1 MARCH 2005
++++++++++++++++++ project commencement ISLAND _ BUILT EVENT: A text describing the project was sent via e-mail to recipients who might be interested in it. Recipients of the e-mail were included in the project. The project involved a series of approaches on Youra, a wild, deserted island which is part of the Northern Sporades islands; it is an island of shipwrecks, where access to visitors is prohibited. The island is protected by guards of the Forest Office. The sea surrounding the island is protected by the coast guard. The text describing the project was also posted on notice boards at the Department of Architecture of the University of Thessaly’s School of Engineering. The ‘landscape workshop’, an 8th semester course, was incorporated in the project, as was the conceptual design course: a built event workshop was organized, open to anyone who wished to participate in it with presentations and talks on projects in progress. Initial analysis of the project and presentation to students in the Department of Architecture. The text describing the project which was posted and distributed is the following: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY / SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING / DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE + + + + + + + LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP / ARISTIDE ANTONAS - CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WORKSHOP / FILIPPOS ORAIOPOULOS / PEDION AREOS 38334 VOLOS
ISLAND – built EVENT A SERIES OF DESCRIPTIVE CONSTRUCTIONS, INITIAL APPROACH, AN IDENTITY PENDING : The project revolves around the island of Youra. The island lies in the Aegean sea, six hours from Volos, and is part of Magnesia Prefecture’s Sporades islands. Youra is deserted, as are most of the islands in the region. Some of them (Trikeri, Alonnisos) were places of exile for political prisoners, while others belonged to Mount Athos monasteries (Kyra Panagia, Pappous) or were used as pastures (Piperi). The small number of buildings on Youra (traces of a small monastery, a preserved church, ruins from the first installation of the first guards, today’s installation of the guards) points to the island’s deserted state. Until being ceded to the Greek State, Youra was a hunting ground for Greece’s kings. The island also has mythological associations, since – legend has it – the Cyclops’ cave is placed –according to a legend- there. Shipwrecks are a common occurrence at Youra; many sunken ships and their loads are gradually being located in the deep waters of the greater region. A ship carrying 200 immigrants ran aground on the deserted island on 26 December 2001. Youra is located in
veloping a network that promotes the ongoing exchange of information and critiques. They can bring or send the final draft of their (philosophical, anthropological, scientific, poetic, theatrical and other) speech and their constructions (whether in the form of art, film, photography, music or other) by June, at which time – if necessary – one last visit to the island will be arranged, marking the ‘end’ of the project. D. During the project’s production, based at the TAM Department of Architecture in Volos, artists, philosophers, anthropologists, architects and scientists will, alone or in groups, present talks or constructions referring or corresponding to a visit to the island of Youra or other similar places in the Magnesia region (Trikeri, Alonnisos – places of exile; Pteleos beach – place of shipwrecked immigrants, etc.). The same participants can also present a new talk or construction specifically on the particular project during these two days. E. Lastly, different agencies (Department of Architecture, University of Thessaly, Alonnisos Municipality, ecological agencies, Forest Office, Volos immigrant support group, immigration agency, etc.) will be invited together with the previous guests to develop the project into a permanently open forum on this particular island. The project is already in progress and its duration will be determined by the action taken by people regarding Youra and according to the contracts being drawn up. If we conceptualize the project’s structure (built event) as the plot of a live, realistic theatrical play, then the roles of the participants will be identified with their actual participation. The project will officially come to an end at a specific date and time to be announced. The results of the ISLAND – built Event project (discourses and constructions) will be placed in containers (mobile exhibition spaces) for viewing, while sheets submitted by the participants will be compiled into a large book to which new material will be able to be added (the book will be bound with removable screws). Thus, although presented as a temporally specific ‘theatrical’ event, the project will remain permanently open. The first stage in the process will be presented in a separate edition. The staging of such an architectural project (built event) aims at composing the content and unfolding the process dialectically through ongoing transformations in the internal time of the project’s constructions. ARISTIDE ANTONAS & FILIPPOS ORAIOPOULOS PS: All who wish to take part in the two days of discussions for the ISLAND – Built Event project (a project of talks and constructions) must register by 30 April so that the necessary arrangements can be made (tickets, accommodation, etc.): Filippos Oraiopoulos (e-mail:…; fax: (+30) 24210 74272, 2310 266387; mobile: (+30) 69…) Aristide Antonas (e-mail:…; fax: (+30) 24210 74272, 2310 266387; mobile: (+30) 69…) At the moment, the program is as follows : Friday, 13 May, afternoon meeting at the Architecture Department in Volos Saturday, 14 May, 07:00 depart for Alonnisos from Volos » , 10:00 arrive at Alonnisos and depart for Youra » , 12:30 – 18:00 visit the island, presentations and discussions » , 21:00 return to Alonnisos, overnight stay Sunday, 15 May Depart for Volos in the morning or afternoon (at each participant’s discretion).
