'Aliki Perroti'' Student Residence

ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS

OFFICE

'Aliki Perroti'' 

Student Residence

The 'ALIKI PERROTI STUDENT RESIDENCE' makes exemplary use of technologies that save energy and water.

Greek version

In 2008 the Administration of the American Farm School, after the generous donation of Mrs. Aliki Perroti, decided to move to the construction of a new contemporary Student Residence.

The study for the new Aliki Perroti Student Residence was commissioned to the architectural firm P. MAKRIDIS & ASSOCIATES S.A. in October 2008. The building permit was issued in June 2009 and the building's construction, which after a tender was awarded to "PROVOLI S.A.," began on July, 2009.

The building has been inaugurated in October 2010, only 14 months after issuing the building's permit, despite the delay in the project due to Archaeological findings consisting of a late Roman Empire water system (water delivery pipes, 2 wells, cistern and storage tank) which were discovered during construction of the new building and have been preserved both inside the building and outside the southeast walls of the building.

The Design Team conducted a thorough and extensive research on the requirements, needs and demands of College residence halls, and fully adapted the guidelines of this research to the present project. The basic guidelines include:


-Respect and Integration of the building complex in the existing landscape
-Optimizing the living conditions of the residents
-Space flexibility and adaptability 
-Implementation of principals of environmental architecture 
-Adoption of innovative technologies, aiming to improve and protect the environment, minimize emissions, and adopt alternative 
 energy sources.

 

The 'ALIKI PERROTI STUDENT RESIDENCE' makes exemplary use of technologies that save energy and water. The total area of the main premises of the new building comlpex is almost 4.000 m², which are developed in three levels. The total area below ground is 1.500,00m².


The shape of the building is linear on an east-west axis, with the majority of dormitory rooms facing south. Natural lighting and heating for the rooms are therefore maximized. The 'ALIKI PERROTI STUDENT RESIDENCE' can accommodate 96 persons in total with: 46 double rooms, 2 rooms for people with disabilities and 2 supervisors' rooms. Students' rooms are doubles and are organized by two with a common living room. The rooms and the living rooms have fans to save energy.

All rooms have access to individual balconies or terraces that are designed to ensure sun protection from the south in summer, while allowing the sun to enter in the winter months.

The Communal Areas of the Student Residence are located in the adjacent, two-storey building that also houses the entrance to the complex.

The Multi-Purpose Common Room accommodates all students in the Student Residence in times of relaxation.


The SETH FRANK ASSEMBLY HALL is located one level below and can accommodate approximately 230 people. This room is in honor of a close friend of Mr. Perroti who provided ample help in the implementation of this project. The Assembly Hall is designed so that its acoustics can enhance both speech and music events.

 

The single storey Restaurant will operate as an independent building, connected directly to the Student Residence, and serve all students of the School. It can also be used to host approximately 180 people.


The complex is developed on three levels along the inclination of the ground. It consists of simple geometric forms with flat roofs. Linear sections of sloping roofs are to be used for the collection of solar radiation through collectors connected to heat storage tanks. These sloping roofs also work as natural lighting and ventilation chimneys directing natural light in the corridors, while ensuring natural ventilation in all areas. For this purpose, sections of the corridors are detached from the side walls, creating gaps to maximize the natural lighting of the building.

The complex gives the feeling of an harmonious dialogue with the open space, which is formed in graduated levels. The building's volume is split with the help of broad indentations of green in the rooms' wings. Much of the roof is planted with pergolas creating shaded areas that provide a pleasant resting set for the students, improving at the same time the insulation and the reduction of greenhouse gases.

The selected plants are Mediterranean with reduced irrigation requirements in accordance to contemporary environmental requirements or demands.

 

All materials used were selected based on their behavior to the local climate, aesthetics, and more importantly due to their reduced maintenance requirements. The suspended, ventilated envelope of the building is constructed of handmade ceramic bricks and sheets of weathering steel (Corten) to absorb solar radiation and shield against cold wind in winter, and to protect against summer sunlight, substantially reducing energy consumption and significantly improving the building's environmental impact.


Immense emphasis was given to shielding the complex with highly enhanced thermal and water insulation, recyclable and friendly to users materials, that do not harm the environment.


The afore mentioned actions contribute substantially for the ecological and environmental behavior of the 'ALIKI PERROTI STUDENT RESIDENCE'.