Leaf Architects Studio turned an out-of-date 1960s building in Thessaloniki, Greece into a modern retail space complete with a louvered facade that helps to regulate solar gain. The facade consists of multiple panels arranged starting at the southwest corner of the building, creating a seamless visual connection between the new and existing facade while controlling sunlight. In order to minimize the impact to the customers - the retailer wanted to stay open during construction - components were assembled off-site and later added to the structure.
The building consists of two main volumes with a footprint of 70 by 52 meters. The building has three stories, with additional available space on the lot for future use. According to the architects, “The redesigned facade provides a good, economical and functional shading device to improve heat gain in an existing facade.”
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The project also incorporates sustainable design strategies, with eco materials that were sourced locally where possible. These sustainable materials, combined with the prefabrication method of construction – which allowed construction to take place in a quick and efficient way – make the project not only an environmentally-friendly one, but one that had minimal impact on the store’s business.
