National Bank of Greece

Heraklion Headquarters, Crete - Greece

Date 2007

Status Completed

Building size 1.000 sq.m

photos by:Jannik Weylandt

The building of the National Bank was designed to house the new headquarters of the bank in Heraklion, Crete. The site of the project, influenced the architecture of the building in a large degree. It is a promenade site , as it is located at the junction of two major highways of Heraklion. Ikarou Avenue leads to the airport, and Kazantzidis Avenue leads to the highway Exit and the Industrial Area of Heraklion.

The shape of the plot, played a key role in the plan of the building; the Bank's managers made clear the need for the highest possible floor space in the building. Therefore, the plan of the ground floor follows, the boundaries of the land , which created a differentiated system pentagon.The overall design was made according to the specifications of the National Bank and having in mind the bank's desire for a building that expresses Prestige, Robustness, Safety and Innovation.Externally the building was claded with Italian Limestone and in the main facade of the building a large glazed wall made with tension rods, was incorporated. The main entrance of the building was treated again with a glazed wall, while a huge beam of 8m length, is suspended on the corner of building. On the second floor, the top floor of the building, has a large canopy to supplement the volume of the building, which also gives a more dynamic perspective to the building