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Georgina Giassia ARCHITECTURE FOLIO OF WORK | 2014-2018
Contents
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Sustainable Urban Pixels Rethinking the Athenian Apartment Building inside the Block’s boundaries
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Floating Gardens
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C_29 Optimist
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H_77 House in Voula
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C_45 Be Fresh Pavilion
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Cultural Park of Athens
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Athens Living Hill
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EV - OLIVE - ING
Sustainable Urban Pixels Rethinking the Athenian Apartment Building inside the Block’s boundaries Design Thesis | Supervisor: Georgios A. Panetsos Presented on March 2018 | Grade: 9.88/10
Perspective View of the South-West
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This project comprises an onward study related to my research thesis, upon the emerged concerns of how we shall ensure living in our densely-built megacities where sustainability is mandatory. The urban study had to entail the most defective regions of Athens the capital of Greece, so I zoomed in a circle around the Omonoia square with 1km radius. I chose to analyze this part of the city through focusing solely on the characteristics connected with the principles of green architecture. Specifically, the outcome was the formation of 5 categories; the shape of street blocks, the direction of them, the openness of the boundaries of the inner vacant site, the figures of the inner vacant sites and last but not least the different types of obverse structured spaces. Combined and assessed the aforementioned, I chose one particular block to intervene; comprised of 7 apartment-buildings realized during the ‘60s and one neoclassical structure, defined by the streets Acharnwn, Ioulianou, Alkiviadous and Didumou, which is a pedestrian precinct. One striking element of the concept is the fact that the building block is perceived as a whole building mass, however the facades of each and every distinguishing building is respected uniquely but nevertheless designed as a unity. The proposal can be divided in steps. Firstly, as the existing buildings’ plans were reproduced and the whole building block modeled and analyzed to assess the annual solar performance, a certain usage change is suggested at the levels, where during winter the solar irradiation is marginal. Secondly, the volume of the building mass is opened up, aiming to achieve both better air quality in the iner part of the block and solar gains during wintertime in the south façade of the north zone. Thirdly, a dynamic self-empowering system is designed for the interior, based on the principles of Le Corbusier’s Maison Dom-ino and its resemblance with the Greek ‘polykatoikia’, where customization and participation is promoted as a symbol indissolubly connected to our era. Another step to emphasize, all the surfaces of the envelope are protected from summer irradiation through the design of movable shadings as passive systems, in accordance to the direction of the facades, the view and the privacy demanded. Apart from these, another layer to the skin of the overall building is added as thermal insulation, which is pre-fabricated and positioned in such a manner, consequently its texture and location will be reflecting the respectful architectural heritage it may cover. Ultimately, the essence of this project is not only to inaugurate a discussion about the urgency of re-evaluating and re-designing the existent structured mass, but also to offer a tactic as a tool to designers in order to alter sustainably the image of the city from this mundane concrete reality we live in.
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01_Sustainable Urban Pixels
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Roof Floor
6th Floor Plan Private Lofts
7th Floor
6th Floor
5th Floor
8 4th Floor
3rd Floor Plan Residential Apartments
3rd Floor
2nd Floor
2nd Floor Plan 1st Floor
Ground Floor
Office | Co-working Space
Retail
Nursery School
Parking Space
Neoclassical Building | Cultural
Auxiliary Facilities
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Section A
Section B
Section C 01_Sustainable Urban Pixels
Zoomed-in Frame | Closed Shading System
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Zoomed-in Frame | Opened Shading System
North Elevation
East Elevation
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West Elevation
South Elevation 01_Sustainable Urban Pixels
Artificiel
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As it is illustrated in the Exterior Perspective below, each existing apartment building maintained its own character morphologically, as different finishes with textures were studied, so as to propose a renewed vocabulary for the outer surface, which before was formed by plaster. This was the result of the acknowledgment that the majority of the Athenian apartment buildings built during the 60s-80s, were constructed with the “artificiel� finish. Consequently, the buildings which do not contribute to the Greek architectural heritage, the demanded insulation is placed on the outside of the envelope, shaping its final layer with textures according to the building’s context.
