The Arsanas (shipyard) building stands along the coastal area of the Holy Monastery of Saint Gregory in Mount Athos, positioned to the right of the small dock where ships and monastery boats usually moor. Constructed in the typical architectural style of Mount Athos, it features external stonework, internal clapboard walls, and a wooden roof covered with slate.

 

Our design intended to address several issues, including the absence of a suitable exhibition space for local products and handicrafts, structural concerns stemming from the aging of the building and accelerating its deterioration, and aesthetic issues resulting from modern interventions that have altered the building’s original appearance.

The restoration of the building aimed to adapt it to its new function as an exhibition and retail area. The expansive layout is defined by wooden pillars that delineate a central corridor. Furniture designed to display the exhibition products is placed on either side of this corridor and at the periphery of the external stonework.

 

The design involved both external works (relating to the restoration of the static load carrier) as well as internal works (relating to the construction of the wooden floor frame and the clapboard walls). It also encompassed efforts to restore the facades to their original state, emphasizing authenticity and employing traditional techniques enhanced by modern technology. Additionally, the design included the construction of a new wooden roof to safeguard the building against inclement weather conditions. Finally, we installed all the exterior wooden framing of the building along with their marble sills.