THE
CITY
AS
PALIMPSEST
Digital Playgrounds for the online public Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 The University of Edinburgh KIRIAKI PAPATHANASOPOULOU (s1670597)
THE STORYTELLING ATHENS PALIMPSEST
Starting point of this study is my fascination with the rich urban and architectural fabric of dense inner-cities. The aim of this project (a 3d animation video) is to present the city as a complex whole structure which is being transformed over the time. In that way, the city can be recognized as a multilayered text, or PALIMSEST, that has been constantly revised and rewritten from the ancient times till today. A palimpsest is a manuscript from a scroll or a book in which text has been scraped off in order to be reused and written on later. This term has come to be used in several disciplines such us literature, architecture and archaeology. The idea of taking an original text and rewriting on top of it could be comparable to similar actions that take place within any contemporary cityscape. Architects use the palimpsest conception to read the city in historical, inter-textual, constructive and destructive manners. The urban space consists of a set of layers from different periods of time. Through time, these palimpsest of layers coexist together, forming the identity of the society. The same happens, exactly, with the buildings of the city where other considered old and other more modern. However, often ruins of the city are redefined (for instance restoration, graffiti, extension) and converted into active parts of our lives. Thus, a dynamic and continuous changing space is created. In that way, new layers are created. Some old layers are deleted and others remain. Some of them are modified further while others are rewritten through the years. It is, therefore, an interminable and repetitive process of construction. And this process I wanted to demonstrate through my work this semester. My objective was to show that every city consists of a set of fragments from different periods of time and nowadays all these layers (old and new) coexist together, converting the city to a living organism. Therefore, it will be imperative the need of keeping the layers of urban form alive rather than simply effacing and rebuilding, for that keeps a city’s history vivid. No city without a tactile history, without the capacity for citizens and visitors to reach into the past while experiencing the present, can be truly vital. This video can also be a useful tool not only for architects but also for the public to understand the content and the context of the city further in order to get fascinated with the complexity of urban structure. My main field of study is Athens, a city with a rich historical background. A city which incorporates different architectural styles ranging from Ancient ruins, restored Neoclassical buildings, Turkish influences, Polykatoikias (the athenian modern apartment building), Contemporary buildings, human interventions. They are often to be found in the same areas, as Athens is not marked by a uniformity of architectural style. Furthermore, another thing that made me to choose Athens is that looking back to city’s history and especially in 1900s (The beginning of the construction era - Evolution of «Polykatoikia») I realized that citizens, then and now, do not respect the urban space destroying or vandalize past elements. Thus it is necessary to remind them how important is to retain all these fragments alive. My ambition was to create a part of the city (a building block for instance) and through a video show how this neighborhood core is changing over the years (add new elements, keep old elements, delete or change other layers) depending on the needs of the society during the time. After a thorough analysis on the layers that compose the city of Athens and change over the time, I ended up with these versions: • ancient Athens • neoclassical period • nowadays situation • digital era
Initially, thinking of Athens and searching for some references, I did a list of some possible elements that each category has as representative and I would like to show them in the animation, in order to give more detail in my images. Through them I started creating my 3d environment of each period.
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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The video starts with an interior scene of an ancient building (columns, painted walls, arch, dome) which shows the process of palimpsest (manuscript book). The text is rewritten everytime by keeping / deleting the old text or by writing new scripting. Then, by zooming-in to an ancient column we move to Ancient Athens - exterior environment. Columns, Roofs, Metopes, Pediments, Triglyph, soil, paintings, marble statues, defensive walls, trees and mountains (Lycabettus hill) are some of the main characteristics of that period. By scrolling around a main path (which is the same through the main periods), the camera zoom-in to the rooftop. After that, we transport to the next period, the neoclassical, walking around the same path again. In that scroll we can recognize some old elements (from ancient times) which remain the same such as buildings, rooftops, paintings, metopes, trees while others transformed further such as ruined columns/painting/metopes, damaged walls, building construction in Lycabettus hill. Furthermore we can see new layers of the neoclassical times being added. We view the type of building blocks covered with small colorful buildings (especially yellow and pink) and churches. These buildings are usually designed with small balconies (flowers and pots), colorful doors/windows and roof shelters with Metopes (main architectural characteristics of that period). There are also some urban voids or walls (which show that the construction is in progress), letting the air flow in between the buildings. The neoclassical period ended up by zoom-in to a façade of a building which is redefined to the next period (the contemporary situation). Here, we can experience all the layers co-existing together. Ancient ruins, marble statues, old neoclassical buildings, neoclassical ruins, restored buildings, unfinished buildings called ‘’giapi’’, polykatoikias, churches, modern buildings, multimedia facades, graffiti, party walls (mesotoixa), street elements (lighting, urban furnitures), signs and inscriptions, Lycabettus hill, flowers, laid out clothes, waste bins, kiosks, advertisements, antennas. In the end after scrolling around the path the camera move to the Athenian rooftops where we can view the last layer of digital era and information data. Everyone today is connected with Internet, becoming an active user of the social media and technology. A new urban playground is created above the old, the digital playground which in turn is co-existing with the other layers/fragment of the city.
