athanasios korras portfolio
Athanasios Korras Date of Birth:
28 May 1985
Natonality:
Greek
Address:
Mpoumpoulinas 28
106 82
Athens
Greece
e-mail:
a.korras@gmail.com
telephone:
(+30) 6972 558744
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Academic projects
1.1
The Julian Road Building, bath, UK
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1.3
Primary School in Hartcliffe, Bristol, UK
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1.4
Writer’s Shed in sloping site
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1.5
Public Library in Bath, UK
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Professional projects
2.1
Family House, Attica, Greece
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2.2
Pastry Shop, Athens, Greece
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2.3
Pavilion for Tourism EXPO, Thessaloniki, Greece
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2.4
Suite for Hotel, private competition
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2.5
3-storey Apartment Building, Athens, Greece
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2.6
Hotel room design in 200 - room hotel, Thessaloniki, Greece
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1.1 THE JULIAN ROAD BUILDING • • •
Individual 4th year university project Completed on May 2008 Supervisor: Toby Lewis
The brief
Goals
I am designing an owner-occupier accommodation 41-apartment block with retail and communal facilities of medium to high specifications with a target group of people between the ages of 25-45 in the Bath city centre.
• • • • • • •
Inspiration
Introduce a piece of modern architecture to Bath Propose a different model of living in Bath Recapture the classy feeling of Julian Road Introduce Mediterranean elements to the design Concentrate on human scale of apartments Present a detailed proposal for the interiors Provide residential option for youth in Bath Unite d’habitation designed by Le Corbusier
Design statement I designed a 41-apartment building block in the centre of Bath which aims to provide a different option for its residents in their model of living. It emphasizes on communal facilities which attempts to create a strong bond between the residents and enrich their day-to-day experience. The design is oriented towards young couples through its vibrant atmosphere and attempts to familiarize Bath with a different architectural proposal. Outdoor private spaces have been provided to each apartment, an amenity that is extremely rare in the UK. The biggest asset of the design is that it permits for the occupiers to choose between living communally or privately at any given time.
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Building’s conceptual diagram The concept is that a central, square, collective space, the shared landscape is protected by a volume placed on each side of this square accommodating the dwellings and communal rooms. The corners of this square are treated differently, each one marking a change on the apartment type and creating positive or negative volumes respectively. Circulation is in direct visual relationship with the central landscape to avoid the use of long, dull corridors. Finally, a last layer of private outside spaces is added to the square, enhancing the choice between living privately or communal.
Apartment’s conceptual diagram The concept of the “service wall” is of high importance in the apartment. This wall accommodates all storage and working areas of the apartment and runs through the whole length of the apartment. It also extends to the outside private terrace, adding in that way a personal touch to the building’s elevation and treating the latter as a living element. The apartment is usually deep-plan and open-space with a central bathroom core separating the uses of shared and private.
Building’s diagram
Apartment’s conceptual elevation
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1:500 Ground floor plan Retail units are introduced to the street level of Julian Road. It is an attempt for the building to engage with pedestrians and contribute to a more breathing Julian Road. The rest of the floor gradually becomes underground due to the site’s slope and is devoted to parking and services. I have allowed for a parking space per apartment ratio of 1.00. I understand that building regulation set this value to 0.7 but I believe that the ratio of 1.00 is viable and more suitable to the needs of a city of Bath’s resident. Moreover, I have allowed a bicycle holder per apartment ratio of 1.00. Finally, a waste disposal room is situated with direct secure access from Ballance Street in order to ease the waste collection process and avoid collecting waste on the street level.
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1:500 1st floor plan Entering from the main west entrance one would immediately land to the building’s main horizontal and vertical circulation. One the South part there is a series of deep plan double - height loft style apartments and a three bedroom family apartment. On both east and west part two - bedroom apartments with both terraced outside spaces and gardens are placed. On the North part we encounter the communal room which would serve a wide range of purposes from a simple gathering and dinner to a party. The communal room has direct access to the shared landscape, which is equipped with a swimming pool, both 80 cm lower than the apartments’ floor level to provide the sense of separate functions. Finally, on the northeast corner separated and access controlled by the communal room, the nursery functions, protected from the east street by the introduction of both a small external space and a semi-external one which allows for wider range of functions.
