Athens College Bodosakeio Elementary School

Kantza, Attica, 1972-77

Architects
Alexandros N. Tombazis and Associates, Athens
in association with
Perkins and Will, Chicago



The Athens College Bodosakeio Elementary School is one of the most modern and comprehensive private educational facilities in the Attica basin. Built outside the city, in the lush green environment of Mesogeion, it was the product of a systematic collaboration between the Greek and US architects and the users of the building, i.e. administrators, faculty and students. The concern to create a good environment, circulation, furnishings and decoration, as well as the unconventional form of the college, was due to these ideal design conditions. The school complex is intended to house 900 pupils and consists of classrooms, language, music and creative arts workshops, administrative and office spaces, a library, athletic facilities, cafeteria, kitchen and a 450-seat theatre. The ground plan was designed in an octagonal grid. The classrooms are laid out in groups of three around the perimeter of the building; they are also lighted from the roof and open onto independent outdoor areas and flat roofs. The public functions are placed in the interior of the building.
The volume of the building complex is broken up into terraced levels that follow the natural incline of the terrain. The flat roofs have been planted so as to retain the natural vegetation. The dominant materials both inside and outside the building are plastered concrete with aluminium window frames. The door and window frames and railings/banisters are painted bright colours.

TRANSPORTATION