"Office Building Complex" - Kifissia - [Athens]

This building complex is an impressive synthesis by architects Vassilis Baskozos and Dimitra Tsangaraki, designed in a mildly deconstructive spirit. The 3 storey complex consists of three buildings that create 2 main volumes. Those were placed in the perimeter of the building block and a square was created in the center.

The two architects made inventive use of the triangular shape of the lot to erect three buildings one of which was intended to house the construction company that owned it, and the other two for commercial exploitation, with the capability of functioning either separately or as a whole.

On plan, the buildings are organized on a grid that permits flexibility in the positioning of the interior divisions. The faces are treated with the use of large glass panels and metallic shading structures in various forms on the east and south side, while the west side is solid bare concrete with fewer openings.

Owing to the bright colours and the combination of curved and straight features, this office complex has a remarkable plasticity.

The building complex offers beautiful views during the night.

Sources:
http://www.mobarchitects.gr/
http://www.culture2000.tee.gr/ATHENS/ENGLISH/BUILDINGS/BUILD_TEXTS/B69_t.html

Semiramis Hotel - [Athens]

The Semiramis Boutique Hotel is situated in the heart of the green and rich suburb of Kifissia.

The famous industrial designer Karim Rashid was commissioned by Dakis Joannou to design and create Athens' first visionary design hotel. Rashid's design philosophy stems from a refusal to accept the day-to-day environment.

Semiramis consists of 52 rooms: 42 balcony rooms with pool or park view, 6 poolside bungalows, 3 penthouse studios, 1 semiramis penthouse suite. All rooms feature in-room cable TV, DVD and CD supported by built-in sound system, portable phones, high-speed internet access, air conditioning, multi-bar, and safe box.

Pool bungalows are built independently from the main building and have easy access to the pool and their own private garden. In-room facilities include rotating 42-inch plasma televisions with stereo sound, cordless headphones, and remote-controlled utilities such as hvac, curtain control, 2.4 GHz cordless phones, and digital locks.

As another unusual touch, visitors may, by pressing a button, scroll messages on their doors such as 'privacy' or 'please make up my room'.There is also video projection, holopro glass technology, dot matrix LEDs and other digital projection media throughout the hotel.

The Semiramis offers a meeting room of 150 square meters with glass facades

"Hotels today make you feel like you're living in the previous century. That's the last thing I want to do." - Karim Rashid

Official site:
http://www.semiramisathens.com