Thessaloniki-based CAN Studio has designed a creative, flexible, and versatile space for the civil non-profit company InCommOn. The basic idea was to create a multifunctional and maximally variable space to house “Kyklos”, meaning circle, and its diverse experiments on sustainable and participatory urban development.
Located in the neighborhood of Ano Poli in Thessaloniki, this ground floor space of 220 sq.m. was designed to serve various different functions, suitable for hosting events, seminars, exhibitions, and office spaces, with easy access to all citizens. With a focus on materials with a low environmental footprint, the interior design highlights interesting architectural elements, such as the high-ceiling section featuring extensive glazing and the central, free columns, around which the various functions are organized. Specially designed furniture ensures the continuity of the space while serving the particular needs of each activity. The circle shape defines the project’s name, implying the concept of reuse, recycling, and the way the group makes decisions while serving as the space’s focal point. “Entering the building, the logo appears in fragments, on the walls, on beams, on the ceiling, and over columns, but as we move closer towards the depth of the open space, the shape of the circle gradually forms in unity and from a certain point of view, we can find ourselves actually participating in a visual game”, as the architecture team describes. With subtle yet crisp interventions, the space functions as a neutral and fresh canvas for the creative engagement of the community.