Perspective View from the opposite rooftop
Porous Green Plaza formed in the interior of the apartment block Inner Garden designed in the office level
01_Sustainable Urban Pixels
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Floating Gardens Professional Project (2018) | deca Architecture, Kelly Tsirimonakis (KT) Interior Design, Anna Sbokou (AS) Lighting, Elandscape | Concept, Architectural Drawings, Interior Construction Plans & Details Interior Design Team: Kelly Tsirimonakis, Angie Zafeiratou
Day 450
Day 1
South-East Elevation
01_basic garden
02_new topography
03_Building Ribbon
04_Formed Landscape Concept Diagram
The plot is located in Psychico, a Garden City in the center of Athens, one of the few areas of the metropolis that is organized in a concentric grid. Along its principal axis of the plot enjoys a nice view of Mount Hymmetos on the horizon while as you rise up to the higher levels of the garden, more closer views of the Tourkovounia hills are revealed towards the West. Floating Gardens is a concept for a family home in the Athenian suburb of Psychico. The design subverts the typical convention of a suburban residence where a house is placed on a plot of land surrounded by vegetation. Instead, the ground floats in mid-air on four different planes developed on a spiral structure, while vegetation hangs and climbs unifying the topographies into one three-dimensional garden. The Floating Gardens are supported by an exposed concrete skeleton and enclosure is created by walls of stone and glass that span the gaps defined by the skeleton. As fas as the landscape design is concerned, different gardens are created in each and every part of the house either on the horizontal or the vertical surfaces of the guardrail that shapes a serpentine folding around the house’s envelope. All the planted spaces aim to develop different experiences, based on the stimulation of all the human senses. For instance, at the ground level in the pool area low vegetation is designed that gradually ascends when reaching the borders of the house, whereas at the peripheral lively green landscapes are formed from shrubs, bamboos and airy trees with dense foliage, like Salix Alba. While, at the garden facing the dining and the kitchen areas, plantation triggering the sense of smell is proposed. Apart from these, a rose garden is introduced at the level of the walk in closet, as well as in the terrace of the study room where a jacuzzi is placed; an olive tree is the dominant feature of this garden, surrounded by shrubs that form a purple landscape. The concept of the interior focuses on the vibrant nature that is framed from the inside through the windows. For this reason, all the spaces are simple and bright to emphasize the greenery and give attention only to the detail of the furnishings that are designed as timeless objects. The materiality of the interiors is conceived by the fact that the shell of the house will be transformed beautifully over time with all the growing plantation. Natural materials, such as wood, concrete and marble, leave imprints of their weathering and gradually create smooth and ever-changing patterns, whilst changing color and texture. As time leaves its mark, the residence’s aesthetic will constantly develop in an elegant and natural manner that will integrate more and more with its surroundings, resulting in a perfect camouflage.
Day 450
Day 1
North-West Elevation | Entrance 02_ Floating Gardens
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Kitchen Interior Elevations
Kitchen | 3d Visualization: Novarc
Dining Room | 3d Visualization: Novarc
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Hollow Section for Marble Support
Wc | 3d Visualization: Novarc
Ground Floor Plan
Washbasin Furniture Detail
Living Room | 3d Visualization : decaARCHITECTURE
Walk in Closet | 3d Visualization : Novarc
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HER Master Bathroom | 3d Visualization: Novarc 17
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+4.95 +4.50
HIS Master Bathroom | 3d Visualization: Novarc
2nd Floor Plan
Master Bedroom | 3d Visualization : decaARCHITECTURE 02_ Floating Gardens
C_29 Optimist Professional Project (2015) | 314 Architecture Studio | Construction Details & Supervision Design Team Members: Giota Chala, Theodora Papadopoulou, Stelios Dilintas, Andrea Bratu, Karoline Kalionyte
Exterior View of the Courtyard | Photographer Panagiotis Voumvakis
Texture Concept | North Elevation of the Main Hall
The optical shop C_29 | ’Optimist’, is located in an inter-war listed building and the total surface is 90m2, in the centre of Chalkida, Euboia, Greece. The space is airy and expands along the central market of the town. Also, the back courtyard / patio takes place in the core of the whole building, therefore has a catalytic role in the architecural synthesis . The building itself is a composite construction with the ground floor made out of bearing masonry and the two floors above of reinforced concrete bearer and filling brickwork. The main design concept was the creation of a gradient in the texture of materiality in order to take advantage the existing ambience. The final interiors of the proposal aimed to study and analyze the effects of both reflection and diffusion of light would have in space. For this to be emphasized, the space was designed white and bare, so as to be fulfilled with only the final product. Furthermore, the choice of materials was made accordingly, such as mirror, white plaster whit mat finishes, whereas the white wood in the furnishings was painted reflective to follow the logic of the mirror. Consequently, the designed objects through their sound existence or their theoretical absence in the formed space, achieved a gallery feeling optical shop. Apart from these, the courtyard space is recorded by an imaginary cube and some utilitarian objects are transformed into prismatic sculptures. Due to the plan configuration, the visual contact from the courtyard to the shop was not feasible. For this reason, a wall was formed at an angle of 45 degrees in the intermediate space fully covered by mirror, to obtain the visual continuity throughout someone’s movement inside the shop.
