Athens, Greece
Xristina Argyros and Ryan Neiheiser of the London and Athens-based architecture office Neiheiser Argyros have successfully renovated the enlivened ART1 office building for Hellenic Properties, which offers a new sustainable and flexible working environment complete with a roof garden.
The 40-year-old, six-story building located in the northern suburb of Marousi and one block away from high-end office Fragoklissias Street now provides ideal conditions and comfortable workplaces.
Named Art1 Office, the project retrofits what used to be a confusing muddle of geometric clashes, now untangled and rearticulated as if the building is composed of twelve separate buildings, each with its own cladding logic, and interior atmosphere.
The building incorporates a range of sustainability strategies—high-performance insulation and windows, the use of local natural materials, low-energy MEP systems, charging stations and bike parking, and integrated photovoltaic panels—and achieves the local A+ highest energy efficiency grade.
On the exterior, the architects mixed subtle variations of black, white, grey, and gold to the cladding to highlight and articulate the building’s parti and its redefined contemporary shapes, volumes, and surfaces.
Inside, calculated areas of color have been added throughout to harmonize with the restored black marble floor and the exposed concrete ceiling structure.
The juxtaposition of polish added to the raw concrete surfaces holds blends the entire interior scheme together.
The result is a refreshing new office building that blends its spiky geometric shapes, animated color, and quality materials that blend together into a spirited, colorful environment.
Above, a new green roof and pergola on top of the building connect to the outdoor spaces and the busy urban neighborhood of Athens.
Project: Art1 Office
Architects: Neiheiser Argyros
Lead Architects: Xristina Argyros and Ryan Neiheiser
Client/Developer: Hellenic Properties
Photographs: Lorenzo Zandri