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1:500 2nd floor plan On 2nd floor circulation is minimized to the west part of the building since south and east apartments are double height ones with entrances through 1st and 3rd floor respectively. In the west part a new studio apartment type makes its appearance while on the north part I introduce two new wide plan family apartments.
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1:500 3rd floor plan On the highest floor of the building circulation becomes as in the 1st floor again. On the south, a new loft style onebedroom apartment is introduced, while on the west a three-bedroom, two-storey family apartment type is introduced.
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Perspective sections
Section A
Section A inverse
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Section B
Section B inverse
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Apartment Interiors
2nd floor plan
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1st floor plan
Interior view
View of the staircase and kitchen
Plan ( Studio )
Studio apartment
Plan ( 1-bedroom )
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Visuals & model
South view
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West view
Model views
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Construction details
Window and sliding door detail
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1
pitched roof construction
aluminium sheets
50 mm plywood
sealing layer
20 mm cavity
200 mm thermal insulation
between 60 x 200 mm rafters
vapor barrier
12.5 mm gypsum board
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flat roof construction
80 mm vegetation
layer of screed with gradient
separation layer PE membrane
100 mm thermal insulation
vapour barrier, impermeable membrane
200 mm reinforced concrete slab
20 mm render
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Aluminium sheeting 1 mm
Plywood panel 40 mm
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floor construction
0.1 mm marmoleum industrial flooring
65 mm cement screed for underfloor heating
polyethylene membrane
40 mm thermal insulation
bituminous membrane, double layer
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terrace construction
20 mm ceramic tiles
40 mm concrete screed with slope
polyethylene membrane
100 mm thermal insulation
bituminous membrane, double layer
200 mm reinforced concrete slab
180 reinforced concrete slab
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280 x 60 mm painted oak stair goings
on 260 x 10mm flat steel plates
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non load bearing interior walls
100 mm brickwork
20 mm render on both sides
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floor construction
0.1 mm marmoleum industrial flooring
85 mm cement screed for underfloor heating polyethylene membrane
80 mm thermal insulation
bituminous membrane, double layer
180 reinforced concrete slab
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12.5 mm gypsum board hanging from
metal structure
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transfer beam 1000mm x 600mm
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pile cap
Detail of elastic glass railing
Detail of fixed louvers and fixed window with internal drapes
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1.2 BRITISH PAVILION FOR THE 2010 WORLD EXPO • • •
Group 4th year university project Completed on December 2007 Supervisor: Alex Wright
The brief
Goals
The project is to design the British Pavilion for the 2010 World EXPO in Shanghai, China.
• • • • • •
It should deliver a lasting impression of the UK’s contribution to the theme Better City, Better Life. The aim is to draw on a pool of creative talents in the design industry.
•
Inspiration
‘Free-flow’ diagram Wind channelling Protective ‘cloud’ canopy Purifying ‘green’ walls Central, collective space Building responsiveness to outdoor conditions No formal entrance. Each visitor experiences a different journey
Blur Building designed by Diller + Scofidio
Design statement The concept we arrived from to our current building is the British weather and the effect it can have in all our senses.The key aspects of British weather are wind, clouds, rain and the fact that each one of them can unexpectedly change. We exploited the characteristics of each one of them treating wind as the driving force, using ‘the cloud’ as the protective force and creating the illusion of rain. As a result, we present you with the British Weather Pavilion; a pavilion that attempts to relatively change the weather through an integrated approach to spatial planning, structural and environmental control. It aims to take you on a climatic journey around a central collective point where a range of, mainly, passive systems work together to create a welcome retreat from the harsh Shanghai environment.
