Neiheiser Argyros has reinvented an unloved commercial property in Athens as a sharp new office building that plays with colour and volume
In its latest project, Art1 Office, London-based architecture practice Neiheiser Argyros has transformed a neglected commercial property in Athens into an impressive office building. After being abandoned for over five years, the six-storey structure today stands as a colourful landmark that boasts 2,300sq m of workspace.
The project came about when Neiheiser Argyros was approached by investment management company Hellenic Properties to breathe some life into the unloved 1980s building.
“When we started work on Art1 it was in a pretty bad state of disrepair,” states Ryan Neiheiser, director of Neiheiser Argyros. According to the designer, having irregular walls and column grids made it much harder to work with the building than with traditional office schemes. “As a result, the office’s arrangement was motivated by us trying to rationalise the existing structure’s messy interior.”
One of the key ambitions of the project was to create a visual link to the park at the back of the building. Neiheiser Argyros reorientated the scheme so that the practice could take full advantage of the nearby green space. “We wanted to provide views to the park, so we added a lot of glass at the rear of the building,” explains Neiheiser. These openings not only allow for great views but also allow ample amounts of daylight to flood the building.
Continuing in this vein, Neiheiser Argyros added several openings to allow access to previously inaccessible balconies. This connection with the outdoors is continued at the apex of the building where the once uninhabitable roof is now used as a space for events, parties and yoga classes.
“We wanted to give opportunities to both socialise and work outside,” states Neiheiser. Here mint green seating and tiled outdoor furniture meet a perforated metal pergola. In this plant- filled zone, a small kitchen and bar area can also be found if you aren’t too distracted by Santiago Calatrava’s 2004 Olympic Stadium in the distance.
Inside, punches of colour cleverly complement the exposed concrete ceiling. “We removed the layers of plasterboard and stripped the materials back to expose the raw ceiling,” says Neiheiser. Here smooth marble flooring that has been intricately restored is paired with bold red chairs and balustrades. The result is a stylish interior that merges interesting geometric forms with a frenzy of contemporary hues.
As you walk around the seven-level building, bespoke furniture can be seen, adding vibrancy to grey tones. Across the scheme, there are three large marble seating objects, a spacious terrazzo stair that doubles up as an amphitheatre for events, as well as a sleek red perforated structure that acts as a library. While every floor is generally quite different, flexible working zones can be found on each level along with more private meeting rooms. “The logic was to put private office spaces and meeting rooms on the outer areas and open plan elements in the central zones,” says Neiheiser.
The exterior, on the other hand, is a playful collection of volumes made up of saturated tones. “We used colour, texture and different window sizes to give each of the 12 forms its own character and identity,” he adds.
Neiheiser Argyros clad the elevator massing in a pale turquoise tile, which complements a black and white stair core that has a subtle touch of yellow through the smart use of window frames. The service core on the other hand is finished in a peach pink render that contrasts the blue metal panels of the open office spaces.
Sustainability was a key driver from the start of the project. “We put photovoltaic panels as a cladding system on one of the volumes to generate electricity,” states Neiheiser. The building also features high-performance insulation and low-energy MEP systems. “We added a substantial layer of insulation to the outside of the building to give it a good energy rating.”
Art1 Office is a successful revival of a tired building in the suburbs of Greece’s capital. Using the existing forms, a pared-down material and colour palette, and sustainable systems, Neiheiser Argyros has achieved a playful office space that provides something new and refreshing in Athens.
Images by Lorenzo Zandri
This story was originally featured in OnOffice 162, Spring 2023. Discover similar stories by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here
