Architecture Portfolio Eleni Ragavani_Selected Works
Undergraduate Academic Projects
Feel(in)g the city p.1
Ropi/e p.13
Pursuing intimacy p.17
Co-habitation p.21
Traces of history p.25
Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Professional experience- Atelier66 Small cultural center p.31
Office building p.33
Postgraduate Academic Projects
Negotiable boundaries p.37
The photographer’s apartment p.39
Undergraduate Academic Projects
01_Feel(in)g the city: reaching the wanderer’s disposition into the old town of Chania
Diploma Thesis Partners: Kolokythakou Theodora-Danai, Stavrakaki Marilena Supervisor: Ouggrinis Konstantinos-Alketas Consultant: Tzompanakis Alexios link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UU4GVXxSSY_g7SnYyLPh0Ukw&v=vwZ1bqvOzLc
Brief The scope of this thesis is the arousal of people’s emotions through their experience in the surrounding urban scenery. This urban scenery does exist; it is being reinforced and enriched with a meaningful content capable to influence someone’s disposition, participation and needs.
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
Stage A Wandering as a design tool The “wandering” takes place in the Old Town of Chania; a -space and time- palimpsest which is “extrovert” - as far as the social and commercial places of strolling and leisure time are concerned - and at the same time, “introvert” – as for the hidden neighborhoods into the complex, medieval structure. This “introversion” points out the” unseen dynamics” of the Old Town of Chania; the trigger of the wandering in it. Eventually, what we do is dredging the Old Town’s “unseen dynamics” up , by forming spotted spatial “episodes” (i.e. interventions), so as to arouse the wanderer’s emotions.
01 Feeling the city
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Stage B Decoding the urban interior The complex urban fabric, with its labyrinthine structure, challenged us to a continuous urban exploration game.While confronting with roads, arcades, narrow passages, steps, hidden courtyards and ruins left untouchable throughout time,our feelings were constantly changeable, leading us to a perpetual sense of interiority. Some spots of the city sit at the boundaries between inside and outside, private and public, enclosed and open space. Through this sense of enclosure and special atmosphere of these entities and through the logic of spatial inversion, the spaces between buildings become the ‘urban interior’ and consist the focus of this study.
Stage C Designing emotions We noticed that, in spite of the unique atmosphere of every spatial “spot”, some characteristics are also revealed elsewhere. Summarizing these characteristics, we formed four emotional states for the wanderer to experience and to surrender to. Additionally, we used a variety of different design tools, materialities and textures for each emotional state.
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
01 Feeling the city
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
01 Feeling the city
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01 Feeling the city
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01 Feeling the city
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
01 Feeling the city
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Idea
02_Ropi/e: a suspension system for bikes
Object design and construction in 1/1 scale Partners: Dora-Danai Kolokythakou Course: Contemporary materials and fabrication methods In collaboration with Kostantinos Ouggrinis and TUC TIE Lab of Technical University of Crete link:https://www.facebook.com/tielabtuc/videos?__ mref=message_bubble
Brief The bicycle has become a popular means of transport. In the city centers there is lack of security and proper places to store it. Many people prefer to place it in their apartment, indicating that there is an increasing need for smart storage solutions. “Ropi(e)” embodies the idea of a bicycle stand designed for your apartment, as a ‘statement’ object of contemporary way of life. Not only could you win some free space in your apartment, but you could also turn the bicycle into something noticeable, into an exhibit. The design of the stand is inspired by the property of the gears to transmit motion to the Fabricated prototype_Scale 1:1 13
wheels.
Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
Fabrication
Render visualization with refinements 02 Ropi/e
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Metal frame
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Hangers
Suspension details
“Ropi(e)� achieves the bicycle’s suspension in a
from which the pulleys are hanging. The user can
vertical position, effortlessly. You only have to fas-
decide the material of the covering for the frame,
ten the bicycle from two nodal points and then re-
which can be a perforated wooden or corian pan-
lease the counterweight in order to let the lifting
el. There is also the choice of leaving the frame vis-
procedure start and end up in an equilibrium po-
ible, if the user prefers a lightweight element in his
sition. The structure is consisted of a metal frame
personal space.
Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
Metal pulleys with wood covering
Socket of handle bar - wheel
02 Ropi/e
Counter-weight
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03_Pursuing Intimacy
Brief This project concerns the extension of the ex-
Extension of existing
isting student dormitories of Technical Univer-
student dormitories of
sity of Crete.
Technical University of Crete
throughout the design process where at first
The main issues that we had to deal with the coexistence of the new building with the
Course: Architectural Design Studio VIII Partners: Stavrakaki Marilena Tutors : A.Vazakas, N.Skoutelis, E.Karanastasi
old one, and secondly its incorporation with the special landscape of the area of Akrotiri. The aim of this proposal is to strengthen the interaction between students and to invite them in an extrovert way of living together. Public and semi-public spaces such as a small stage for performances, a small library and some common
sitting spaces are located
on the ground-floor around a central courtyard-garden. This courtyard is a generator of activities and happenings, reviving the student community.
