Situated on a former industrial site, FIX will be part of a wider regeneration strategy for transforming Thessaloniki. © Foster + Partners
Curated by Archirev Editorial | Feature Story | Published Nov 24, 2025
Source: Foster + Partners
PROJECT TYPOLOGY: MIXED-USE
Project name: FIX Thessaloniki
Location: Thessaloniki, Greece
Architect: Foster + Partners
Size: Unknown
Timeline: 2025–
Client/Developer: Dimand
Status: Design
Program: Cultural venues, public square, residential building, hotel, landscaped terraces
Primary Systems: Red brick, exposed concrete vaults, industrial windows, vaulted terraces
Heritage Context: Former FIX Brewery, 19th–20th century industrial landmark
Program: Cultural venues, public square, residential building, hotel, landscaped terraces
Images: © Foster + Partners
Foster + Partners has unveiled its masterplan vision for the historic FIX brewery site in Thessaloniki, Greece. Appointed by developer Dimand, the practice has been tasked with transforming one of the city’s most symbolic industrial landmarks into a vibrant mixed-use district positioned along the seafront by the city’s western port gate. As Thessaloniki continues to advance large-scale urban regeneration initiatives, the FIX redevelopment is positioned to become a significant catalyst for reconnecting heritage, culture, housing, and public life.
Architecture Rooted in Climate, Heritage, and Human Experience
The FIX brewery has long stood as an emblem of Thessaloniki’s industrial era. The new proposal builds upon this legacy, embedding the material identity of the original buildings into a future-focused urban framework. Foster + Partners’ design incorporates earthenware brick, exposed concrete vaults, arched industrial-style windows, and forms that echo the brewery’s organic growth over time.
Preserving and evolving the site’s architectural character is central to the project’s mission, allowing the development to remain rooted in local history while meeting contemporary expectations for sustainable and adaptable urban environments. The architectural language emphasizes climate responsiveness and human comfort, with shaded terraces, vaulted ceilings, and deep overhangs that help manage sunlight while protecting users from the elements. These features draw directly from the brewery’s original character, merging heritage with sustainability.
Christos Antonopoulos, Partner at Foster + Partners, notes that the design “celebrates the site’s industrial history” while supporting Thessaloniki’s evolution as a contemporary, sustainable Mediterranean city.
The design celebrates the site’s industrial heritage, with earthenware brick, exposed concrete vaults, and industrial-inspired windows. © Foster + Partners
Regeneration Strategy and Urban Connectivity
Positioned within walking distance from the city center, the development forms part of a broader regeneration effort along Thessaloniki’s waterfront. The master plan emphasizes public access, mixed-use activity, and enhanced mobility.
Michael Jones, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, describes the scheme as a “major catalyst for urban regeneration,” highlighting the project’s goal of maximizing civic, cultural, and landscape potential. This master plan includes fully pedestrian-friendly public spaces, improved cycling routes, and strong connections with the surrounding neighborhoods.
FIX incorporates a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly public realm, with a range of cultural amenities. © Foster + Partners
The Central Public Square
At the core of the project is a landscaped public square organized around a central water feature. The square is bordered by greenery and flanked by a hotel and residential building, both designed to interact closely with the public realm.
The hotel features terraces overlooking the square, while the residential block offers views of the sea. Both buildings incorporate landscaped outdoor areas that extend interior spaces outward, creating a seamless connection between private living areas and the public environment. Positioned alongside the residential block, the hotel engages the square through active ground-level uses and upper-level terraces.
The hotel and residential building stand before the landscaped public square, defined by a central water feature. © Foster + Partners
Every space is designed to create unity between the outside and the inside. © Foster + Partners
Cultural Anchors in the Former Brewery
One of the most significant aspects of the masterplan is the adaptive reuse of the existing FIX structures. These industrial buildings will become a cultural hub housing:
• Art galleries
• Museums
• Hospitality venues
• Public-facing cultural spaces
The intention is to establish the site as a new cultural heartland for Thessaloniki, activating the waterfront edge and enhancing the city’s cultural offerings.
The architecture aims to inspire curiosity, movement, and imagination, making the museum not only a place for art but also a gateway for creativity, accessible to residents, visitors, and the broader community.
A Vision for Thessaloniki’s Evolving Urban Future
Incorporating elements from the nineteenth-century vernacular of the brewery creates continuity between past and future. © Foster + Partners
Project images
The terraces extend interior living areas and offer sea views for residents. © Foster + Partners
The hotel rooms feature views that overlook the public square. © Foster + Partners