What is more, I wanted to find a particular element that will appear in each part and that will connect and unify all the above parts of the video. Probably, the most impressive element in Athens city nowadays, is the way graffitis, as an art inspiration, co-exist harmoniously with ancient ruins and concrete buildings, creating something entirely new. I chose an existing graffiti of Athens showing a colorful, airy girl hanging a man. That girl will be my main character of the video called Athena. By walking around the periods, she narrates her story, her fragments, her architecture. When she arrives to the contemporary situation by a gradual explosion she becomes a graffiti. A graffiti shows old Athena co-existing (hanging with smile) with an other layer (a colourful man). Furthermore, I tried to link all the scenes together and at the same time make the video more effective by using music. I chose the music of Ioannis Xenakis called Palimpsest. Iannis Xenakis is a Greek composer that trained as an architect, and created works of shattering visceral power that still astound today. His composition called Palimpsest is a sequence of rapid irregular polyrhythms, adding each time layers of instrumental texture. All these co-exist together creating an entirely new dynamic sound. In other words, this composition presents what exactly happens to the urban fabric. Last but not least, I used some text in my animation in order to make the narrative and the time frame of the story more powerful and clear.
WATCH THE VIDEO ΙΝ: https://vimeo.com/216041044 (password: archportfolio)
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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REFERENCES MANUSCRIPT - PALIMPSEST
ATHENS TODAY - PALIMPSEST
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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ANCIENT ATHENS
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REFERENCES NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS
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MODERN BUILDINGS
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STORYBOARD PROCESS OF PALIMPSEST
INTERIOR VIEW - MAIN CHARACTER
PROCESS - DELETE, REMAIN
ZOOM IN
PROCESS - ADD, REMAIN
ZOOM IN - BOOK
PROCESS - DIFFERENT DIRECTION
BOOK - START WRITTING
PROCESS END - ZOOM OUT
TEXT - THE PROCESS
ZOOM IN - COLUMN
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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ANCIENT ATHENS
ZOOM IN - COLUMN
ZOOM IN
ZOOM OUT - COLUMN
METOPES, TRIGLYPH, COLUMNS
ATHENIAN ANCIENT BUILDING
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
ZOOM OUT
MARBLE STATUES
VIEW OF ATHENS - MAIN CHARACTER
ZOOM IN
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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STORYBOARD ANCIENT ATHENS
DEFENSIVE WALLS
ANCIENT BUILDINGS
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS
BETWEEN THE COLUMNS
LYCABETTUS HILL
ZOOM IN
TREES, SOIL
ZOOM IN - ROOF
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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NEOCLASSICAL PERIOD WITH ANCIENT RUINS
ZOOM IN - ROOF
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
ZOOM OUT - NEOCLASSICAL
ANCIENT RUINS
NEOCLASSICAL PERIOD
STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS
ZOOM IN - TREES, FLOWERS
ZOOM IN - BALCONIES
ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE
PANORAMIC VIEW
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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STORYBOARD NEOCLASSICAL PERIOD WITH ANCIENT RUINS
ZOOM IN - BUILDING
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS
ANCIENT RUINS - CHURCH
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDING
ZOOM IN - TREES, FLOWERS
ZOOM IN - LYCABETTUS HILL
ANCIENT BUILDINGS
ZOOM IN - BUILDING
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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ATHENS - TODAY
ZOOM OUT - TODAY
URBAN VOID, WASTE
POLYKATOIKIAS, PILOTIS
ZOOM IN - TELEPHONE BOOTH
NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS
GRAFFITI, LAID OUT CLOTHES
FACADE - CHANGE COLOUR
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
“ MESOTOIXIA” - PARTY WALL
NEOCLASSICAL RUINS
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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STORYBOARD ATHENS - TODAY
STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS
ANCIENT RUINS VS GRAFFITI
SIGNS, GARBAGES
STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS
CHARACTER EXPLOSION
ZOOM IN
GRAFFITI CREATION