Departure from Alonnisos at around 11:15 together with two guards from the Forest Office, who were to spend more days on the island. Before visiting the island, a visiting permit with a list of all the names of the visitors to the island (22 persons) was issued by the Skopelos Forest Office and Alonnisos Port Authority. Arrival on the island of Youra at 2 in the afternoon. Anchored on the north side due to the south winds. Visit and tour of the residential space of the guards with the guards as guides. The built facilities on a leeward part of the island enjoy a view of the Sporades archipelago, between the two anchoring points (NE, SW) and are five minutes away from “Cyclops’” prehistoric cave, which has been locked by archaeologists. There are two built “complexes”. The first includes a deserted house from the first prison facility together with the ruins of one stone and one iron reservoir, as well as a shelter for the King’s hunting dogs. The second complex has wire fenc-
19 APRIL 2005
(approximately 10 minutes). Immediately after their arrival at the island’s beach, Tasos Sakellaropoulos explained the system governing the exile of political prisoners in Greece (arrests, organization of camps, torture, everyday way of life, prisoners’ culture, ideology, transfers, selection of places of exile) from the time of the Metaxas dictatorship (1936) to the more recent military dictatorship of the colonels (1967), and mainly during the time of the civil war. A discussion on the specific site on the island followed. A visit, on foot, to the area around the island’s monastery, where exiled women were held, and to the area surrounding it. There is almost no concrete trace of the area where the tents were put up. Residents’ narrations and a guest book from the women’s visits, who return each June to the place of their suffering. Two books on the places of exile (with ample photographic material), which Tasos Sakellaropoulos brought with him, provide the only picture of the place of exile. Coexistence of the holy monastery and place of exile, different forms of desertion and isolation. Meal on the island; return trip with discussions on the bus and arrival in Volos at night. [ text by Tasos Sakellaropoulos and photographic material ]
the middle of the Alonnisos marine park; it is a protected biotope and may not be visited without special permission from the Sporades Forest Office. The island is guarded by two to three guards who have rotating ten-day shifts. The ISLAND – built Event project constructs the island’s pending identity. The interest lies in the difficulty of forming a local identity, seen as a dynamic, creative act. Specific events have led to the island being identified as a certain form: thus, it has become an island of shipwrecks, of politics, of ecology, of desertedness or of isolation, depending on one’s perspective. Each individual act performed on the island has formed or reformed it as a different form. The built event that is being organized, involving the presentation of projects and talks on the island, will replace the island’s lack of identity (lack of generality) with something. The island’s pending identity is thus a platform or an open forum. The place is interpreted as a collection of produced narrations describing it and of constructions that it awaits. It is defined by patience. This patience (which welcomes and organizes the pending identity) characterizes the project. The project is presented as an action stemming from this patience. The procedure involved in bringing the project to fruition entails the following practical steps: A. Artists, philosophers, anthropologists, scientists and architects as well as the students from the University of Thessaly’s TAM School of Architecture: (final year students and graduates) and other Schools are invited to participate in the project. B. From the start of the spring semester students will work on the project of the University of Thessaly’s TAM School of Architecture. With the students’ involvement in the project’s production process, it is the educational process that is introduced into its production process, and not the other way round. C. Discussions and debates will be held at the TAM Department of Architecture between special guests and the students, on issues relating to the island of Youra and which also concern other islands in Magnesia Prefecture (Trikeri, Alonnisos, Kyra Panagia, Pappous, etc.). One month after the project’s commencement – on 5 April – the students and any of the guests who are interested will visit the island of Trikeri, and on 16 and 17 April there will be a first visit to Youra, heading from Alonnisos and via the Sporades islands. The insistence on the place itself cannot be understood without conceptualization. An itinerary and a meeting on the island form a research field on intentions and inventions of the island. Intentions and inventions are presented through discourses and constructions. In the field of the uncertain island, the place itself and any identity of the place stay suspended. In the same field the built event is the notion that provides a substitute for identity without betraying suspension. The decision, the coincidence and the incident organize each time temporary structures of the built event. The two days of discussions have been organized as follows: Having agreed to participate in the project from the start and having received the available material (conception of the project – key concepts, photographs, geographical, historical and anthropological material, written accounts, etc.), the participants will visit the place on 14 May (Saturday) during a joint trip. There, they will share their initial thoughts on the subject and exchange views at the place itself (Youra), weather permitting, or on the closest inhabited island (Alonnisos). In the meantime, once the project has commenced, the participants will be able to send their thoughts or projects (material that they have developed with a specific construction in mind for the island or letters expressing their agreement, objections or alternative ideas pertaining to the project’s organisation), thus creating interventions throughout the project’s duration by de-
[ photographs, Mr. Vassilis’ diary, the text of Mr. Vassilis’ speech, dialogues between Vassilis and guard ].