Texture Concept | East Elevation of the Main Hall 04_ C_29 Optimist
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Spread of the Object A
Top view mirror
Side Elevation
Construction Plans for the Origami Furniture 20
Ground Floor Plan
Back Elevation
mirror
Front Elevation
Interior View of the Main Hall | Photographer Panagiotis Voumvakis
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H_77 House in Voula Professional Project (2016) | 314 Architecture Studio | Concept, Architectural Plans for Building Permit & Modelmaking | Design Team Members: Giota Chala, Carlos Celles, Olga Markou, Valia Gatsiou, Evita Lazou
Birds Eye View
West Elevation
The H_77 House is a private four story residential building in Voula, a southern suburb of Athens in Greece. Due to its strategic position towards the sea and upper lands, this 300 sq. m. house is designed as an extroverted residence with adaptable features. The main factor that outlined the whole building was that certain plot specifications and restrictions formed the triangular outline of the floor plan. The concept of the volume then was to be shaped and sculpted as a traditional japanese origami craft. Thus, the architectural vocabulary of the triangulated surfaces expresses a climax and is well-blended to the surroundings, as the natural terrain is extremely rocky, but in some occasions is flattened and used as a terrace, while in others becomes part of the building as a structural feature. Inside, the uppermost storey located in the roof contains the master suite, living rooms and secondary bedrooms are included in the middle levels, while the lowest level contains auxiliary spaces and a parking area. The design’s basic characteristic which contributes to the sustainability and the privacy of the house, is the passive shading system of movable aluminum curtains that covers all the exposed double-glazed windows. Through this way, not only the interior is protected from the direct solar radiation, but also a deterrent filter for the strong winds is installed. For this to be achieved these curtains are also programmed electrically to optimize natural lighting and ventilation during the day, depending on the hour and the season.
Under Construction | Photograph: Pavlos Chatziangelidhs 05_ H_77 House in Voula
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2nd Floor Plan
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1st Floor Plan
Ground Floor Plan
Interior Perspective of the Master Bedroom
05_ H_77 House in Voula
C_45 Be Fresh Pavilion Professional Project (2016) | 314 Architecture Studio | Concept, Architectural & Construction Plans | Design Team Members: Giota Chala, Carlos Celles, Olga Markou, Valia Gatsiou, Evita Lazou, Athina Argyropoulou
Exterior View from the Entrance
This retail project is about a pavilion made for commercial use for a soft drinks’ company named “be fresh spitiko” that produces homemade juices. The design concept was the transformation of an industrial era greenhouse, to be linked with a unique product coming from nature. The transformation refers to the redesign of the greenhouse geometry using a more contemporary form, keeping though the materiality and the essence of a classic greenhouse structure. The construction consists of a metal wire-frame filled with colored glass panels. The demanded spaces were firstly, a working area for two persons who would perform all the procedures for the production of the homemade juices. Secondly, two main distribution points from where the visitor could grab the product of his own choice following the fast pace of the expo. Last but not least, the interior of the pavilion formed by the unobstructed flow of the visitor’s movement, where he could be informed in detail about the company. The aim was to fulfill the paradox that the pavilion should at the same time, be transparent enough to inform at a quick glance the visitor about the brand, but also mysteriously interesting, in order to welcome him at a unique experience to discover the ‘secrets’ of the products.
