex is approximately 10,000 square meters with an additional 9,000 square meters of underground parking to serve office employees and retail clients.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects

Environmental performance is enhanced by the combination of geothermal systems, an atrium at the center of the main office wing, and automatic B.M.S. coordination of the openings.

Main office entrances are situated on Pireos Street (for the narrow wing) and Kydonion Street (for the main block). Service entrances are provided along the side and back streets. Construction was completed in June 2010.

Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects


Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects
Shop & Trade
© Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects


Shop & Trade
Elevation
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Elevation
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Elevation


Shop & Trade
Plan
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Plan
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Shop & Trade
Site Plan

Kokkinou - Kourkoulas Architects and Associates
T +30 21 03612591
Kokkinou - Kourkoulas Architects and Associates
Chrisanthou Serron 7A, Athina 114 71, Greece