The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, located in Kallithea, just 4 km from downtown Athens, is a significant cultural hub within a 170,000 sqm urban park. This space hosts the Greek National Library and the Greek National Opera, the result of a project that revitalized a semi-abandoned area, previously home to the racetrack, used for the 2004 Olympic Games and later as a parking lot. Now, thanks to this redevelopment, the area reconnects with the city and the sea.
The RPBW studio designed an artificial hill that culminates in the grand architecture of the Cultural Center, offering a breathtaking view of the sea. The structure includes the Library and Opera House, connected by a central public space, the Agora. The Opera House features two auditoriums: one with 450 seats dedicated to classical opera and ballet performances, and the other, with 1,400 seats, intended for more experimental shows.
The Library, a symbol of shared knowledge, is conceived as a public resource, with a glass reading room located at the top of the building, offering a 360-degree view of Athens and the sea. Above this room, the Energy Canopy, a photovoltaic panel roof, provides all the energy needed for the Cultural Center during normal operating hours. Natural ventilation systems further enhance the building’s energy efficiency.
Within the park, a canal parallel to the Esplanade, the north-south pedestrian axis, reinforces the visual connection with water, a key element in the project’s conception. Thanks to the innovative sustainability solutions adopted, the Center has achieved LEED “Platinum” certification, the highest recognition in the sustainable building sector.
For this ambitious project, the RPBW studio once again involved De Padova, a leading name in designer furniture. The team developed customized solutions, such as the Quadrato Table, produced to measure and equipped with vertical dividing panels, paired with Cirene chairs. In the Opera foyer, custom-made Pollack armchairs were installed. In the common areas, such as the hall, Basket armchairs combine with Dan coffee tables, creating a welcoming and sophisticated environment.
Being part of such a technologically advanced building is a source of pride for De Padova. In a place where transparent architecture and innovative concepts transform the space into an accessible resource for culture, the presence of designer furniture by De Padova emphasizes the harmony between aesthetics and functionality, highlighting the role of culture as both entertainment and a resource for knowledge, in line with the philanthropic mission of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