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The site The expo site is situated very centrally of Shanghai. It is carefully chosen to be equidistant from 3 of the main transportation Stations. It is situated partly on both sides of Huangpu River. It is a connection between the old, historic centre of Puxi with the new, modern and developing one, Pudong. The British pavilion is situated on the Huangpu River’s side. That creates the opportunity for views across the river. The main access to the site is alongside the south part on both west and east sides. Moreover, the prevailing winds for the time that the EXPO will be open are mainly south-east ones. That combined with the main access to our site could prove a starting point for our Pavilion entrance. EXPO site
British Pavilion site
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Fin / radial walls The radial walls serve both an environmental and an architectural purpose.
Environmental function • •
• •
Visitors experience radiant cooling from the corrugated steel surface, as the fin walls are chilled using ground cooling. Due to this chilling, they also cause water vapour to condense and drip from their surface, therefore reducing the humidity of the surrounding air, and being symbolic of rainfall. They serve to channel airflow into the central space, increasing the thermal comfort of the occupants. They are designed to taper in both plan and section, accentuating the funnelling effect.
Flow diagram
Flow diagram
Architectural function With a pavilion orientated so strongly towards airflow, we are treating visitors in the same way we are treating the wind. We wanted people to almost experience a ‘suction’ effect as they enter between the fins.There is no set entrance, but a series of walls through which one can enter and radiate towards the centre. Once there, they can flow freely in and out of the expo spaces located within them, always returning to the central collective space.
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The canopy The canopy element was inspired by the British climate, in particular the concept of the cloud. The design progressed to emphasize the protective nature of this element, and also how it is, by its very nature, responsive.
The canopy as a cloud Because of the cloud’s nature, we progressed a theme of immateriality. Something which is there yet doesn’t necessarily terminate the visual field. The intention is to catch and filter the light, in the same way a cloud might. By filtering the light, we hope to recreate a more subtle lighting condition, reflecting that of the northern hemisphere and indeed Britain. The canopy as a protective gesture The canopy evolved into what could be described as a protective umbrella element. its two main functions are to shield against intense direct sunlight/heat, and heavy rain. We propose the canopy should reflect and filter the excessive solar energy, and collect and harvest the excessive rainfall during the monsoon season. The canopy as a responsive element The climate is dynamic; the element of change is magnified. We therefore proposed that our canopy be responsive to its environment. It can pivot to reflect the change in solar altitude, to provide additional shading to the roof-garden or to reduce the funnelling of win. Finally, it is also proposed that the canopy be used as a projection medium.
Canopy detail
Rough model
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The elevated garden We feel that an elevated roof garden is one representation of the theme ‘Better city, better life’. Shanghai is one of the world’s most densely populated cities, and as a result has one of the lowest allocations of green space per person.We feel that a ‘better city’ should strive to find ways in which greenery and city growth need not be mutually exclusive, and roof gardens are one way of doing this.
Views Our pavilion site is lucky enough to benefit from outstanding river views. We exploited this by introducing an elevated garden, whereby views are maximized, and a degree of separation, both acoustic and visual, is. Through the process of ascension also with a view inwards, not only to our own pavilion, but indeed out over the entire expo.
Green walls Along two of our site elevations we have extensively used a green wall system. Green walls (5 to 7 metre high) act as advertising for our pavilion. Passersby are given a hint as to what our pavilion is about. These ‘green billboards’ suggest that a garden experience is enclosed, a kind of visual sign-post for the elevated garden. The green walls are positioned so as to filter the escaping air, removing pollutants and increasing the oxygen capacity. Garden plan
Creating a living wall panel
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GARDEN CHANGE THROUGH SEASONS
Section B
Change The theme of the pavilion is weather and climate, and we wanted to emphasize this again through the planting. We have therefore chosen plants which change considerably throughout the seasons.
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Architectural journey Our concept has always been to guide them through without rigidly dictating their path. We relied on a system of focal points which serve to draw the visitor on towards the next stage of a suggested route. The journey of a typical visitor could be as follows.
