designboom_as part of a competition to design a new complex of social services for a site in thessaloniki, greece, papalampropoulos architecture bureau has won second prize with their proposal entitled ‘fora civitas’. focusing on the notion of a traditional roman agora or forum, the main concept behind the project looks to create a space that blurs the boundary between the indoor and outdoor environment, while providing an important place for the public to come together and socialize.
the program of the scheme is divided into five themes: education, hospitality, socialization, sports and culture. the plan by the architects subtly separates these various functions by giving each its own external ‘forum’ space, resulting in a series of semi-divided, yet interconnected areas. the implementation of these voids or ‘open-air’ rooms becomes the main design principle of the project and aims to create an architectural expression that is focused not purely on function, but also on the theatricality and intimacy of public and social life. making reference to the roman agora typology, these spaces act as the community heart of the building.
the walk-through central atrium (forum socialis) that connects the two side streets of the site marks the pivotal point of the design. it provides accessibility to all the social services (library, gymnasium, museum, office spaces, center of elderly care, center for citizen services, public infirmary, center for short term accommodation) while connecting via internal galleries to the atrium of culture (forum culturae), the atrium of education (forum educationem) and the playground. therefore, with the diverse areas being connected by outdoor space, the open air rooms allow for the functional and harmonic co-existence of the complex as a whole.
in contrast to the vertical multistory buildings that surround the plot, the massing of the proposed complex is characterized by its horizontality. by planning floors below street level, the scheme envisions a less intrusive intervention with the overall volume having a minimal presence. with regard to materials, the elevations are imagined to be clad in red brick, with triangular insertions to give rhythm to the façades and to provide an element of transparency through the site.