3SK Architects Office Building

Location:

Lycabettous, Athens

Year:

2001

This is the building which houses 3SK Stylianidis Architects on Kleomenous Street, Kolonaki. What makes this building stand out from the neighbouring ones is its enigmatic façade. A stainless steel mesh acts as a giant fencing mask suspended in front of the window frames behind which the concrete is visible; it is that glass and concrete which form the true façade.

The main volume of the building is a parallelogram that measures 7.00 x 17.00 meters; it is pierced diagonally by an exposed wedge-shaped concrete slab that dominates the space along its west side. This piercing forms the two storey section of the house while the rest remains a double height space completely open to the north, and serves as a covered courtyard. This architectural feature gives the building its unique character. The main bedroom is upstairs and looks out towards the above mentioned light-filled courtyard.

During the day this mesh appears to be a solid wall while at night it lights up as a veil revealing the activities in the office to the street. The architects create a small ‘theatre’ suspended above the ground floor pilotis which is used as a parking space and which also houses the reception area. The open part of the plot has been transformed into a small garden, making it a small oasis among the congested environment.

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