The proposal aims to:
– give a sense of spaciousness to the interior, by designing structural elements of large aperture and height with a robust and plastic character,
– combine the natural and the man-made environment, as well as the exterior and the interior space by introducing atrium spaces into the building volume, and
– manage the ground surface in a way that creates separate outdoor areas.
The building
The proposal’s goal is to highlight the Florina School of Fine Arts role as an important higher education public building. The building volume is treated in a manner that optimizes natural lighting and ventilation and leads to its integration with the natural environment. Therefore, its design balances the interior with the outdoor space. The required indoor operating areas of the building area opens to patios, courtyards and semi-outdoor areas, maximizing natural lighting and ventilation.
The atriums
The use of atriums leads to a direct relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces and allows for the building users to learn in an extrovert but concentrate in an introvert manner. The interior organization of the individual designated spaces based on the building program facilitates an excellent educational process quality in all spaces, both for teachers and for students. The bioclimatic design principles are applied (natural ventilation – ventilation, building volume management to optimize the use of light: direct – indirect lighting) and renewable energy sources are used (photovoltaic panels on an extended roof surface).
Landscape design
Outdoor spaces – resting, gathering, temporary or permanent art exhibition display, workshops and artistic events – are designed in a fluid and organized way to ensure a continuous transition between outdoor spaces of different character. The landscape design takes into consideration the local climate and flora conditions, while the materials selected and the use of greenery further support the architectural proposal with emphasis on accessibility conditions and sufficient shading.