The tallest structure in Piraeus, and second tallest building in Greece, Piraeus Tower has received a dynamic facade refurbishment.
2024 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Awards – Facade Award of Excellence
The 84m, 22 storey high building is often referred to as the ‘sleeping giant’ as it has never been occupied, except for the first three floors since it’s construction in 1975.
Our design of the new facade envisioned a structure that was visually intriguing and incorporated strategies designed to drastically reduce energy consumption. It also introduced planting and vegetation at ground level to enliven the streetscape around it.
A shading structure consisting of vertical and horizontal overhangs encloses the tower. Each vertical fin is horizontally displaced from one floor to the next, creating a spring pattern that wraps around the building. The pattern appears to gently slide from one facade to another, with the resulting visual effect of the facade wrapping around the tower like an immense piece of fabric. This dynamic pattern appears different from various locations, creating a rich visual experience that is constantly transforming, depending on where one is standing.
To further emphasise the movement of the facade, the vertical fins rotate as they rise toward the top of the structure. The rotation of fins is designed to optimise the shading performance of the building and amplify the panoramic views the property offers.
The design of the facade overhang system is a result of an ambitious sustainability and energy conservation strategy. Following a meticulous solar study, the vertical and horizontal louvers of the tower have been calibrated to reduce solar gain on the facade by 50%, resulting in a 20% reduction of the overall energy demand of the building. Additionally, 200 tonnes of glass were recycled in the process.
