SPARCH

Megaron Karatza

National Bank of Greece Office Headquarters / Athens, Greece

2001
1st Prize, Invited Architectural Competition
Mies Van Der Rohe Nominee

Surface: 8.000 sqm
Design Design 1998-2000 / Construction 2000-2001

The building completes the corner of an important building block of the historic center of Athens. It comprises of a basic volume, parts of which are subtracted in such a way as to maintain the readability of the primary volume. Its main elevation on Aeolou Street is in close dialogue with the neighboring neoclassical Main Building.
The void in the interior lets natural light to enter. Space expands from the moat of the ancient wall, 9 m. below, visible through the glass floor of the 1st floor, to a height of 17 m. to the skylight on top. What becomes subtracted from the volume, what from mass changes to void, is flooded by light that becomes a strong compositional element.
 
CREDITS

Architectural design: Rena Sakellaridou, Morpho Papanikolaou (SPARCH), Maria Pollani (Project architects), Mario Botta (Consultant)

Collaborating Architects: M. Vourakis, Th. Chrysomallis, P.Xiptera

Civil engineers: Vasis Sysm / Ch. Mylonas – P.Antoniadou

Mechanical Engineers: Triedros Meletitiki / S.Kolokontes - A.Mihas - N.Niarhos

Special consultants: Dr. K.Demiri (Architect), Th.Timagenis (Acoustic Design), Dr. K.Tsakalidis (Civil Engineer), K.Theologidou (Architect - Restorer)

Stone analysis: Chemical Engineering School, Athens

Furniture design: N.Zographos

Competition architects’ team: R.Sakellaridou, M.Papanikolaou, F.Lambrinos, A.Economides, M.Pollani

Photos: P. Musi

SPARCH SAKELLARIDOU / PAPANIKOLAOU ARCHITECTS / All rights reserved / 2024

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