ARCHITECTURE

Lawfirm office
Architectural Study : DIamantopoulou Maritina
Lighting Study: Diamantopoulou Maritina
Construction: Doriki Techniki S.A
Photography: Alessandro Kikinas

This office of approximately 400 square meters, is located in an Athens office building on a prominent pedestrian street. Although it was previously used as office space, the existing design and layout did not meet the specific needs or character of the law firm. The space, originally an apartment floor, features a central volume of the main vertical circulation (stairs and elevator) at its core, and a secondary connection to a loggia corridor at the back.
The redesigned layout is intended to accommodate at least 32 employees, with the option for either private or group offices based on the requirements of each team A key design movement in the proposal was the creation of a clean circular circulation in the center of the floor plan that separates the support uses from the main office spaces. In Section A of the floor plan, the previous curved walls and large reception area are removed to give the space access to natural light throughout as much as possible. The new  reception area is integrated into the above system of the central circulation layout as a sculptural object with curves, while the design of furniture and special structures composes a waiting area.  Along this side, the offices of the teams and their managers are organized linearly, while an openspace for the trainees is created at a central point of the space. The new division of the offices is largely achieved with glass partitions that allow for the best possible natural lighting of the space on the one hand, and on the other hand enhance the teawork feeling. In the B part of the floor plan, the more private offices are developed that need more isolation. A parallel(to the main circulation) internal corridor connects these offices, separating them further from section A. All spaces in between are utilized with custom built libraries, hidden and visible storage, printer rooms, lockers, guardrobes. Between A and B sections , the main library of the office is created, along with a reading area. Oppositely, in section C of the floor plan, two hybrid meeting booth/rooms are developed to be used both for meeting calls between teams and clients as well as for in-person meetings. The use of glass partitions and custom design woodworks of these spaces are intended to optimize the functional utilization of the space while maintaining its aesthetic unity. A dining area for employees is developed at the end of this section. A long counter with storage space extends along one side, while a large, table in the middle of the room highlights the designer’s intention to encourage dialogue. Finally, Section D is the purely auxiliary zone of the office, which includes the kitchen, storage rooms, bathrooms, and electromechanical spaces.
White and neutral tones, light-colored woods, and black details make up the primary palette of the spaces. Minimal linear lighting elements are used to enhance the central circulation design.