Piraeus Tower facade proposals in Athens, Greece

August 03, 2010 Category: Cultural, Public Buildings

Piraeus Tower facade proposals is located in Athens, Greece. Presented here are two of the entries to GreekArchitects.gr run competition to design a fictional facade for the Piraeus Tower on Athens’ coastline. Situated in one of the Mediterranean’s largest ports (Piraeus), the 22-storey abandoned building dominates the skyline at 84m tall.

Behind this constant flow of seawater is a fully water-locked glass facade (Butacite®, SentryGlass®), whilst the housetop of the stylobate is covered with flexible waterproof material (Elvaloy®, Fusabond®, Ti-Pure®). This elevated space is designed to be used as a walking terrace with open-air cafes providing social areas with fantastic views over the Mediterranean Sea.

In stark contrast to this naturally-based design is PETRA Architects in collaboration with PAPAIOANNOU & associates’ technology-led proposal, which aims to ‘assimilate the building within the morphologically common urban fabric, to improve its overall energy output with the use of ‘intelligent and environmental friendly materials’ [and] convey a channel of communication with the natural elements of its direct setting such as the sun, the wind and the sea.’

With such a prominent position on the Athens coastline, the Piraeus Tower regularly encounters winds of great intensity. PETRA’s design focuses on utilising this natural force by coating the structure with a constantly changing skin whose motions will be choreographed by the speed and direction of the prevailing wind. This thin, semi-transparent, photovoltaic leaf is connected with motion sensors so as the material moves in the breeze, the sunlight is captured by the leaves and both wind and sunlight can be converted into enough energy to power the building.

Piraeus Tower facade proposals Design Architechture Plan 1