FLOATING MONOLITH

The project is located on Mantzagriotaki Street in Kallithea. The metal constructions of the project are an important part of the reconstruction of the ground floor space and its conversion into an office-house. They include the external frames, the loft framework, the ladder and its support frame, the internal partition cladding, the built-in kitchen furniture and the portable office furniture.

Exterior frames:

These are two fixed frames and an opening door, the entrance to the space. Due to the ground floor access, the safety of the space played an important role in the design. Safety glass and a three-point lock were applied to the frames, while the sliding shades/shutters that lock electromagnetically required a demanding design. In order to ensure limited visibility to the interior from the street while at the same time providing the maximum possible natural light, the inclination of the blinds changes in stages. For their exact application, the guides for supporting the blinds were cut with a laser, while their suspended frame was made of 5 mm thick slats with reinforcement ribs.

Loft metal framework and interior cladding:

The title of the project 'floating monolith' derives from the impression of the floating balcony/loft achieved by the application of the static solution that provided for its suspension from the ceiling. An important element for the quality of the project was the precise measurements of its cross-sections to ensure compliance with the rest of the site's elements. The linings were made with unpainted black crimped 3mm sheet, leaving visible the characteristic iridescent forms that are the result of the metal excursion.

Staircase:

The staircase needed also a demanding application study in order for the hidden support frame to ensure its stability without obstructing the storage space located to the left of the riser. The steps were made of 16mm sheet metal while a static study was applied to calculate zero sway.

Furniture:

The fixed and mobile furniture was also made of black unpainted sheet metal of various thicknesses combined with a stainless steel frame made of solid Φ8 tube. On the surfaces of the furniture in wet areas, electrostatic paint was applied with a transparent primer in order to protect them from moisture while preserving the natural color of the metal.