Re-examining the urban fabric of Athens
The creation of 102 x Metaksourgio high-density housing in the urban fabric of Athens involved a re-examination of housing methods. It was necessary to define a system of organizing the various housing unit elements so that they can adapt and change according to the occupants’ needs through time. A basic structure able to accept the housing units and their possible alterations is the main organizational element of the complex. The basic structure is created in one phase while the elements of the housing units may start to occupy the premises at different times. Thus the complex may be in constant evolution and re-definition over time. The volume of the building complex occupies the outer parts of the city block defining the streets, while leaving a central interior courtyard for use by the residents. This in turn differentiates the circulation of residents from that of the shoppers who access the retail spaces at the street level. This internal courtyard includes planting areas, a swimming pool and circulation. The entry to the courtyard is achieved through two openings in the building, one at Germanikou Street and the other at Leonidou Street at the point where the listed building facade is located. “Wet” areas (kitchen, bathroom) and storage spaces are placed on central zones, leaving the rest of the housing to circulate around the basic amenities. The outer-most zones, either at the street or at the “internal” courtyard sides, serve as areas of expansion and change where the housing unit can proliferate and expand either as exterior or interior space.
Built area: 4707,23 sq m | Coverage: 1504,55 sq m | Number of floors: 4 | Total number of units: 31 | Total number of retail units: 7
|
