2021 online in rome, Aegina

ECOWEEK 2021 Online in Rome, Italy

Towards Intersectional Justice

On January 16 – 17, 2021 ECOWEEK organized the online event titled ‘Towards Intersectional Justice: Unbuilding structures of oppression; Making space for inclusive, empowering and reparative practices’. The 48-hours virtual event focused on the intersections between environmental and social struggles, challenged, once again and with more strength, the way we think, talk and write about architecture asking questions such as: ‘What, and who, matters in architecture? Which voices speak through the built landscape and through its written histories? How, and from whom, is change generated?’ This virtual ECOWEEK event was curated by architect Maria Luisa Palumbo based in Rome, Italy, in collaboration with the University of Arkansas Rome Program, University La Sapienza, GBC Italia Chapter Lazio and Rebel Architette. Passionate and critical scholars and professionals shared their research and experience to foster a new approach to sustainability in architecture, one deeply rooted in the search for social justice. The lecture panels hosted architect Suad Amiry, architect and historian Esra Akcan, architect artist and educator Sandi Hilal, architect designer and activist Francesca Perani, architect and educator Francesco Bedeschi, architect Alessio Battistella, architect Nasrin Mohiti Asli, architect and educator Aslihan Gunhan, art historian researcher and educator consuelo Lollobrigida, architect Francesca riccardo, architect Alessandra Battisti, architect Alessandro Melis, art historian Anna chiara cimoli, and architect John Folan, moderated by Maria Luisa Palumbo and Sofia Passia, by Francesco Bedeschi and Elias Messinas, and consuelo Lollobrigida and despoina Kouinoglou. Thanks to their multidisciplinary approach, the panels triggered a discussion on architecture and design as critical disciplines with the ability to tackle and unbuild the many structures of violence and oppression: from patriarchy to colonial and exploitative regimes, making space for inclusive, empowering and reparative practices.

W1: The Place of Gender

WorKSHoP Leader: Maria Luisa Palumbo.

WorKSHoP team: Danai Dafnouli, Amalia Athanasia Dimou, Constantina Karalaiou, Tolgay Keskin, Konstantina Pagkalou, Martha Seitanidou, Katarzyna Szambor, Maria Tatsiouli, and Marianna Tsapepa.

A theoretical workshop about four texts by women authors. The juxtaposition of different perceptions made the presentation very much of a touching poetic and theatrical experience where every question created a new concept.

W2: Public Toilets for All

WorKSHoP Leader: Alessandra Battisti.

WorKSHoP team: Livia Calcagni, Giulia Ciusani, Vasiliki Fragkaki, Evgenia-Maria Zolota, Ioanna Minetou, and Carla Procida.

The workshop explored three categories: sun/ventilation, water, and green, and designed public toilets in a public park setting, that explore the integration of the elements and sustainable design strategies, context and views, relationship between inside and outside and leading paths.

W3: Designing the Protest

WorKSHoP Leader: Francesca Perani.

WorKSHoP team: Serafina Amoroso, Christina Roma Athanasiadou, Angeliki Avramidou, Konstantina Choumi, Athanasia Chrysanthopoulou,

Evgenia Dickins, Dimitra Divanidou, Elena Fabrizi, Martina Farolfi, Anthi Galanou, Marina Karagkiozidou, Petros Kouroumpetsis, Maria Eirini Lamprou, Nick Malamas, Afroditi Manakou, Marta Marini, Maris Moon, Caterina Palumbo, Francesca Perani, Effrosyni Roussou, Niovi Tomou, Dimitra Tziatziou, Erita Vetimi, and Davorka Vidovic.

The workshop proposed rebellious protest signs that addressed a number of provocative themes, including protesting working 24/7, protesting the pay gap between men and women, safer public spaces at night, female sexuality, and censoring thoughts in education.

W4: Women in Art and Architecture

WorKSHoP Leaders: consuelo Lollobrigida and Francesca riccardo.

WorKSHoP team: Artemis Kampasi, Naida Kibraoglou, Eleftehria Danai Makri, Zira Evangelia Maria, Savvina Megalovasili, Suna Irem Oker, Silena Papakonstantinou, Aliki Ioanna Papapetrou, Julie Polidoro, Edona Ramadani, Sarah Elise Sartore, Anastasia Sokara, Eleni Varnava, and Marianna Zarogianni.

The workshop explored new ways of organizing the historic and architectural layers of Rome, through developing mapping apps and new (Giambattista) Nolli maps, that place women in the city urban and historic context, removing the stigma and bias on women in Italy, and creating relevance for an audience in contemporary generation.

ECOWEEK 2021 Hybrid in Aegina, Greece

History + Tourism + Sustainable Design

On August 29 – September 4, 20201 ECOWEEK organized a hybrid event online and in Aegina, Greece, with the support and under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of culture and Sports, under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of tourism, the Hellenic Ministry of rural development and Food, the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy and the Municipality of Aegina.

