The building is located in the historical center of Thessaloniki – Greece. Although it had been built originally as an office building, the new owner and developer decided in 2019 to transform most of its floors into apartments. After the completion of the due diligence phase, it was decided to maintain the office use of the first two floors (closer to the roadway noise) while changing the rest of the floors’ use to residential. The ground floor originally had a central narrow entrance and one store on each side. According to the new concept, one of the stores was eliminated, leaving the necessary space for an enlarged entrance as well as a back-office. At the same time, the lift was moved to the entrance level, eliminating the height difference between the street and the lift door. A shading system composed by sliding panels in front of the balcony railings on the main façade allows for sun and climate control during hot days while also reducing roadway noise levels. On the north façade a similar system of panels provides privacy and covers all exterior installed electromechanical infrastructure such as a/c units, gas boilers and pipes. The choice of materials and textures has been based both on their longevity as well as their resistance to wear and pollution.  The metallic elements have a subtle olive-green color which complements the red patina of Corten steel used for the expanded metal mesh of the panels. On the background, all exterior walls are grey, allowing this “second skin” of sliding panels to take the lead role of the composition.