Central Business District, Thessaloniki

THESSALONIKI

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Thessaloniki

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This project is a design exploration that aims to improve Thessaloniki’s west waterfront area, which as per today, an underused urban area. We aim to strengthen the city’s image, livability, productivity and the overall ecology through this proposal.

Through this investigation we propose a sustainable, conceptual design solution backed by research into leading case studies, environmental analysis, and a content sensitive approach that integrated the proposal into Thessaloniki’s urban fabric.

LEGEND

100m

200m

Fittest Outcomes

Experiment The design is driven by criteria that we deem essential in the context of Thessaloniki. As these criteria are multiple parameters, a generative algorithm (multi-objective optimization) is devised to create optimum solutions based on the fitness criteria (FC). These solutions are evaluated based on empirical data and a solution is selected based on criteria that are considered most important.

Solution has a high sunlight incident on the facade and allows high wind flow

Although this solution has the maximum efficiency, it does not perform well in any FC

Fitness Criteria

Solution allows high wind flow and has the maximum open space on ground level

FC1: Maximize sunlight on the building

FC2: Maximize ocean view

FC3: Maximize SE wind flow Priority 1

Solution has a high view factor and high shading at the ground level

Solution has a high view factor and large open spaces on ground level

FC4: Maximize ground shading

FC5: Maximize ground level open spaces Priority 2

This solution optimizes all objectives equally proving that averages are never favourable

Office Retail/Leisure Hotel Business Center/Auditorium Residential

Area Statement

1. Water at Underbelly level in the direction of the prevailing winds enables Evaporative Cooling in the Site.

2. Hotel

3. Retail spill-out

4. Office Drive-way