Construction is underway on The Grid by Foster + Partners

Construction is underway on ‘The Grid,’ a new office development in Marousi, an established business district that directly connects with central Athens and the city’s airport, via a major ring road...

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From the architect: Designed by Foster + Partners and developed by NOVAL Property and Brooklane Capital in a joint venture, the scheme covers an entire city block. It provides flexible, state-of-the-art workspaces and landscaped green areas that join up with a public park.

Darron Haylock, Partner, Foster + Partners, said: “We are delighted to see building work starting on site. The Grid will play an important role in Marousi’s regeneration, activating its surroundings and drawing new business to the district. We are providing a rich mix of flexible workspaces and amenities, including new green spaces that will reinvigorate the area.”

The modular elements of the building wrap around the perimeter of the site, creating a central courtyard that is the social heart of the development. The landscaped courtyard also acts as a lush green spine, connecting the east and west sides of the site. A large public park in the east encourages engagement with the scheme, while providing a space for employees to relax and socialise in. Existing olive trees, which are native to the region, have been nurtured or replanted to create a leafy, shaded oasis in the city.

The new development is extremely permeable and can be accessed from the four surrounding roads. Spaces between the modular elements of the building connect the street with the central courtyard, creating vistas which draw in passers-by. The two main entrance lobbies are set back from the road to highlight the key entry points and help new visitors navigate the building. The building’s massing steps down towards the courtyard, creating an outdoor area which is sensitive to human scale.

The development’s rich mix of flexible workspaces and amenities meet the varying needs of occupants. Atriums travel down to basement level, allowing light and air to reach the offices located at the lower levels of the building. Skylights along the east elevation allow light to filter down into the gym, activating the basement. Each office floorplate has access to external planted terraces which run across the internal elevations, reducing the scale of the building from within the courtyard.

An integrated façade system provides natural ventilation, façade lighting and solar protection, while maximising views and daylight. Angled dark grey metallic fins on the external façade protect the internal spaces from deep solar exposure. Concealed LED up lighting on the underside of the soffit illuminates the building at night, highlighting its metallic façade.

The façade is articulated by an inhabited roof, which wraps around the building and provides double-height office spaces that offer spectacular views of the surrounding area. Every modular element of the development has a green roof with photovoltaics – capturing the sun's energy and directly converting it into electricity to power the building.