An Education Hub for Bio-Materials

The programme centres around the revitalisation and regeneration of the now urbanised concrete landscape that dictates Athens. The core concept involves the reordering of layers of strata placing water and vegetation at the forefront through education and skills retraining about bio-materials. 

The river Illoisos became the inspiration for this project. The river is now hidden and forgotten below the city covered by concrete. The exterior hydroponic columns will serve to preserve the memory of the river by celebrating and reusing water as an integral part of the building system. To continue the dialogue with nature, workshops, informal classrooms and exhibition spaces encourage conversation about the transition towards bio-materials. 

The building’s structural envelope is composed entirely of bio-materials, serving as a powerful demonstration of their viability and environmental benefits. Bio-materials play a crucial role in advancing sustainable development goals by reducing environmental impacts and promoting resource efficiency.