Athenian Library and Apartments

In the Psyrri neighborhood of Athens, a community of new families is growing in one of Greece’s densest cities. The team proposed an urban design of platía’s linked by commercial and residential streets to provide a shaded passage for Athenians to the neighborhood’s main plaza, Koumoundourou Square. Visual nodes like bell towers and formal entrances to public buildings create a sense of familiarity for daily commutes and a local identity for the rising generation of Psyrri.

Individually, a design for a mixed-use building in one of the platías contains a public library on the first two floors and 2BR apartments above. A shaded portico, sky-lit atrium, and a garden courtyard connect straight through the library’s reading spaces to take advantage of Athen’s sunny climate yet protect the building from the strong summer heat with passive cooling techniques. The upstairs residences contain corner living rooms and open kitchen plans to invite family gatherings. Semi-recessed balconies are especially unique to Athen’s urban culture where neighbors can relax together outside as they watch over their street. Inspired by Ernst Ziller’s Greek Villa’s, this playful library mixes curved forms and bright materials to welcome children and inspire a reader’s imagination.