22 MARCH 2005
Tuesday : +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Architect Sophia Vyzoviti (PhD), an associate of the BUILT EVENT workshop, presented the program (views and techniques) on the protection of marine parks in Greece, and especially in the Sporades islands, to which Youra belongs. Sustainable fishing was at the centre of all programs. Presentation of feasibility and technical description of artificial reefs.
13 MAY 2005
Friday, : +++++++++++++++++++++ Late afternoon, Volos, introductory meeting held at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Thessaly with those participating in the meeting/two-day conference/trip to Youra.
14 MAY 2005
8 MARCH 2005
15 MARCH 2005
17 APRIL 2005
Sunday : ++++++++++++++++++++++ Return trip to Volos cancelled due to the stormy winds (over 8 on the Beaufort scale). On the occasion, the possibility of the next visit and the meeting of all participants in the island is discussed. The vessel “Odyssey” is in the Alonissos port. Visit to the main village at noon (the place where the first inhabitants of the island settled). Lunch and dancing performed by the residents. The visitors from the built event workshop participated. At night, a coast guard official phoned to inform A. Antonas and F. Oraiopoulos that two of the participants in the workshop had dived into the dark, rough sea and advised greater caution. On the next day, Monday 18 April, at 06:15, before sunrise, the navigation restriction was lifted, therefore allowing the travelers to return to Volos. [ photographic material, designs, discussions ]
: +++++++++++++++++++ Discussions at the built event workshop at the Department of Architecture on new thoughts and proposals following the visit to Youra. [ photographs, sketches, discussions ]
Tuesday : +++++++++++++++++++++++ Architect Manolis Berahas, head of the support group for the immigrants who were shipwrecked on 26 December 2001 on the island of Youra, presented his experiences and thoughts on the condition of immigrants in Greece today to the students: immigrant routes (east - west), Greece as a transitional point, legislative framework, living conditions. Mehdi Salehi, student in the Department of Architecture, described his personal experiences as an immigrant: the lack of an identity card constitutes the best strategy in order to obtain a residence permit. The map of the island was presented on a 1:50000 scale map. A discussion followed. [ Scanned image of the newspaper, photograph of the presentation and the map. ]
Tuesday : +++++++++++++++++++++++++ First visit (Aristide Antonas, Filippos Oraiopoulos) to the island of Youra following repeated postponements over a period of two months due to bad weather conditions. The issue of a visiting permit by the Skopelos Forest Office and Alonnisos Port Authority was necessary before the trip. The trip to Youra lasted three hours with the flying dolphin and six hours with the Evangelistria fishing vessel belonging to Vassilis Kalogiannis. During the visit, the visitors were escorted by Nikos Anagnostou, guard from the Alonnisos Forest Office. Photo shoots, video recordings and discussions with the guard and boatman on their experiences on the island, and especially on the 26 December 2001 shipwreck, for which they provided their own personal testimony. 2½ hour stay on the island and return on the same day. Night on Alonnisos and return to Volos at dawn on the next day.
[ Georges Bataille on animals, Theory of Religion, fragment to include ] Return via a small convoy at 9 p.m., slightly worn out by the cold and surge of the sea.
12 APRIL 2005
Tuesday : +++++++++++++++++++++++ Biologist Panos Dendrinos, who is in charge of organizing the northern Sporades marine park, presented the concept and organization of the marine park, and particularly the actions and institutions that are working to protect the Mediterranean monk seal (monachus monachus). He described their way of life, living conditions and topological requirements for the reproduction of mammals in the island complex’ sea caves, which form part of the marine park. Regional classification, assessment and ordering of the seals’ habitats (from their place of birth to the place of survival). A discussion followed mainly on the special method employed in creating artificial areas for the birth and survival of seals. [ photographic material from the discussion and the material used by the speaker himself ]
Saturday, : ++++++++++++++++++++++ Departure for Youra at 7 a.m. on the M/S Odyssey. The participants were 12 guests from Greece and abroad and 34 more architects, artists, philosophers and scientists who expressed an interest in the project. The Pagasitic Gulf has calm waters, but outside the gulf the north-easterly winds cause swells. After 2 hours at sea, during which breakfast had been taken and the passengers got to know each other, sometimes discussing topics related to the ISLAND_BUILT EVENT project, a video was shown inside the ship, presenting the informal account of Vassilis Kalogiannis, a fisherman and hunter from Alonnisos who regularly runs the route from Alonnisos to Youra and back again in his small boat in order to fish and to transport the forest guards who monitor the island. He gives an account of when the shipwrecked immigrants were found on 26 December 2001. He was the first to find them and also helped them. Filippos Oraiopoulos and Aristide Antonas then took the floor and described the context within which the project was to take place, directing the passengers’ interest to two issues: (a) the type of project: Built_EVENT (b) the scope of the project: ISLAND Their talks are recorded. Antonas and Oraiopoulos carried with them some texts describing what they would speak about on board. Here is what these printed papers were writing: [ Filippos Oraiopoulos’ paper ] : “In the post-network age, one perceives a certain resistance and lack in the semantic and material function of the place. On the one hand, the physical place as a venue of events (talks and constructions) continues to fight against being effaced by the intangible website. On the other hand, the website makes local events universal, even though it is often characterized by an
16 APRIL 2005
Saturday : +++++++++++++++++++++++ First visit of the built event workshop to the island of Youra. Departure from Volos at 8 a.m. and arrival on Alonnisos at 11 a.m. March / protest by the residents against the reduction of ship lines.
