New era _ The down town department store building was iconic to the Athenian of the late 60’s and 70’s. It was the classic destination to be photographed with Santa during the Christmas season, shop the latest fads, purchase delicatessen delights and such. Burned in 1980, it was renovated, sold, purchased and sold again in a hiccup of transactions, until it would be proposed to become a department store once again. At this time Path ARCH. was invited to a closed design competition for the new department store, in a twofold proposal of exteriors and interiors. We were asked to propose an innovative, yet economic solution and so continuing with the idea of our green vertical garden within interiors, we approached the façade proposals with petals, flowers and a cellular sponge like resolve.

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New skin _ The cladding underwent a scrutinizing investigation of material use in proportion to construction cost. Laser cut / silk screened aluminum panels / structural laminates and fiber glass reinforced concrete for relief like effects, combined with different methods of seamless construction and architectural illumination to produce 4 alternatives, with a corresponding cost range.



DESIGN 2008