Design for a showroom on Kolonakiou avenue

Project description
The project at hand was the design of a showroom on a commercial avenue connecting the Nicosia-Pafos Highway with the center of Limassol.

The building use - a building that showcased furnishings and other home use materials - defined not only the program  requirement but also the way the building land use was to evolve, projecting a transparency to its interiors.  

Concept - scope of works
The idea was based on the design of a structure with the characteristics of an 'object' that functions as a' landmark'.

As designers we set further criteria as follows:

a) An easily readable building.
b) To function as a point of reference on the avenue with a strong presence.
c) To reflect the functional uses and identify with ‘form follows function'.
d) The material use to reflect the dynamics of the present times.
e) To have bioclimatic functions.

The structure resulted from the idea of ‘a folding surface' in this case bare reinforced concrete, which produce the functional entities of the building ( storage, showroom, office) starting from the basement storage space, encasing the ground & 1st level showrooms and unfolding to the 2nd floor to envelope the administrative space.

To the observer who moves along the frontal facade the concept is recognized with ease as it is dynamically projected, however on the interior the visitor is faced by successive surprises - discovering interior courtyards were one can detect the play between internal and external space. This introversion is evident on the rear façade of the building.

 The building is comprised by 2 functional building volumes:

a) Main building use.
b) Secondary functions- staircases and lifts which connect to the main structure through a corridor.

Material Use
The exterior surface of the building is out of reinforced bare concrete.
The connecting corridor is out of steel.
The front façade out of spider glass specifically positioned so as to expose the interiors uninhibited.
At the rear end (south) wooden glue lam members are vertically positioned to filter through the sun with colour used sparingly were called for on wall surfaces.

Bioclimatic Approach
The opening of the 'fold' is oriented to the North while the enveloping sides are on the East-West axis.

The interior courtyards are exposed to the South while the Western sun is blocked with just the necessary openings for natural ventilation.

The chimney effect is implemented as the cold air transfers upwardly dispersing through the Ground and 1^st floor spaces to the skylights above where it exits.

Louvers, both vertical and horizontal, are used as sun filters were appropriate.

Αrchitecture Design : ARMEFTIS + ASSOCIATES

Civil Engineer: HYPERSTATIC ENG. DESIGN
Mechanical Study:  George Rialas (HITECO LTD)
Place : Limassol, Cyprus  
Construction Date: 2005