Athens opts for a cleaner act

Cobbold Knox is working on concepts for an 18m environmental centre now under construction in Athens, Greece.

The London consultancy is designing a 2000m2 exhibition, a gallery, a restaurant, a café and a shop for the Gaia Centre, which will primarily aim to educate Greek schoolchildren about environmental issues.

Cobbold Knox’s client is UK-based Global Productions, which is masterminding the project.

“We may appoint graphic designers at some point,” says partner Allen Cobbold, adding that “it may be better to work with a Greek consultancy for this”.

Cobbold anticipates that the design concepts will not be finalised for another two years. “The pollution situation in Athens is getting better, and we’ll want the information to be up-to-date, so decisions about the design of the centre will not be taken for some time,” he explains.

Potential concepts include the World Watch Gallery, where visitors will be able to “communicate with the earth”, adds Cobbold.