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GROUNDFLOOR PLAN
SECTION Α-Α
03 Pursuing intimacy
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The building is located in continuity with the
The northern volume houses the common sit-
old one, and shapes an ending of it .It is con-
ting rooms on the ground-floor and the rooms
sisted of two volumes, and one interconnec-
of the students in the three upper floors. The
tion between them. The southern volume hosts
rooms are accessible through a south oriented
some public uses not only on the ground-floor
semi-open corridor. When someone walks in
but on the roof too. The groundfloor in its big-
this corridor he can take a glance in the court-
ger part is totally open and allows the connec-
yard and enjoy the sense of light filtered by a
tion between the courtyard and the public pe-
metal perforated faรงade. The faรงade is consist-
destrian street, so the whole volume acts as a
ed of stable panels and some movable ones,
transition space- as a passage.
which are positioned in meeting spaces and in private balconies too.
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
A matter of great importance was the essential connection of the two buildings the new and the old one, apart from their visual continuity. So, the semi public first level corridor of the existing building is extended through a metal bridge and ends up on the walkable roof of the new one.
SECTION C-C
SECTION Β-Β
03 Pursuing intimacy
ΤΟΜΗ Γ-Γ
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04_Co-habitation
Design of a room for two persons Course: Interior design Tutor: D.Tsakalakis Personal project
Brief This project concerns a detailed approach of
to the needs of each student. In this zone all the
the student dormitories of TUC, and specifical-
needed equipment for student’s daily activities
ly the interior design of a room for two persons.
is integrated, such as a desk, a storage space,
The students that live in this room share the
and a folding bed that can be turned into a sofa
bathroom, the kitchen and a small balcony, but
during the day. Finally this zone forms a seat in
at the same time they keep their privacy in the
front of the window and a unique frame to the
bigger part of the apartment. All the furniture
view. The simplicity and the multi-functionality
are organized in a zone in L shape, so enough
were the main goals of the design.
free space is left in order to be used according
SECTION Α-Α
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04 Co-habitation
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SECTION Β-Β
SECTION C-C
04 Co-habitation
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05_Traces of history Transformation of a warehouse into an exhibition space Heraklion, Crete Course: Restoration of Existing Envelopes Partners: Dora-Danai Kolokythakou Tutors: F.Mallouchou-Tufano, N.Skoutelis, A.Tzompanakis
Brief The project concerns the study of the last four warehouses of an abandoned complex located in the entrance of the old city center of HerakSECTION Î’-Î’
lion. After its initial use as a space for the processing and storage of raisins, the complex had undergone different interventions that degraded its importance and its initial character. Our basic intention is to inflate to the complex its lost identity and to re-establish its important presence for the city of Herakleion. We propose that all partitions that had been added during previous renovations to be thoroughly removed in order to recover its original form. The second phase of our project focuses on the second warehouse and on its transformation into a contemporary exhibition space designed to bring together the past the present and the future.
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
The movement in the complex is defined by an inner corridor parallel to the pavement which connects all the buildings and invites the visitor to perceive the new inner façade of the complex. The longitudinal shape of the warehouses doesn’t give the chance of interconnections between them. So we create a secondary vertical movement on the first floor level that connects the lofts on the southern part of the complex. In the second warehouse the wooden roof that has been covered by a concrete structure is now revealed as well as the two parallel masonry walls. The materials that have been selected for the new interventions are metal and wood. Rope is used for the suspension of the exhibits while the seats and the stands of the exhibits are made like wooden crates in order to recall to the visitors the sense of being in a warehouse.
GROUNDFLOOR PLAN 05 Traces of history
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In the back part of the warehouse an atrium was created because of a big fire that has caused the collapse of the roof. We choose to restore the roof but to keep the sense of a semi-covered space. So the gabled roof is designed from the start with big openings from glass that allow light to overwhelm the space. We think the backyard as a unique opportunity to connect the interior use with some outdoor activities. This space is perceived as a transition space from the urban realm to the Venetian walls. The ascent to the walls is implied from the inside with a slight incline wooden ramp that leads to the exterior stairs.
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Section-Detail of the bridge
Section-Detail of the corridor’s glass roof
SECTION Α-Α
FIRST FLOOR PLAN 05 Traces of history
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Professional Work
06_Small cultural center, Galatas, Chania Restoration of the family house of Mikis Theodorakis Internship in Atelier66 Developed architectural drawings , 3d model and renders, participated in site visits and measurements. Brief The project concerns the restoration of the family house of Mikis Theodorakis , a renowned Greek songwriter and composer. The study is focused on a complex of three buildings in Galatas and their transformation into a small cultural center. Buildings A and B consisted the original family house and building C with its garden was a neighboring property that was later added to the complex. Building A houses a space for cultural exchange and engages activities that encourage the study, the promotion and the dissemination of composer’s music work. Building B allows the creation of an entrance and reception space for the visitors, as well as a small shop. Finally , the adding of building C enriches the entire composition offering opportunities for multiple uses and activities.