Ground level experience Visitors enter through a fin and radiate around them until they arrive at a central collective space, from where all the main EXPO activities and performances are accessible. From there we can now clearly view other visitors circulating at the elevated garden level. We also glimpse the vibrant red oak which acts as a visual signpost marking the path to ascend. Elevated garden experience Upon arrival we face the canopy and as we approach it we are granted a clear vista across the site while we get glimpses of the central collective space through a hornbeam hedge. Then, the formal garden is revealed which rewards visitors with glimpses towards the river through openings in the rammed earth wall. A static collective space is the bridge which acts as an inward viewing platform. On the outward viewing platform we could rest among seating while enjoying river views. Finally, we exit through the wildflower meadow planting.
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Ground floor journey
Elevated garden journey
Environmental journey
Climatic change & perception HOT / HUMID / FULL SUN
SHADED / WARM
BREEZE / SHADED/ RADIANT COOLING / PERCEPTION OF LESS HUMIDITY
LIGHT BREEZE / SHADE
SHADED FROM CANOPY AND VEGETATION / REDUCED HUMIDITY AND IMPROVED AIR QUALITY
UNCOMFORTABLE / SWEATING
LESS UNCOMFORTABLE / LIGHT SWEATING
EVAPORATIVE COOLING ON SKIN / MORE COMFORTABLE / INCREASED TOLERANCE OF ENVIRONMENT
COMFORTABLE OF AN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT
WARM BUT TOLERANT FOR SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT
60% Light reflected Passive wind ventilation section 10% Absorbed by canopy
Light and Solar Radiance emitted onto canopy
30% Light transmission through canopy. As a result solar gain occurs.
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1:800 Ground floor plan
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1:800 Elevated garden plan
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Perspective sections
Section B
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Elevations
South elevation
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Visuals & model
North-east view
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Model view
Night view
Model view
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Structural elements
Section through canopy in balanced position
Steel arch
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Abutment in plan and elevation
Elevation of canopy, showing support conditions
Node
Constructional section
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1.3 EXEMPLAR PRIMARY SCHOOL , HARTCLIFFE • • •
Individual 3rd year university project Completed on March 2007 Supervisor: Martin Gledhill
The brief
Goals
Design a core two form entry primary school in Hartcliffe, Bristol.
• • • •
Flexible design which allows expansion in the future. Good environmental conditions with appropriate levels of natural light and ventilation. A layout that encourages out of hours community use.
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Inspiration
Inspiring environment. Room for originality. Flexible classroom layouts. Minimization of circulation to avoid school bullying. Maximization of natural light and ventilation.
Attractiveness in design to inspire pupils, staff and parents.
Room 13, Hartcliffe designed by Taylor Mitchell Workshop
Design statement I attempted to create a wonderful learning environment – inspirational, exciting and welcoming while at the same time safe and secure. The building is essentially single storey, which is ideal for primary school children. It is designed around 3 main elementsthe community zone, an administration block and the main teaching wing and heart of the school. The heart of the school is a generous, vibrant space where almost any school activity can take place and where the school forms its own identity. The classroom layout is very flexible, allowing them to be linked together and providing them with outside teaching spaces. Circulation is incorporated into the heart of the school so it becomes part of the learning experience. Finally, the design is flexible enough to allow short-term changes on a daily basis.
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Classroom layouts Arrangement 2a is more flexible.The rectilinear classrooms are in rows on either side of a central space so that any number of them can be linked together without being hampered by the position of either the group rooms or toilet pods.
Double loaded corridor - single story
No double loaded corridors 1a
Double loaded - Single story circulation space used for other activities Views out and access to circulation from play
Double story - Double volume circulation space
1b
Reduce the length of circulation routes while still allowing views out
Triple story - For urban sites with triple volume circulation space
1c
2a
Layouts
Circulation
Sections
circulation
classrooms
specialist activity space
play area
shared teaching area
storage, wet area, toilets classrooms can extend
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Diagrams The diagrams show different arrangements in classrooms and how they building would develop in case of an expansion. Option 4 shows the beginnings of my final design. Expansion would work well with classrooms being added on, like carriages on a train. The central space works as an area for creative space, small group rooms, specialist stores etc.
Option 1
Option 4
Option 2
community facilities / large hall administration classrooms
Option 3
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Conceptual modelling I explored a number of solutions such as a multi-storey building approach, a building divided into big, distinct blocks or even a solution that would separate younger and older children. However, I either had to compromise in terms of flexibility or the design would not be appropriate for the site. Therefore, I achieved the desired design through a flexible, one-storey, open plan building proposal with minimal circulation.