POLYKATOIKIAS
ATHENS TODAY
SIGNS
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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KIOSKS, ANTENNAS
STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS
ZOOM IN - GARAGE DOOR
PEDESTRIAN ROAD - FURNITURES
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
ANCIENT RUINS
OLD BUILDINGS - ADVERTISEMENT
ZOOM IN
“GIAPI” - UNFINISHED CONSTRUCTION
BUILDING - RENOVATION PROCESS
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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STORYBOARD ATHENS - TODAY
ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW
SIGNS
NEOCLASSICAL RUINS
BUS STOP, ADVERTISEMENT
VIEW OF ATHENS
ZOOM IN - KIOSK
LYCABETTUS HILL
GRAFFITI
LAID OUT CLOTHES
ZOOM IN
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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ATHENS - DIGITAL ERA
ATHENS - PANORAMIC VIEW
NEW LAYER ABOVE THE CITY
CONNECTIONS
END - MAIN CHARACTER
NETWORK
DIGITAL ERA
SOCIAL MEDIA
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IMAGES - REFERENCES MANUSCRIPT PALIMPSEST (http://www.worldgallery.co.uk/art-print/christies-images-the-archimedes-palimpsest-ff-16v-17r-on-floating-bodies-byzantine-empire-210946) ATHENS ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/13/street-art-greece_n_6149098.html) ATHENS (http://androniki.photoshelter.com/image/I0000kPI7AM3sTcs) ATHENS (http://www.isupportstreetart.com/artist/alex-vasmoulakis/) ATHENS (http://www.fatcap.com/graffiti/172478-bleeps-gr-athens.html) ATHENS (http://www.blocal-travel.com/street-art/as-seen-on-streets-of-athens-street-art-html/) ATHENS (https://susansoldini.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/athens/) ANCIENT ATHENS ( http://www.ancientathens3d.com/el/klasiki-akropoli/) ANCIENT ATHENS ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ7dYIi3RI4) ANCIENT ATHENS ( http://www.shafe.co.uk/home/art-history/classical_tradition/classical_tradition_slides_29-10-2003/) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://www.historiamais.com/grecia.htm) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://www.ancientathens3d.com/el/) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://gogreeceyourway.gr/regions-cities/attica/arch-and-library-of-hadrian/) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/128591/h-%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF% 81%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE %B1%CF%82-%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82-%CF%80%CF%8E% CF%82-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B9-%CE%B A%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BE%CE%B5-%CF%83%CE%B5-%CF%87%CF%8E%CF %81%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%84%C F%83%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BA) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.eie.gr/archaeologia/En/chapter_more_9.aspx) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://gr.depositphotos.com/stock-photos/atenas.html) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.protothema.gr/city-stories/article/596019/i-diki-tou-athina/) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://www.google.gr/search?sa=G&hl=el&q=church+of+panaghia+kapnikarea&tbm=isch&imgil=OXo16EZVi9DAFM%253A%253B49hOR-U8oM7pbM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fflickrhivemind.net%25252FTags%25252Fchurch%25252Ckapnikarea%25252FInteresting&source=iu&pf=m&tbs=simg:CAESiQEJih9p4dfFFs8afgsQsIynCBpiCmAIAxIo3xTxHe8d8B3RFNcU7h37HdMU-hS8Kt043jicK984vSrAOOUq4ji6KhowAQF6Y5QgoBI8v71pnW8cPKFrPckSPo5WjkpVQoethJdbFdx2KGWe57zbWb7OBgLxIAQMCxCOrv4IGgoKCAgBEgRTHkNpDA&fir=OXo16EZVi9DAFM%253A%252C49hOR-U8oM7pbM%252C_&usg=__ZJFL8B1asSMbr_dz0c_ QfwcE9Os%3D#imgrc=OXo16EZVi9DAFM:) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://antikleidi.com/2012/12/20/athens/) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://www.google.gr/search?sa=G&hl=el&q=%CE%A0%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B1&tbm=isch&imgil=jqlbdl6aJfWvsM%253A%253BUnvzx8Jwvp7cUM%253Bhttp%252 53A%25252F%25252Fwww.osk.gr%25252Findex.php%25253Fwork_id%2525253D47&source=iu&pf=m&tbs=simg:CAESnwIJB1H7wDKHlK4akwILELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKOcKyQrGCowY1Ar7FI0Y5h6VFZQV6TiAKNki3jjGKtwi6ziBKOkqiCgaMPuSjiFnChGG1PcYK4BQF-HbyQyATu_15h48F6xKfsvb0CcyhF0a46ucIrp_1vI-JyKCAEDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIE_1eljbgwLEJ3twQkaiwEKGgoIYnVpbGRpbmfapYj2AwoKCC9tLzBjZ2g0ChcKBWhvdXNl2qWI9gMKCggvbS8wM2ptNQoZCgZmYWNhZGXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAxeDMxNAofCgxhcmNoaXRlY3R1cmXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAzbmZtcQoYCgZ3aW5kb3fapYj2AwoKCC9tLzBkNHY0DA&fir=jqlbdl6aJfWvsM%253A%252CUnvzx8Jwvp7cUM%252C_&usg=__VOY8orCBePILAGbqcCTLjzMP3G8%3D#imgrc=jqlbdl6aJfWvsM:)
Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh
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NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://left.gr/news/agnoeitai-i-tyhi-37-ergon-tehnis-apo-arheio-tis-dimotikis-pinakothikis-tis-athinas) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/53188951) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://www.google.gr/search?sa=G&hl=el&q=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1+%CE%B1%CE%B8%CE% B7%CE%BD%CE%B1%CF%83&tbm=isch&imgil=x69cH0ixpdx33M%253A%253BE6dPWdtqIAqmnM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.in2life.gr%25252Feveryday%25252Fhowto%25252Farticle%25252F298916%25252Fpos-na-xehorizete-ta-arhitektonika-styl.html&source=iu&pf=m&tbs=simg:CAESuQIJbP6bxIsI-AsarQILEKjU2AQaBAgACAMMCxCwjKcIGl8KXQgDEiWcDYoDbMQKuA1qwwr6AYsDW-M4zyviOeQ46jjQK-Uq4CrKK-s5GjDJvoyKdAnKfV9ufpLKfDtl_1oIQiZWzRBl4SIILN6PzHNP2qTMo6aKVWCtRNSSNqncgBAwLEI6u_1ggaCgoICAESBO7HD18MCxCd7cEJGpsBChoKCGJ1aWxkaW5n2qWI9gMKCggvbS8wY2doNAofCgxhcmNoaXRlY3R1cmXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAzbmZtcQoZCgZmYWNhZGXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAxeDMxNAoXCgVob3VzZdqliPYDCgoIL20vMDNqbTUKKAoWY2xhc3NpY2FsIGFyY2hpdGVjdHVyZdqliPYDCgoIL20vMGR2aDkM&fir=x69cH0ixpdx33M%253A%252CE6dPWdtqIAqmnM%252C_&usg=__67HOsao3lSp2G1a4WxjjW9ESpzU%3D#imgrc=x69cH0ixpdx33M:) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.athensmagazine.gr/athenstalk/170931) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.lifo.gr/team/athens/49843) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.press-news.gr/trelo-gelio-i-anakinosi-stin-isodo-tis-polikatikias-pou-saroni-sto-diadiktio/) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/problimatismos_gia_ton_ekriktiko_mixanismo_pou_brethike_ piso_apo_to_astynomiko_tmima_dafnis-65008180/) POLYKATOIKIA (http://polykatoikia2014.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/plural-private-and-public-spaces-of.html) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2012/10/31/from-dom-ino-to-em-polykatoikia-em-.html) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.athina984.gr/2016/02/19/h-athinaiki-polykatikia-kathreftis-tis-ikonomikis-krisis-erevna-architektonon/) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=366000&page=51) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/istories_krisis_stin_athinaiki_polykatoikia-64333338/)
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Davies, Bronwyn, 1990-1999, A Body of Writing, Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Galpin, Richard, 1998, Erasure in art: Destruction ; Deconstruction and Palimpsest, http://richardgalpin.co.uk/archive/ erasure.htm (last update: 25-1-2016) Lynch, Kevin, 1960, The Image of the City, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press Martin, Jamison, 2006, Palimpsest new and old, Ohio State University Libraries Mpouras, Konstantinos, 2009, Athens revisited (part 1), www.greekarchitects.com (last update: 30-1-2016) Rossi, Aldo, 1984, The Architecture of the City, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press
MUSIC USED IN THE VIDEO Xenakis, Ioannis, 1990, Palimpsest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1YKCSCXJBo)
MAPS USED IN VIDEO PALIMPSEST (http://www.math.utk.edu/~freire/m400su06/Floating%20Bodies,%20Sand%20Reckoner.pdf) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://greekworldhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/blog-post.html) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://www.technova.gr/technova/index.php/2012-06-21-03-15-38/istoria/2127-parthenon) ANCIENT ATHENS (https://olympia.gr/olympia_art/) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://kikiri-kou.blogspot.com/2014/02/25-25-influential-pieces-of-ancient.html) ATHENS -TODAY (http://www.magicalurbanism.com/archives/4164) ATHENS -TODAY (http://ideametaxas.gr/index.php/samples/traditional-signs) ATHENS -TODAY (https://gr.pinterest.com/threesixtyarch/precedents-media-facade/) ATHENS -TODAY (http://journal.eahn.org/articles/10.5334/ah.ar/) ATHENS -TODAY (https://www.ellines.com/good-news/11935-afieroma-ton-ny-times-gia-ta-gkrafiti-stin-athina/) ATHENS -TODAY (http://www.zougla.gr/politismos/article/i-banksy-tis-a8inas-stous-nyt-gia-tin-kinoniki-anageotita-tougrafiti)
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