Designed by Renzo Piano Workshop, the 170,000 m2 Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) started contruction in 2008 and was completed in 2016. Situated on a sloping landscaped park, the SNFCC houses the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera with sustainability elements as key to its design: reduction of energy and water demands using passive design solutions.

The site’s design reconnects views back to the sea; an artificial hill creates a massive living roof planted with native flora encompassing 1,400+ trees and 300,000+ other plants. The SNFCC includes 25,568 m2 of greenroofs which, as a public park, has doubled the area’s greenspace.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre is the first LEED Platinum building in Greece. A 10,000 m2 canopy above the opera house supplies shade for the occupants below and also supports 5,600 PVs, which reduces cooling demands below and generates 2.5 megawatts of power for the building above. The SNFCC was awarded the European Solar Prize 2017.

With a dramatic 32 m height differential, the structure unfolds to a full-height atrium and fully glazed facade. Non-drinkable underground water, seawater, and rainwater are collected for irrigation. In total, approximately 85% of greywater on site is reused.