The Arts’ Spot

THE ARTS' SPOT HOUSE OF THE STUDENT ARTISTIC GROUPS OF NTUA

HOUSE OF THE STUDENT ARTISTIC GROUPS OF NTUA

The purpose of this thesis is to gather and house the NTUA students’ artistic activities in one place, at the University Campus of Zografou, the “Arts’ Spot”. The architectural program includes, besides the workshops, an electronic library of arts, an auditorium with capacity of 400 seats, and finally meeting places, which connect all above uses.

The area of study is the green space, near the central square, which is located at the convergence of two central paths, to and from the square. The two paths are refracted and penetrate the area, by marking a new alternative route – esplanade. Obtuse tracings create the design grid.

The square of the “Arts’ Spot” is planned with reference to the Auditorium – Landmark. The remaining functions are housed in the introvert building volume, surrounding the square. The ground floor gathers uses relevant to the visitors (“public”).

The first floor is exclusively referred to the artistic groups (“private”). The double height meeting places, connect the “private” and the “public”. The green roofs are designed to bridge the 10 meters difference in height. Thus, the pedestrian zone is lifted to become the roof, unifying all outdoor paths in a wide “wandering” between “private” and “public”, making the building itself an exhibit.

Complete Presentation of “The Arts Spot” master thesis and project

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The Arts’ Spot – Sun Study Animation

Site Analysis

The green space, namely the south-eastern area of ​​the site, west of the central square, was chosen as the site of study. The area is in the convergence of two paths, one from the entrance of Zografou to the center of the Polytechnic, and one from the central square to the west.

The Central Library is eastern of the site, a landmark building that gathers students and researchers from all areas of the polytechnic, as well as the central square – the heart of the Campus, while the administrative buildings are located south-east.

Design Principles

The meeting of the two routes in the area automatically creates two “entrances” to it, with an altitude difference of 10 meters. The two paths are refracted and penetrate the space, drawing a new alternative path – an esplanade – through the study area, which separates the “closed” from the “open”. Obtuse σcoring create the grid.

Surrounded by the esplanade, and in direct contact with the central square of the Polytechnic, the “Spot’s” square is planned, at a distance from the road, so that the grassland of the natural terrain filters the nuisance. Benches surround the square, creating introversion, with a reference point to the center of the square, in which the natural ground rises, to welcome the auditorium, creating a landmark.

The main building surrounds the esplanade, as an introverted volume, out-breaking to the green uncovered space to exploit the view. The square penetrates into the closed, creating a large semi-open space with a green atrium in the center.

At the ground floor, and coplanar to the esplanade, uses in direct relation to the auditorium that refer to the general public, are placed. At the 1st floor the uses that are exclusively related to artistic groups are placed. The classrooms are arranged in a row, on the north side, overlooking the green area. Taking advantage of the altitude difference, the area adjoining the halls is downgraded, thus allowing for the creation of a second “private” square, on the second level, which refers exclusively to the gathering of the artistic groups.

At the same there is also a volume that houses the Arts’ Library, parallel to the classrooms, which enhances the privacy of the square. The “peak” of this volume just across the central library creates a “dialogue” between the two libraries.

The (planted) rooftops – The building “exhibit”

The roof is designed to massively cover the entire complex, bridging the altitude difference of 10 meters. Thus, the pedestrian walkway rises and becomes the roof, and the roof becomes a walkway, integrating all outdoor moves into a great wandering between the “private” and the “public”, turning the building itself into an exhibit. Bridging is accomplished by creating an imposing tribune , projecting to the square and the auditorium.

The roofs are planted, thus restoring the “lost” green, while helping the micro-climate of the complex.

The Program

The program is divided into two sections: uses exclusively for artistic groups (“private”) and uses related to the general public (“public”). The gathering of all artistic activities in a common place led to the need for 5 large teaching classrooms and 8 smaller workshops, with direct access to hygienic / douche / changing rooms.

In direct connection to the classrooms the Library of Arts is located, in which the artistic groups can find books, contemporary magazines and rich audiovisual material about the arts being taught. The library is not only a studying space, but also a gathering place, a place for exchange of views, research, entertainment.

A large gathering space unifies the above functions, as a space of relaxation, break, which connects the “private” with the “public”.  The space is double in height and unified with the café lounge (which is at the lowest level).

On the ground floor the “public” uses are placed. A large café-restaurant, serving the artistic groups and audience, as well as a shop offering material from performances / concerts, etc. of the teams, complete the building volume. As an independent element, the multi-functional auditorium, with a direct independent entrance from the square, is designed. The space can be varied and adapted to all requirements.

The public and the private Movement

Two types of audience, the student / user, and the visitor / viewer are grouped in the Spot. Movements is organized on two levels: The “public” traffic (the visitor’s) on the ground floor, and the “private” traffic (the user’s) on the upper floor.

The “Public” Movement

From the two “entrances” to the area, the visitor enters the esplanade. From there the visitor has access to the square and the multi-functional auditorium, as well as the main building block of the complex, entering the Café / Restaurant, the Bar and the shop.

The “Private” Movement

The main “entrance” to the “private” spaces is eastern, from the Central NTUA Square. The user enters the private square of the upper level, heading to either the classrooms, through a covered walkway, or to the Arts Library. At the peak of the square the user meets the main entrance to the main building, which leads to the gathering place of the artistic groups.

The gathering area is double height and unified with the café’s lounge. An imposing staircase leads to the ground floor, reinforcing the mix of “private” and “public” movements.

The “Wandering”

All the outdoor movements are unified in a “wandering” between the “private” and the “public”, in the planted roof of the complex. Thus the visitor / user can move, viewing the entire building complex, the two squares, the uncovered green space, as the view is unlimited. The building itself becomes an exhibit.

Arriving at the big tribune of the roof, the visitor has the opportunity to enter the group’s gathering space and then the café through a spiral movement surrounding the green atrium.

The auditorium “landmark”
The multi-function

The auditorium area refers not only the artistic groups, but also the entire NTUA and its visitors. It is designed as a space that can be changed according to the needs of the planned events, which can be theatrical and musical performances, exhibitions of painting / sculpture / photography, screenings, lectures, concerts … A special construction of the floor of the Amphitheater, consisting of folding units with built-in folding seats, allows for the conversion of space from theater to concert venue, exhibition area, lecture hall(s), cinema, event hall, etc.

The Arts’ Spot Photoroman