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
06 Cultural center ‘Mikis Theodorakis’
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07_Office building , Keramikos, Athens Renovation and redesign of existing OTE office building Internship in Atelier66 Developed architectural drawings , 3d model and renders, occupied especially with the transformation of the void into a garden and with the design of the communication areas.
Brief The existing office building was an introvert
On the groundfloor , the character of the ar-
organism located in a vivid area of the city of
cade changes extremely, as the main entrance
Athens, named Keramikos.
is now located through it. In the same level and
This introvert character was mirrored not only
in direct relation with buildings B and C of the
on the facades of the building but also on the
complex a wooden deck is designed, extend-
design of the arcade in the groundfloor with
ing the reception space in the courtyard when
the small openings which are rather than in-
needed. Next to the deck, on the roof of the
viting for pedestrians to cross them. The new
basement, a common space with seats and ta-
design proposes a radical change of the image
bles is designed. The rest part of the’acalyptos’
of the building firstly by changing its program.
is unified with a slight incline starting from the
For this purpose, all the facades and the aban-
deck and ending to the building D, where a sec-
doned space in the middle of the block (akalyp-
ondary entrance of the complex is going to be
tos) is transformed into a vivid courtyard, an
constructed in the future.
atrium- garden.
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07 OTE Office building
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Postgraduate Academic Projects
08_Negotiable boundaries Critical interventions to the public realm of Florinis Street in Athens Workshop : Cityhome Partners: Papageorgiou Anna Tutor: Ron Walkey Duration: 10 October – 4 November 2016 Brief This workshop investigates the future of the athenian block of flats(polikatikia) in its typical urban context and focuses on the area of Florini’s street. After long wanderings, observations and discussion with the inhabitants of the neighborhood, we focused on the problematic aspects of their everyday life. The primary goal is to give the opportunity to people with different backgrounds to interact. Another essential goal is to invite people to come out of their apartments and to explore their surroundings. So the basic tools (patterns) that we use in order to succeed this outcome, are a) to soften the boundaries, b) to create zones of interaction(glue zones) where people can get closer. Our design proposal is characterised by interventions in groundfloor, semi groundfloor and semi basements, where we create in-between spaces which they are under the control of the inhabitants of each polikatikia. We imagine a spontaneous use of these spaces according to the needs of the residents. Their design implies their use but doesn’t restrict it. The main entrances of the polikatikias are redefined and new types of semi-public spaces emerge. 37
Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
08 Negotiable boundaries
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Scene_1 Day 1_14:05_After wandering the whole morning in the streets of Athens, he returns in his ‘refuge’. He took a lot of pictures and he is impatient to see them printed on the paper. He hangs his bicycle in the stand and leaves all his stuff on the bed. He enters the darkroom hastily and checks in order the space to be totally dark. All his next moves are mechanical . After washing the film three times he hangs it on the wire to get dry and gets out of the darkroom. He adores this moment when he passes from the dark to the light.
09_A photographer’s apartment in three scenes Montage as a tool for making architecture
Seminar : Image of the athenian apartment Personal project Tutor: Luca Garofalo Duration: 7 – 10 December 2016 Brief The seminar proposes a way of thinking through metaphors, showing an idea throughout figures that later compose a project. During the seminar we were called to create an image that depicts our concept of an athenian apartment, followed by a text explaining it.The method proposes to make a composition of a collage without processing a plan drawing . In the final presentation the jury was called to make a guess about the story behind the image and then we were asked to describe our scenario. So I invite the reader to mimic the process of the seminar, thus to thoroughly look at the image , to explore its atmosphere and its components and then to read the description above. Did our thoughts coincide?
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Eleni Ragavani 2016 Portfolio
Day 1_18:3 rectangle o the film in p ing proced and enthus tion he is n smiles whil photos on these speci hanging on
Scene_2 30_Warm water rains from the surface of the ceiling, flooding the of the shower. He grabs a towel and returns to the darkroom to cut pieces and to prepare the chemical solutions needed for the printdure. The room is overwhelmed by red light and a feeling of anxiety siasm deluges him. While he agitates the printing paper in the solunervous, but at this exact moment a figure appears in the paper. He le he washes out the paper under the running water. He hangs the the wall that stands behind him, full of satisfaction. Capturing all ial moments of the people he meets in the street and keeping them n his personal space makes him feel blessed. He lies on the bed and has a deep sleep.
Scene_3 Day 2_06:30_He opens his eyes as the rays of the sun get into the room from the large skylight on the roof. His favorite part of the day gets closer. He stands up with slow pace, he makes a coffee, and he ascends the steep metallic ladder. The rising of the sun was always a reference point for him. He watches the eastern light penetrating the facades of the polykatikias. He can see the awakening of the whole city. He thinks that he will not see this view for a long time, but a new wandering is on his way.
09 The photographer’s apartment
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Thank you
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