[ A text and data from the Service’s CD must be included. ] First attempt in the built event workshop to describe the island by using the photographs and by reading the map. New narrations on the island gathered from different sources. Thoughts on new constructions on the island.
29 MARCH 2005
Tuesday : +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Archaeologist Dimitris Kourkoumelis presented a survey of shipwrecks in the Mediterranean from antiquity till recently, and especially of shipwrecks in the Northern Sporades island complex. He described the conditions of the shipwrecks by focusing on the weather conditions, geography and the vessels’ construction. He discussed ideas on illicit trade in underwater antiquities, net fishing at ancient shipwreck sites and on fishing resorts. The “Alonissos shipwreck” not far away from Youra is one of the most important submarine finds. [ photograph from the talk’s setting and visual material from Dimitris Kourkoumelis’ presentation ] Discussions on the built event workshop. Presentation of new narrations and construction projects. [ project sketches ]
5 APRIL 2005
Tuesday : +++++++++++++++++++++ Tasos Sakellaropoulos, historian and expert researcher of places of exile for political prisoners, accompanied the built event workshop that took place outside the classes of the Department of Architecture on their trip to Trikeri island in the Pagasitic Gulf, a place of exile for women during the most recent civil war in Greece. Participants in the workshop were transported to the Trikeri mountain village by a bus belonging to the University of Thessaly (trip lasted approximately 2 hours); from there they took a taxi (approximately 15 minutes) and a boat
ing at some parts, but the greater part is fenced with a stone enclosure used in the past, possibly part of the monastery. In the enclosed area, one finds the monastery’s church, which has been restored, the guards’ residences and accommodation for ten hunters. This is the result of reuse following significant changes and extensions on the ruins of the pre-existing monastery. A visit to Cyclops’ cave, supervised by the guard who keeps the keys. Traces of prehistoric habitation; it has already been excavated by the Greek Archaeological Service. It has a 22 metre difference in height and an opening of about 10 meters. The goats are indiscernible. Problems arise in terms of guarding them to ensure the authenticity of their “identity”. The protection of the island is related to a pure race of rare goats and the secureness of their integrity. Departure at 5 in the afternoon. The return trip included the circumnavigation of the island. The sea was rough due to the south winds. The northern part of the island is steep with a series of caves close to or at a distance from the sea. Discreet presence of the coast guard speedboat guarding the marine park.
inability to convert local events (talks and constructions) into events of all-embracing significance. The choice of a deserted place, an island, as the extreme version of obscurity, prohibition and oblivion, contains in itself the aspiration that it will lead to the experimental treatment of this resistance and lack. Such a treatment can take place by leaving the place’s identity hanging and by seeking the generalisation of this pending state based on the purposeful conception of random ‘poetic events’. Therefore, on the verge of a momentary memory and oblivion for the mythological, historical and recent events on the island of Youra (Cyclops’ cave, destruction of monastery, ecological protection and hunting of wild goat, shipwrecked immigrants in December 2001), a forum for ‘poetic’ creation has been formed by means of the BUILT EVENT project, initial approach: an identity pending. This is the forum through which the BUILT EVENT project has taken place. It is a live construction of events with an executive character. It has a beginning and an end, and is spanned by a live, non-descriptive procedure that does nevertheless have a mimetic nature, in the Aristotelian sense, i.e. a poetic mimesis of the types of event and not of the images representing them. The procedure began at the moment when the e-mail containing the text on the ISLAND_BUILT EVENT project’s creation was sent, at which time the same text was also put up at the Department of Architecture of the University of Thessaly. The executive procedure has various concurrent levels –there could be more or less – of successive live events. These events may be succeeded by others on each level but they are structurally linked within, forming the plot of the ISLAND_BUILT EVENT project. The first level of events is held at Thessaly University’s Architecture Department every Tuesday, where experts were invited to present topics related to events that the island’s mnemonic space already contains (shipwrecked immigrants, shipwrecks in general, marine park, places of political exile).