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Architects: A31 Architecture
- Area: 12000 m²
- Year: 2012
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Photographs:Yiannis Hadjiaslanis
Text description provided by the architects. Situated in Peania, East Attica, the site area, totalling 12,000 square meters, occupies a privileged spot in a strategic industrial area and is also highly visible from the main highway which shuttles traffic from the Center of Athens to the East part of Attica, where the International Airport is located .
Due to its location, one of the client's - illy KAFEA S.A. the world famous coffee company's branch in Greece-primary requests was the creation of a very strong and recognizable building. On the other hand, it was the architect's intention to maintain extreme simplicity in the composition whilst the notions of comfort, technology, relaxation and brand representation remained prominent.
The basic criteria of the new structure’s synthesis were: 1. The integration of the building in its natural environment. 2. The application of sustainable architecture strategies during the design, construction and operation of the project that provide specific benefits both to the building owner and building occupants such as: • Reduce maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building. • Energy conservation. • Improve occupant health and productivity. • Lower costs associated with changing space configurations. • Greater design flexibility. 3. The creation of a building that meets the needs for high aesthetics and innovation placed by the world famous Italian coffee Company illy. 4. The economy of its realization means.
The building consists of two major functional entities both composed in one single and compact volume of a pre engineered shell steel structure. The company's offices, covering a surface of 800 square meters and the vast logistics area totalling 1,500 square meters.
The two sectors are connected directly through doors. Motion in the building is generated through the main entrance hall -lobby and showroom on the ground level, which takes employees and clients to the other departments: marketing, administration, product, retail, the managerial offices and the logistics area. Corten steel cladding interlocking panels are incorporated at the office building's façades. Solar movement was studied thoroughly and glazed surfaces were protected accordingly by laser cut Corten shading screens. The rusted Corten's steel facades fully integrate with the field of olive trees that lies in front of the site's area while the brownish color of the steel panels resembles the color of the roasted coffee beans which is the main product stored in the building.
The logistics area, occupying the largest percentage of built surface and integrally connected to the building, is capable of storing all the company’s products (coffee as well and other Italian goods ). The area is organized into different divisions, each hosting particular products and equipped with loading and unloading gates along the eastern facade of the building. The logistics façades cladding consists of light grey reflective 60 mm thickness steel and mineral wool panels.
The premises include parking areas surrounding the building which can accommodate more than 50 cars and trucks.
