Located in the campus of National Research Center and Technological Development (CERTH), Greenhouse (SMART Agri-Food pilot) is designed to cover the needs of the Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) in Eastern Thessaloniki, Greece. The area is easily accessible and offers a great view of Thermaikos Gulf and the city itself.
Studio Name: OFFICETWENTYFIVEARCHITECTS
Design Principal: Thanasis Chrysomallis, Antonis Perpatidis, Manolis Vourakis
Design Team: Thanasis Chrysomallis, Antonis Perpatidis, Eleni Theodoridou, Sotiris Chatzis, Dimitris Bakas, Vicky Privartitsiani
Area: 450m2
Year: 2022
Location: Thessaloniki, Greece
Consultants: Gerasimos Kampitsis and Associates, MPE Engineers | Hyperstatic Engineering Design Civil and Structural Engineering
Photography Credits: Sotiris Chatzis, courtesy of OFFICETWENTYFIVEARCHITECTS
The design responds to a new pilot plant cultivation practice of just two employees, generating a composition which combines both spatial and environmental requirements of a greenhouse. It was a necessity to create both a shell and a floor plan that will adapt to needs of the Institute.
The initial and main factors in the development of the proposal were not only orientation, views and morphology of the ground, but also the rounded form of a greenhouse. At last the building turns out as an oval glass volume that allows natural light to enter space, while a casing grounded in four places covers its upper part in order to support its shell. As for the interior, workspaces are located in the back of the composition in order to offer a high-ceiling open space for cultivations. The proposal is placed in an area of steep altitude resulting in appearing to emerge from the natural ground, in correspondence with its function as place of production of life from the earth.
Having a sustainable approach in mind, passive horizontal shading systems are installed on the elevations to control shading of spaces, achieving a proper thermal condition both for the function of the greenhouse as a cultivation area but also the workspaces.
This evolutionary design combines the structure and organization of an ordinary greenhouse, aiming for the best possible operation in its interior, while it focuses on its emergence as a second generation greenhouse capable of representing an era of great technological innovation and evolution.
About the office
Abstract about practice in third person:
OFFICETWENTYFIVEARCHITECTS is an architects practice based in Greece (Thessaloniki and Athens) and UK (London). The office was originally set up in Thessaloniki in 2003. It has since grown its output reach both nationally and internationally and has secured more than 30 highly regarded industry awards and distinctions. Evident in the variety, scale and sheer number of projects the practice has completed to date is its commitment to great design and quality architecture.
The inhouse team of architects closely follow the founding partners work ethos and approach:
- To maintain a creative project-oriented collaboration with all parties
- To generate design with clarity and purpose that is developed, refined, constructed and successfully delivered
- To ensure clients’ aspirations are not only met but also exceeded
- To do so on time and on budget
- To deliver the highest level of design
The team is expertly skilled in the manipulation of cutting-edge software used in the production and co- ordination of design packages. Many of its members have led projects from inception to completion and bring a wealth of capabilities to the designs we deliver.
OFFICETWENTYFIVEARCHITECTS is a Royal Institute of British Architects Chartered Practice and as such abides to the RIBA criteria and standards, with excellent references from both private and commercial clients.
Proven track record of internationally completed projects and further information about their work can also be found on their webpage https://o25.gr/
