Redevelopment of the D. Gounari street axis and design of places of cultural interest in Navarino Square

Bachelor’s thesis for the Master’s (integrated)/ Diploma Architectural Engineering (MArch, Dipl. Arch. Eng.)

Institution

Department of Architectural Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece (DUTH)

Academic year

2018-2019

Supervisors

G.Papagiannopoulos gpapagno@arch.duth.gr

E.Amerikanou eamerik@arch.duth.gr

P.Exarhopoulos pexarcho@arch.duth.gr

Groupwork with Angeliki Micha Location: Navarino square, Thessaloniki, Greece

The diploma thesis investigates the coexistence of the archaeological site of the so called “Galerian Complex”, the most important monumental group in Thessaloniki, with today’s urban scenery. The choice of the area was made based on the thought that archaeological sites can be integrated in a system of open public spaces.

The Galerian Complex, was built at the turning-point of two worlds, the Roman and Byzantine. Its erection began when the Caesar Galerius Valerianus Maximianus (293-311 AD) chose Thessaloniki as the seat of the eastern part of the Roman Empire.

Christian times, important emperors occasionally stayed in Thessaloniki due to its significance and geographic location, situated between Rome and the New Rome-Constantinople.

The proposal had as initial intention the investigation of the relationship of the pedestrian street and the square with the wider area. With our main goal being the upgrade of the D. Gounari axis and Navarino Square’s designation, we designed a small-scale museum, dedicated to this historic region of the city, from the 2nd century BC until Late Ancient times, a café and a public reading hall that will host young students. with the closed spaces as well.

S.O.S Climate Waterfront Workshop

Located on the western edge of Thessaloniki, the Dendropotamos area faces many challenges today. The western part of the city is characterized by a lack of urban and programmatic planning. The Dendropotamos river is covered by road network and functions as a barrier between residential areas. The surrounding areas faces the risk of stormwater inundation and chemical sewage overflow alongside coastal flooding due to the long-term threat of sea level rise.

The proposed masterplan depicts our vision to create a harmonized transition between nature and the surrounding heavy industrial zones. Our aim is to achieve good connectivity and sustainable accessibility for our focus area, by introducing a new network of paths addressing both locals and visitors. Changing land-use for the creation of natural public spaces as well as for economic development is also a critical element of the vision. For this reason we aim to put a lid on the uncontrollably growing industries so as to promote ecological sustainability. Our proposal combines educational activities, urban agriculture as well as leisure activities.

Urban Design Workshop part of the HORIZON 2020 | MARIE CURIE RISE

School of Architecture AUTH, Gdansk University of Technology, Lusófona ECATI

Academic year 2019

Studio tutors

Nikos Kalogirou, Alkmini Paka, Evie Athanasiou, Charis Christodoulou, Konstantinos Sakantamis, Athina Vitopoulou, Maria Rita Pais, Jelle-Jochem Duits

Groupwork with Theodora Lymperi, Maria-Nefeli Gerotolioy, Eva Raekidoy

Project contribution:

Initial design process/Strategic design/Masterplan design/ Diagrams/ 3d renderings/ Presentation

Location:

Thessaloniki West delta, Greece.

Urban green rooms

The selected area was chosen due to its need of redevelopment, so as to approach the competition’s goals about sustainability and creating green spaces. Focusing on the quality that is provided through inhabiting open outdoor spaces as a cultural commodity in the modern times, the Refugee Buildings of Alexandra’s Avenue in Athens (built in 1933) seemed to be an option worth exploring.

The buildings are of special historical significance, since they have been in the centre of the “Dekemvriana” events, a series of clashes fought during World War II in Athens from 3 December 1944 to 11 January 1945, with the marks of the blasts still visible on the exterior walls.

During the recent years they have come to a bad state, with numerous complaints by residents about constituting a public health hazard.

The proposal studies the concept of the in-between space, as a spatial structure of outdoor action, codependent from the block’s building layout. It handles and interprets this spatial relationship as a part of a modernist architectural vocabulary, in need of improvement, renewal, activation and co-ordination with this era’s climatic changes.

Student competition

Pan-Hellenic Open Student Architectural Idea Contest of WWF Hellas “Creating green spaces in cities”

Institution

Department of Architectural Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece (DUTH)

Academic year 2018

Supervisors

V.Ghikapeppas a-g@otenet.gr

Groupwork with Angeliki Micha, Christina Sgouraki

Project contribution:

Masterplan/ Diagrams/ 2d designs/ 3d renderings/ Presentation proposal