Reconstruction of ERGO HeadQuarters in Athens

Offices

ERGO Hellas

Back in 2002, when the architect Nikos Valsamakis was asked to design the offices of Agrotiki Insurance Company (ATE), he included the building that pre-existed on the 4.5-acre plot on 173 Syngrou Avenue, together with a new office building in a single architectural ensemble of 20,000 m2. The two autonomous building volumes interact mainly at the ground floor level by creating a single front on Syngrou Avenue and secondarily at individual levels through internal bridges. Valsamakis' original plans for a complete unification of the ground floor spaces were never realized and the two buildings remained fragmented, with two central entrances, two reception and control areas and an awkward passageway in between.

The new redesign study of the complex, aims to restore all the ground floor premises of the 2,000 m2 area into a single functional set. The remodeling of the existing buildings was based on highlighting the corporate identity of ERGO Hellas and on the modern, ergonomic and functional coexistence of multiple uses: reception, waiting areas, dining area, customer service and conference spaces. The challenge for the design team was to connect the two buildings based on functionality, aesthetics and sustainability. By connecting the two buildings on the ground floor, a new linear entrance space is created with three new surfaces within a distance from the existing buildings. This new revised space welcomes the visitor from the sidewalk and through the water feature that acts as a boundary leads him to the new entrance gates. In the background, the visitor can see the outdoor relaxation area of the common areas and the conference center, which has been upgraded with new elements of planting, shading, resting and water, significantly improving the microclimate of the entire building complex.

CLIENT

ERGO HELLAS

YEAR

2020

LOCATION

Syngrou Avenue, Athens