Final conceptual model
Conceptual models
Final diagram
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Plan
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Perspective sections
Section 3
Section 1
Section 2
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Environmental & Structural strategy
concrete formwork
timber construction for services Summer ventilation strategy masonry construction
Environmental aims • • • • • • •
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Passive ventilation, cooling and lighting. Building form. Wide span/deep plan form is more efficient from heat loss, cost and flexibility points of view. Good daylighting is paramount. The external envelope is designed to reduce fabric heat loss. An efficient ventilation strategy has been developed. Avoid solar gain in the summer whenever possible. Optimize life circle through flexible and adaptable form.
beam for “backbone� steel structure
main classroom beam Winter ventilation strategy
truss for creating skylight
steel structure resting on beams
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Visuals & model
Community hall
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Heart of the school
1:50 sectional model
Classroom view (with opened sliding doors)
View form heart towards entrance and community hall
1:50 sectional model
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1.4 WRITER’S SHED IN A SLOPING SITE • • •
Individual 3rd year university project Completed on December 2006 Supervisor: Martin Gledhill
The brief
Container proposal
Design a writer’s shed in an unspecific heavily sloping site. Demonstrate basic structural principles. Submission is a 1:20 model.
Goals • • • • •
Easy construction. Minimal cost. Applicable to a variety of locations. Waste minimal resources. Enhance bond with nature. Plan
Design statement & Inspiration Being inspired by the Container City in Trinity Buoy Wharf, I created a building made out by 3 used shipping containers that would be assembled on site. Plan as an open-space as structure would allow to ensure that the writer could relax, concentrate and welcome nature through large openings.
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1:20 model
Timber proposal
Plan
1:20 timber model
Section A
Design statement In order to have a “safe� option for my crit, I designed a simple 4 column and beam timber construction, applicable in any site and slope and fairly economical to construct.The shed is completely open to and becomes part of its surrounding nature through its large openings. Polycarbonate is used where transparency would become a privacy issue.
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1.5 PUBLIC LIBRARY IN BATH, UK • • •
Group 3rd year university project Completed on December 2006 Supervisor: Piers Taylor
The brief
Inspiration
Design for a public library in Bath’s city centre. Exploit location of the site. Bulding should be linked with its surroundings.
Goals • • • • •
Draw people to the site. Respect Bath’s materiality. Break stereotype of the typical library. Provide functional quiet study areas. Maintain a clear diagram. The Black Diamond building, designed by schmidt hammer lassen
Design statement We created a building with a very welcoming ground floor which acts as part of the outdoor public space, that provides the necessary quite study areas into separate pods in the elevation and that is able to fit in peacefully with its surroundings while, at the same time, introducing a modern approach to Bath through its materiality.
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Existing buildings & Materials The materials in the area are very in relation with the rest of Bath. The styles of the buildings vary, including classic Georgian, Victorian, 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s. This mixture of styles and materials uses allows the area to become more unique and allows us to explore various options.
bathstone + glass + zinc
brassed copper + glass + concrete
copper+ glass+ brassed copper
bathstone
render
bingo facade
red brick
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The site The site, known as Sawclose, is currently occupied by a small car park and the NHS clinic.With the volume of pedestrians constantly passing through and its proximity to the main central area of the city, this site has the potential to become a populated area.
Map of the site
Section A
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Views approaching the site
Public space relatiosnhip diagram
Main pedestrian movement diagram
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Plans & section
Ground floor plan
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1st floor plan
2nd floor plan
Section A
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Visuals & model
North aerial view
Building views
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East aerial view
East elevation view
Model view
West elevation view
Model views
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2.1 FAMILY HOUSE, ATTICA, GREECE • • •
Professional project Completed on February 2009 Project Architect: Tasos Zeppos
The brief The client wanted to renovate an existing incomplete structure into a family house that would be reminiscent of Tuscany’s country houses. Apart from my inexperience to this style of architecture, the most challenging aspect of the project was that the ill-design of the existing building. The main complexities were the incoherence between the client’s needs and the building’s limits.The most problematic aspect was the height of specific parts of the 1st floor that made certain areas inaccessible due to a needlessly, very complex pitched roof. Finally, I managed to reach a design which exploited these areas for servicing while incorporating all the client’s needs. In the end, I realized that this was the best learning experience I had professionally, as I had to overcome a variety of obstacles and limitations while at the same time familiarize myself with a completely different architectural style to the ones I either aspire to or have been taught.
