Thessaloniki, Greece
The project involves the creation of the Pinewood International English Language School, located within the premises of Anatolia College in Pylea, Thessaloniki. This school primarily serves the needs of foreign students residing in Greece and accommodates learners from 6th grade to 1st grade. The site has a natural slope descending from east to west, with the greatest elevation difference occurring at the southern end. The school complex is designed on a single level, which carefully takes into account these elevation changes in the surrounding landscape.
The Pinewood International School at Anatolia College won an 2025 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
Situated at the center of the Anatolia College campus, the school’s design aims to establish a modern complex that highlights the unique character of the institution. It is intended to be easily recognizable while integrating harmoniously with the broader historic context of the campus. The school embraces multiculturalism and diversity, fostering an environment where students from various social and cultural backgrounds can nurture critical thinking skills and prepare for global citizenship. This diversity is also expressed through the architectural style of the complex.
Key objectives include facilitating a functional connection between the school and the rest of the campus, strengthening the relationship between educational spaces and the natural environment, and integrating environmental architecture so that the building itself serves as a learning tool. The design features north-south oriented linear modules linked by two central atriums—one enclosed and one open. An east-west central circulation axis divides the school into two main areas: classrooms and laboratories. This layout creates open spaces that enhance the connection between indoor and outdoor activities.
Educational spaces comprise core classrooms as well as specialized rooms for art and science workshops. Additionally, multifunctional areas such as the main atrium accommodate events, presentations, theater performances, and group activities. Bioclimatic design is a fundamental aspect of the project’s architectural approach, aiming to minimize the building’s energy footprint by utilizing natural ventilation and lighting, along with renewable energy sources like photovoltaics. The incorporation of energy crystals and shading systems enhances thermal comfort, while thoughtful planting and landscaping of outdoor areas help establish a pleasant microclimate throughout the year.
Overall, Pinewood School is a contemporary addition to the historic Anatolia campus that reflects the evolving needs of a globalized society. With a strong emphasis on experiential education and environmentally responsive architecture, the complex is designed to offer students a dynamic setting conducive to learning and personal growth.
Architects : Micromega Architecture & Stategies together with Alexandros N. Tombazis and Associates Architects
Micromega Architecture & Strategies design Team:
Alexandros Zomas, Mara Papavasileiou, Margarita Micha, Natalia Tsakalaki- Karka, Dimitris Papageorgiou, Dimitris Karanasios, Anna Tsoka.
Alexandros N. Tombazis and Associates Architects design Team:
Stavros Gyftopoulos, Giannis Romanos, Konstantinos Varvitsiotis, Avgi Chatzipetrou, Vassiliki Makrozachopoulou, Ellie Karakatsani, Myrto Koutroupi , Konstantinos Franzeska Nafplioti.
General Contractor: ETETH SA
Client: Anatolia College Board of Trustees
Photographer: Giorgos Sfakianakis
