OF. Studio and Degree Zero Architects: Ten Towers of striking and innovative design compose an iconic skyline at the entrance of Thessaloniki, to highlight the new Central Business District of the city. A Podium, designed at the lower levels as a fluid and vivid zone of a wide programmatic range, sparks the revitalization of the site area, the adjacent city quarters and the city waterfront. Through a sequence of public Plazas, the proposal opens up and connects to the city at the North boundary, while it creates a public path throughout the project site. A green buffer zone of natural beauty and vitality forms the South edge towards the commercial port. In order to connect the development to the water without interrupting the operation of the commercial port, the water bays are expanded to reach the site. At the same time, to create a buffer zone with the port, the design explores the potential of using part of the port to create a unique green zone of coastal afforestation.
OCULIS by OF. Studio and Degree Zero Architects, Aerial View – Render by Cosmoscube
Design Proposal: Ten Towers of striking and innovative design compose an iconic skyline at the entrance of Thessaloniki, to highlight the new Central Business District of the city. A Podium, designed at the lower levels as a fluid and vivid zone of a wide programmatic range, sparks the revitalization of the site area, the adjacent city quarters and the city waterfront. Through a sequence of public Plazas, the proposal opens up and connects to the city at the North boundary, while it creates a public path throughout the project site. A green buffer zone of natural beauty and vitality forms the South edge towards the commercial port. In order to connect the development to the water without interrupting the operation of the commercial port, the water bays are expanded to reach the site. At the same time, to create a buffer zone with the port, the design explores the potential of using part of the port to create a unique green zone of coastal afforestation.
Ten Towers of striking and innovative design compose the iconic skyline of the new Central Business District of Thessaloniki
Towers - Modular concept: The design of the towers emerges from a basic tube-shape geometry which transforms to respond to different programmatic uses. This maintains formal coherence throughout the design proposal, while at the same time promotes mutation and variation, integrating the particularities of each tower according to functional requirements.
Towers - The Modular Concept
The podium: The podium represents the expansion of the city fabric into the site. It consists of a sequence of covered, semi-covered and open spaces, corresponding to the Mediterranean climate, rituals, and lifestyle. Multiple free-shaped spaces interconnect or detach to allow ventilation and sun penetration, while their roof is overhanging to provide shadow. Green roofs and ramping surfaces create a fluid and continuous landscape allowing routes for pedestrians and cyclists to circulate throughout the development. The podium creates bases for the towers, lifting their geometries above it, providing protected access to their circulation cores at ground level.
The podium creates base for the Towers, lifting their geometries above it – Render by Cosmoscube
The Podium consists of a sequence of covered, semi-covered and open spaces, corresponding to the Mediterranean climate, rituals, and lifestyle – Render by Cosmoscube
Façade System: The transparency or opaqueness of the façade system changes according to the use of each building, creating differentiation but also keeping in line with a general design approach
Layout at +82m, Ground Level and Basement: A fluid landscape runs throughout the development, connecting the various programmes of the towers
Programmatic Mix: A wide range of program is proposed and enhanced with two additional functions - Education and Cultural spaces, to further enrich the civil fabric
Sketch
Project Facts
Client: Alumil
Competition endorsed by UIA
About OF. Studio: Studio is a London based office interested in the dynamic triangle of artistic disciplines, architecture and human perception. Society, technology and culture are the main drivers of our designs that create meaningful interventions on local and global frameworks.
About Degree Zero Architectso: Degree Zero Architects is an architectural studio based in Athens. Degree Zero Architects utilise their extensive industry expertise and passion to deliver projects with an emphasis on design, programmatic innovation and construction quality. The studio aims for innovation in term of thinking and design approach, materials and processes.