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East entrance view
Ground floor plan
2.2 PASTRY SHOP, ATHENS, GREECE • • •
Professional project Deign dompleted on December 2008, Project completed on February 2009 Project Architect: Tasos Zeppos
The brief The client is a infamous confectioner in Greece and wanted to create a small pastry shop in Athens’s centre that would specialize in raw materials for pastry making. The property is very small (under 70 sqm) which made the need for an open-space that would have direct visual and practical connection to the available goods, a necessity. Hence, I designed everything so that it revolves around the centre counter. Even the walk-in fridge is semi-transparent so customers get an impression of the stored goods by the central area. Materials are stocked in custom-made “wardrobe” cupboards that if needed can be closed and acquire half their volume while at the main time securing the goods.
Plan
Interior photorealistic image
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2.3 PAVILION FOR TOURISM EXHIBITION,THESSALONIKI, GREECE • • •
Professional project Completed on November 2008 Project Architect: Tasos Zeppos
The brief The project was to design an exhibition pavilion for a hotel designed by the practice I was working which was close to its opening that would operate in the PHILOXENIA 2009: 25th International Tourism Exhibition that takes place annually in Thessaloniki, Greece. The pavilion was required to demonstrate the same values as the hotel; class, elegance, clarity, modernism.The dimensions of the pavilion were predefined.
Plan
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Pavilion’s interior
Brochure stand
2.4 SUITE FOR HOTEL PRIVATE COMPETION, ATHENS, GREECE • • •
Professional project Completed on October 2008 Project Architect: Tasos Zeppos
The brief My project was to design an 80 sqm hotel suite for a private competition that the practice I worked for had entered. The competition was about a luxurious resort hotel in Kavouri, one of the most prestigious seaside locations in Athens. A team of architects was working together for the design of the hotel and as soon as they have agreed in a set grid and to the general style and qualities of the design, they distributed the multiple tasks to a broader team. I had been assigned to plan and visually demonstrate the main hotel’s suite. In my design I attempted to incorporate the practice’s signature style and to reflect the qualities of the resort hotel that we were proposing; connection to the sea, relaxing atmosphere, sense of opening to the nature. Plan
Suite interior
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2.5 3-STOREY APARTMENT BUILDING, ATHENS, GREECE • • •
Professional placement individual project Completed on July 2007 Project Architect: Tasos Zeppos
The brief The project is a 3 storey apartment building in one of the most prestigious residential areas in Athens, Palio Psychiko. Each floor would be a separate apartment of approximately 120 sqm, consisting of 2 master bedrooms, guest WC, kitchen, dining and living room. Additionally, the ground floor apartment would have private garden with swimming pool. Due to the limited space, I created an open plan living area, where kitchen, dining, living and study area become one, while the kitchen working area can be partly separated with a sliding panel.
Entrance view
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Ground floor plan
2.6 HOTEL ROOM DESIGN IN 200-ROOM HOTEL,THESSALONIKI, GREECE • • •
Professional placement individual project Completed on July 2006 Project Architect: Tasos Zeppos
The brief My project was to create an interior design proposal for a double 22 sqm room in a 5 star hotel, at the time being constructed, in Thessaloniki, Greece. The client wanted a very high class, classic, yet innovative, business oriented result, setting as an example the BULGARY HOTEL in Milan, Italy. There were no set limitations on budget that could be as high upon reasonable justification. Here are the drawings for two separate types of double rooms, D2 and D9, which were also constructed as pilots in order for 2 building contractors to compete for the job. Pilot room D9
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