Platinum Winner of the Architecture & Design Collection Awards 2023
Architect / Designer:
Spyros Tsagkaratos
Studio:
ASPA KST
Design Team:
Architectural design: ASPA KST architecture design planning
Structural engineering: G. Chatzistergiou
Mechanical- Electrical engineering: CONAP
Client: Ble Kedros REIC Design
Construction period: 2018-ongoing
Copyright:
CGI: AIMIR (images 1,2)
Country:
United Kingdom
The project is a proposal for a hotel with capacity of 129 keys, located in the center of Athens, Greece, with views of the Acropolis.
The original complex consists of 3 neoclassical buildings that create a central courtyard. It was originally a school in the late 19th Century. In 2001 it was partially demolished and converted into an 8th floor overground parking. From the original building only parts of the façade were maintained and were later listed. These facades are significant for the area, as they are some of last remaining samples of the era.
The main design intents are:
-The integration of the neoclassical façade in the new function of the building.
-The restoration of the Neoclassical facades that will become a focal point of the building.
-The conversion of the central courtyard into the social heart of the building.
-The volumetric design will serve as a canvas to the neoclassical listed facades.
-The clear separation of the listed and contemporary parts with the use of Atmospheric Corrosion Resistant Steel material as cladding for the new building. This material will work well with the proposed off-white neoclassical facades. The proposal’s monolithic aesthetic is reinforced by a weathering steel mesh that covers the openings.
Overall, the proposal aims to celebrate the history of the building in its different stages while being contemporary and functional. The environmental aspect is a particularly important part of this project, which is why techniques such as maintaining and reinforcing the existing structure, minimizing the glazing in the facades and ensuring natural light and ventilation.
ASPA KST
ASPA KST architecture design planning was established in 1990 in Athens, by a group of professionals with expertise in architectural design and urban planning in both public and private sectors. For the past thirty years, ASPA KST has grown to become an international office with projects in Greece and abroad and one of the largest architecture and design practices in Greece. In 2020, ASPA KST opened its UK branch, in London. The company’s work extends to all scales, from urban planning to architecture, to interior design. The projects range from residential, restaurants and hotels to hospitals, shopping malls and office buildings, as well as masterplans and urban design. We are committed to creating architecture and urbanism that has a positive impact on the world around us, both from an aesthetic and an environmental point of view.