PIRAEUS TOWER – TWO FACADE CONCEPT

Athens, Greece

The Piraeus Tower main structure was built in 1974, yet only nine years later, in 1983, the building was completed with its glass facade.
With its 22 storeys it soars 84 metres above the waterfront of Athens, which makes it the second tallest building in Greece after the 103 metres tall Athens Tower.

Despite its strategic location, a few metres from the cruise terminals of the busiest harbor in The Mediterranean by passenger traffic, the structure had an unfortunate destiny and was never used, leading to inevitable decay and neglect.

It is precisely from the proximity to the port and the enormous potential of Athens’ coastal area that the tower must find new life and prosperity.
The Piraeus Tower is intended to tie that visual bond between central Athens and the seaport.

The design concept is inspired by a lighthouse: a symbol of hope, salvation, refuge. A gesture that is willing to convey safety and guidance the intent of which has the purpose to create a clearly visible hub that could attract the curiosity of visitors approaching from the sea and foster interaction among the inhabitants of the district through new services for the people.

Moreover, the Tower will trigger the regeneration of the whole neighbourhood, becoming an opportunity and a guideline to reinvent not only neglected portions of the Pireus port district but of the entire city.

Just like lighthouses symbolize the way to follow amidst the peril of navigating through rough waters, may those be financial, personal or spiritual in nature, in the same way, this tower will light the sky of the Greek Capital with a new landmark. A glowing glazed rooftop will accommodate a prestigious hanging garden from which a magnificent view of the city and the clear blue Greek sea will be possible.

The building will need protection from direct sunlight and the reflection from the sea, whereas the exposition of the North facade to the cold winter winds will require adequate and thoughtful screening.
Hence the decision to create a second outer skin wrapping the tower in order to generate better comfort.

We created two different design options for this skin.

The first facade option is inspired by Ancient Greek buildings.
The panels of the facade are like massive marble boulders screening the building but not in its entirety: the disposition of the elements creates a harmonic vortex that embraces the tower.

The second study reminds the water of the sea caressed by the wind at dusk. In this case, the panels are organized in order to create little parametric waves around all the facade filtering the light inside the building.
The two different colours and the vertical direction of the panels maintain the original design that is conserved as a legacy.

Location: Athens, Greece
Date: 2020
Type: Concept Design
Team: with Cimolai