Residential and commercial building in Athens

From department store to urban landmark

The former Minion shopping mall built in the 1940s in inner-city Athens has been transformed into a modern residential and commercial building. Not only has the spatial layout of the iconic building changed, but the facade now also features generous openings and an attractive colour scheme.

The existing reinforced concrete framework was also upgraded with masonry infill and a facade insulation system, the aim of which was to give the building two ‘shells’: the first one completely rendered, inspired by the colourful neoclassical facades; the second a lighter, metallic design in the same colour to create order, a steady rhythm and lend depth and shadow to the facade.

The existing structure of the shopping mall was divided into three sections by seismic expansion joints. Incorporating these sections into the renovation, the architects assigned them three different colours (beige-red, cement grey, and silk grey), which are reflected in the facade paint and in the vertical and horizontal aluminium slats.

The interior facades were also designed with continuously coloured plaster surfaces, using a combed texture to avoid a flat and impersonal appearance. White spaces aid the diffusion of natural light throughout the inner courtyard.