A smooth, curved concrete shell forms the exterior of this art studio in Boeotia, central Greece by Athens studio A31 Architecture (+ slideshow).

A31 Architecture designed the space as a combined studio and gallery for an artist, creating a place adjacent to his home where he can hang paintings and simultaneously construct large sculptures.

A wooden door is set into the double-height glass-fronted entrance, accessed by an open concrete patio area.

Inside, floating steps protrude out from the side of one wall in the large downstairs workspace, leading to a mezzanine attic level that is used for storage.

The concrete steps also double as exhibition space for small sculptures.

Thin sections of concrete have been cut from the exterior to form windows and the blocks that were removed are now in use as benches and plinths.

"The space created is open, friendly, solemn, and simple," said architect Praxitelis Kondylis. "It forms part of the nature as if it has been standing there for ages."

Other warehouses we've featured include one with an orthogonal exterior made from clay bricks infused with metal shavings, a former slaughterhouse with reclaimed roof tiles and a textile warehouse clad in white stone.

See more warehouses »
See more architecture and design in Greece »

Photography is by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis.

Here's a project description from the architects:

Art Warehouse in Boeotia, Greece

The Artist's warehouse is a monolithic Modern structure. Its orthogonal plan is divided into three zones: firstly, the cantilever with the balcony in the south, where the entrance is situated. Secondly, the artist's workspace and finally the attic in the north which serves as a storage space.

A straight staircase connects the two levels, while the cantilevered concrete steps can serve as exhibition stands for the artist's work.

The most important demand was an open space structure of a significant height suitable to the needs of the artist in order for him to hang paintings and construct huge sculptures.

Another wish has been the integration of the new structure with the surrounding nature. A part of the landscape was incorporated in the open-space sculpture gallery, hosting the artist’s creations.

The space created is open, friendly, solemn, and simple. It forms part of the nature as if it has been standing there for ages. It's dome, a timeless and interregional architectural coronation element spanning from antiquity to Modernism, interacts with the intimate space of the artists house, the "cell".

The wall openings, which relate to the Sun's trajectory, the interior lighting and the ventilation, stem from transverse horizontal sections in the building shell. The sliced concrete blocks that are removed now function as benches for people and pedestals for sculptures.

Architect: A31 Architecture (Architect and project author - Praxitelis Kondylis)
Structural Design: A31 Construction (Engineer - Panagiotis Karras)
Construction: A31 Architecture and Construction Ltd
Plan Area: 4.000 m2
Building Area: 75 m2
Budget: 70.000 Euros
Client: Alexander Liappis, Painter
Spot: Dilesi, Boeotia, Greece