designboom · Creativity & design

MPNYC Transforms Piraeus Warehouse into Adaptable Cultural Space

Manhattan Projects New York City (MPNYC) has converted a former port warehouse in Piraeus, Greece, into a flexible office, showroom, and gallery space, set to open in October 2026.

The design approach, termed 'adaptive reuse,' treats the existing structure as a found object, using subtraction to reveal its historical character. The building has served multiple purposes, from a storage facility and repair workshops to an industrial-equipment showroom and a film-production company's base.

MPNYC describes the space as a 'slider,' allowing rooms to shift functions. For instance, the kitchen can serve as a workshop or a pop-up restaurant, and meeting rooms can transform into gallery spaces.

The project involved removing later construction layers to expose the original fabric, restoring doorways, and allowing natural light to penetrate deeper. Minimalist pivot doors and restored timber shutters were incorporated.

Reclaimed brick is used for partitions and thresholds, while existing masonry and concrete structures are cleaned and exposed. Suspended ceilings were removed to reveal the building's approximately 150-year-old fir roof.

Former partitions, though retained, now serve as gallery surfaces. The corner space features a liquid-metal insulation finish, and objects are displayed amidst traces of previous uses, integrating the architecture into the exhibition.

The strategy of reuse extends beyond the building, with metal props from a previous exhibition repurposed as tables and display units, and old timber cabinets used for material displays and bookshelves.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.