Compartment Spread 05_ H_77 House in Voula
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Plan
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Section A
Section B
Exterior View from the Back Side
Cultural Park of Athens Academic Project (2014) | Architectural Studio 8 Supervisor: Georgios A. Panetsos | Team Member: Aggelikh Drakonaki
Siteplan
Concept Diagram | Viewpoints
The main intention of this project is to unite all the existing cultural fragments on the site, while taking advantage the main underground entrance of the major metro station called Evangelismos. Initially, the site is comprised of seven (7) urban building blocks, varying on size. On these, seven (7) buildings out of grave importance for the city are built having diversity of uses. Specifically, these are: (1) the National Conservatory of Athens, (2) the Hall of Military, (3) the Archaeological ruins of Aristotle’s lyceum, (4) the Byzantine & Christian Museum, (5) the War Museum, (6) the National Art Gallery and (7) the National Hellenic Research Foundation. Consequently, the main concept formed as follows; not to design another building on this plot, but to highlight the seven (7) existing ones through sculpting the landscape. For this to be accomplished, the initial number of building blocks converted to six, as it seen in the topographical plan in the previous page. Then, the strategy of alternating the ground morphology based on the notion of view points. The two key factors are; in the urban scale the axes connecting the site with the primary Athenian landmarks which are the Acropolis and the Lycabettus Hill, whereas in the zoomed scale of the plot boundaries, open spaces are designed as plazas at different heights and points invariably defined with the mere goal not to only emphasize the existing buildings’ architectural heritage, but also to assist their public function. Thus, the prevailing circulation is designed from the metro station as an onset point following paths heading to these plazas. Additionally, parking spaces, bike lanes and existing passage ways, offering secondary entrances from the neighborhood are integrated in the general plan. New uses are added as supplementary spaces to the initial program. For instance, an info point of the cultural park is created near the metro station, cafeterias and restaurants as well as a modern art gallery and finally a museum showcasing ancient sculptures found on the plot, placed near the Aristotle’s Lyceum. All the aforementioned supportive spaces are firstly, built either inside artificial hills or below one of the two major plazas which are created at different levels, taking advantage of the site’s inclination and view points. The one formed at the lower point of the plot, is associated with the main entrance to the park from the metro station, acts as a meeting point as well as an urban capacitor condensing all the movements. While, the one at the highest level is connected with the Byzantine & Christian Museum via bridge, offering panoramic views not only to the Acropolis but also to the cultural park. Last but not least, the vegetation as well as the artificial water canals define the outer layer of the park, in order to form a sustainable, perforated veil that isolates the visitors from the hustle and bustle of the city, with its views, smells and sounds.
Proposed Volumes & Inclination 06_Cultural Park of Athens
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Pespective View towards North-East
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Axonomentric View of the Siteplan
NETWORK OF WATER CHANNELS Rainwater Utilization Irrigation Improvement of Microclimate
TYPES OF PLANTING Formation of the new ‘Porous’ Landscape
THE GROUND Shaped Hills Taking advantage of the site’s inclination Openings and Ground Sections highlight the existing buildings and the Attic Scenery
GRID OF MOVEMENTS 2 Main Plazas acting as Urban Condensers Circulation Areas and Entrances to the park
EXISTING BUILDINGS Cultural Patchwork
Exploded Axonometric with different layers of the Landscape Design 06_Cultural Park of Athens
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Athens Living Hill Academic Project (2013) | Architectural Studio 7 Supervisor: Panos Dragonas | Team Member: Papanastasatos Giorgis
Perspective View of the Promenade | Agricultural Urban Fields
Concept Diagram
This project is a multi-functional building containing public spaces, co-working offices and private aparments. The site is located in the district of Elaionas in the city of Athens, Greece. The surroundings contain light-industry buildings, warehouses, as well as modern apartment buildings and lofts. This phenomenon represents a contradictory area, partially underdeveloped, where in fact regeneration plans have been outlined but never completed holistically, due to property issues. The concept as an inspiration is to incorporate the rural life in a neighborhood with large-scaled constructions which is located in a densely-built city with no green areas to alleviate the island effect. Thus, to let the building breath; spaces focused on agriculture created, not only private but also public, available to be used from the neighboring houses, in order to provoke socializing, while also escaping from the urban lifestyle. Specifically, the outer shell and especially the roof plane is formed as a promenade with panoramic views, among the cultivation beds, currently unexpected since Athenians are not used in such experiences to that part of the city, because of its urban tissue and surroundings lacking of public spaces. As fas as the private agricultural fields are concerned, they are converted into vertical hydroponic cultivations, forming the lungs of the Living Hill. Since, aimed to