“Atrium” Shopping Centre, Athens

In the heart of "Atrium" there is an internal 4-storey high lobby which is connected through shopping galleries of other buildings to three streets, Charilaou Trikoupi, Panepistimiou and Ippokratous. Hence, it is a significant passage for pedestrians in the centre of Athens. The main entrance - gate, with gradual recess of the storeys above that creates an "arch", was placed facing the transverse Fidiou street, in order to give emphasis to the perspective of the entrance.

Commercial use was provisioned for on the ground floor and the first three floors, with a central, prominent stairwell-elevators core, and office areas on the four additional floors. Two wide atria are formed in the interior, one of which starts at the first basement and reaches the third floor level, covered by a glass roof supported on a space frame. The façade is clad in zones with white marble, reflective glass panes in dark frames, and thin, randomly placed, vertical elements of stainless steel, throughout its surface. Also, stainless steel ceilings were used on the cantilevers that cover the shops on ground level, which are set back, so that an arcade without columns is formed by the building outline.

Architecture : Υiannis Vikleas & Associates Architects
Employer : Babis Vovos - International Construction SA
Study: 1981
Construction: 1983
Superstructure: 14.900m² (8 Floors)
Basement: 5.000m² (2 Floors)
Address: 6-10 Str. Char. Trikoupi, Athens
Photos : DIMITRIOS KALAPODAS

Editing: Marilena Margari