ECOWEEK 20201 opened its activities on June 5, with a oneday online seminar on ‘Sustainable Design + Innovation + Smart Cities + Zero Pollution’ at the European Green Week 2021. The event opened with short greetings by the mayor of Aegina, Yiannis Zorbas, followed by a panel discussion on ‘Smart Materials & Innovation and Zero Waste’ moderated by Elias Messinas with speakers Konstantinos Giannakopoulos (Democritus Research Institute, Greece), Katerina Novakova (PETMAT, Czech Republic), Vaya Mitsiou, Katerina chatziangelaki, and Harry Kazas (Rhoeco Fine Organic Goods, Greece), Alexander rajch (Alternative Fuels Association, Poland) and a Q&A session with the speakers and the audience. The second panel on ‘Smart Cities & Innovation & Environment’ moderated by despoina Kouinoglou, in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, hosted speakers Ioannis Antonakis (Deputy Mayor of Environment, Alimos Municipality, Greece), Burcu Özdemir (Director of Smart City Dept., Municipality of Istanbul, Turkey), and Natalia Pantelidou (Deputy Mayor of Public Works, Kalamaria Municipality, Greece), and a Q&A session with the speakers and the audience.

The activities in August took place online and live in Aegina, Greece. The event marked the 15th anniversary of ECOWEEK and the 200th anniversary of Greek independence, with Aegina as its first capital.

“ECOWEEK’s message at the Aegina events was a message of sustainability and innovation. In Aegina we promoted the cultural heritage of Aegina, the protection of the natural environment, the utilization of natural resources, sustainable tourism and we developed in the online workshops ideas and proposals for sustainable practices with zero pollution.” E.M. At Aegina, Greece, local and foreign participants, joined for a tour of local architecture with architect Anastasis Papadakis; a freehand architectural sketching session with architect Elias Messinas; a film screening of the Human Scale by Andreas dalsgaard, on Jan Gehl’s 40-year practice in urban planning, a discussion on sustainable tourism with Ioannis Pappas of GSTC and Green Evolution, and a presentation of the Marbles of the Parthenon international call for ideas for a sustainable solution, initiated by ECOWEEK and PAREMVASI under the auspices of Greece 2021, with dimitris Georgiou of PAREMVASI and Areti Georgili, publisher of the Greek translation of Goeffrey Robertson’s book “Who Owns History?” All events took place at the courtyard of the Folklore Museum in Aegina, Greece.

The ECOWEEK 2021 online webinare via ZOOM hosted keynote lectures by award-winning architect Arthur Mamou-Mani (UK), and Ethan Kent of PlacemakingX (USA), Maria Anastasiadou and Elli Petridi of Little Architecture, Emese Pancsa of Compocity (Hungary), ulrike Schartner of gaupenraub +/- (Austria) – with the generous support of the Austrian Embassy, architects Theodora Kyriafini and Fotini Lymperiadou of Euzen Architects (Greece), architect christos Floros (Greece), and architect Maria Luisa Palumbo (Italy).

W2: Gamified Sustainability

WorKSHoP Leader: Emese Pansca.

WorKSHoP team: Keran An (Diane), Xiashuang Gong (Helen), Shiyu Wang (Sherry), and Yan Wang (Maylor).

The workshop created a game as an activator for a sustainable lifestyle, where a more healthy and environmentally-friendly activity (e.g. walking) gets rewarded with points, developing concepts of community and cooperation among different communities, towards recycling, sharing and reducing waste in a meaningful and fun way.

W4: Re_[Design]

WorKSHoP Leaders: Ellie Petridi and Maria Anastasiadou.

WorKSHoP team: Yiru Chen, George Retsos, Huijie Shi, Iliana Totou, and Jet Zheng. The aim of the workshop was to design a series of interventions in the public space of Aegina, through a participatory process. After identifying the locations, the team designed initial ideas, like urban acupuncture, developing public space for plural use, to be discussed with the local community, as a trigger for public space renewal through public participation.

W7: Time-travelling through Placemaking in Aegina

WorKSHoP Leaders: Vivian doumpa and Iris Perouliou.

WorKSHoP team: Xinyue Hu, Junqi Liu, Wnhui Lin, Eleni Iro Papadopoulou, Aliki Ioanna Papapetrou, and Konstantina Vaidou.

The workshop focused on eight locations in Aegina, where placemaking interventions would activate the spaces with the aim to turn visitors and tourists to act and feel like locals. The ideas developed created links to history, culture, geography, topography, and agriculture, helping create a web that ties people and locations together.

W8: Bioclimatic Thermal Spa

WorKSHoP Leaders: Theodora Kyriafini and Fotini Lymperiadou (EuZen Architecture) with consultants Michail Floros, thanasis Moloudis and Elias Messinas.

WorKSHoP team: Charikleia Karavasili and Dimitra Karavasili.

The workshop focused on the thermal springs in Aegina, known and used since antiquity. The team proposed a new facility in Souvala, to replace the existing abandoned structure, based on bioclimatic and sustainable design principles. The team consulted with experts in thermal springs in order to propose a realistic program for a first-class 1200 sq.m. spa facility for Aegina, to develop year-round tourism for the benefit of the local economy.