be used only by the residents their design is internally linked to the apartment’s one. For the mere goal of having unobstructed cross-ventilated interiors, these four (4) vertical cavities disrupt the main volume, but also offer privacy while covering the internal patios of the apartments. In addition, these vertical fields with inclination act as an essential element of microclimate, whereas the bridges between them carry the circulation. Finally, the main volume of the structure is elevated so that it creates a public space on the ground floor, complementing the public library and the restaurant placed in the existing building of the site. The first floor is an open plan co-working space, offering spacious working stations that meet all the needs. Last but not least, the residencies are located in the upper levels in various dwelling typologies. Their design aim, not only to criticize and renew the existing plan typologies, but also to propose new ones, which meet the demands of today’s society, and are addressed to all the different target groups, such as students, young professionals, couples, artists and families. Siteplan
07_Athens Living Hill
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2nd Floor Plan | 4 Residential Typologies
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Section A-A’
Ground Floor Plan | Public Space
Pespective View of the Inner part of the Building | Residential Hydroponic Cultivations
07_Athens Living Hill
EV - OLIVE - ING International Architectural Competitnion (2014) | Evolo Skyscraper Competition Team Members: Chareas Alexandros, Giotakou Anna, Houssein Jason, Liaptsi Katerina, Papanastasatos Giorgis
Perspective View from the Sea Level
Concept Diagram
This project has to do with five skyscrapers in the Mediterranean Sea, which focus on researching and processing the olive and its products. They are placed at waterfront locations with edgy cliffs at the Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey) creating a network that contributes to the commerce of these products and as a result to the financial development of each country. In this project, located in the country of Greece and specifically in the island of Paxos, it is proposed how these skyscrapers are attached to the land and finally operate. Specifically, the concept is consisted of two elements, one robust cylinder shape that contains the olive production unit and one system of partitions which wrap around the cylinder shaped element that entail the educational-research center and ancillary facilities. The core of the production unit is a mechanism that is articulated along the z axis based on the stages of the olive process. These stages are; the insertion of the raw material (olives), the process of it – filtration olive fruit with the use of strong air for the removal of leaves and trashed, purification, weighting, crushing, mollification, separation of liquid and solid parts, further edit to generate the final products – the packaging and finally, the export. As a result, the raw material is inserted as an input, through the upper part of the building, processed in the middle part, following a vertical path and exported out of the lower part of the building, consisting the output. Therefore, a platform is placed at the top of the building for aircraft landing and a port at the sea level. Furthermore, the vertical mechanism of olive processing is surrounded by an intermediary perforated space, which contains the horizontal and vertical circulation in the building. Thus, a circumferential area is formed in the whole building where storage and utility rooms for the production unit are placed. Except for these, at the level of 150 meters (above sea) the interior of the skyscraper is connected to the land. According to the construction, which is suspended, the overall radius of the circumferential area decreases gradually from top to bottom. As it was aforementioned, apart from the cylindrical volume of the production unit, there is also a system of smaller-sized fragments; surrounding it, while containing the educational-research center, as well as a residential complex with temporary dwellings for visitors and permanent housings for those who study or work there. These fragments are constructed at a distance from the production unit for ventilation, but also are attached to it with bridges-passages. So, each one has its own secondary vertical circulation. The structure of them has been based on a repeated prismatic pattern, the edge of which is 8m. Siteplan Another feature of the skyscraper is the fact that it reassures its sustainability, by collecting energy either from the environment (solar and hydro) or from the industrial process waste (pellet) that takes place in it. For instance, the coronation of the cylinder shaped element is clad with solar cells and its lowest part penetrates into the sea, so as to collect dynamic energy from the waves. These two components are connected with a vertical “tube” that thrusts the machine, and from the one side it transfers energy to all the stages of the production unit, in order to operate, whereas on the other side it collects the waste (pellet) to the bottom so as to burn and produce electricity. This is how the building is considered as auto-trophic since it recycles its own energy. This network of skyscrapers could be an industry exemplar in the future, as it contributes to cooperation between nations and to global economic and scientific development in an environmental friendly way.
08_EV - OLIVE - ING
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Plan | 150m
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Plan | 48m
Olive Industry & Energy Diagram
Port Plan
08_EV - OLIVE - ING
Designed by G. Giassia GR 2018
