DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE THESIS PROJECT STUDENTS: M ELPOMENI – K YRIAKI K ATHAROPOULOU K ONSTANTINOS K APRANIS A LEXANDROS P APADOPOULOS
SUPERVISORS: T HEONI X ANTHI S TAVROS D ENDRINOS P ANAGIOTIS K OKKORIS
Year 2017-2018
November 2018
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
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TIMELINE
10
PROJECT AREA
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PROPOSAL
18
PHOTOGRAPHS
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SOURCES
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ABSTRACT
The “Commercial Triangle” of Athens, is the central area of Athens that is designated by the streets Stadiou, Mitropoleos and Athinas. At the corners of the conceived “triangle” are located the squares of Syntagma, Monastiraki and Omonia. In addition, it encloses the squares of Klaythmonos and Kolokotronis on Stadiou street as well as Kotzia square on Athina street. The area of study is located at the heart of the metropolitan center and holds a key position, concentrating on the developmental tendencies, dynamics and distortions of a capital city. In fact, the Commercial Triangle brings together a lot and diverse activity of Athens, major business headquarters and bank offices, public buildings and services, as well as a range of commercial uses, from large retail outlets, small and medium sized wholesale stores and retail businesses to small shops and industries. Athens could be characterized by the changes that take place at an urban scale, that occur in its commercial center and the variety that emerges in this limited urban area, such as the historic buildings on the central axes of the Commercial Triangle, characterize the space giving it a scale and the the vaccination that they impose. Also important are the large-scale office buildings (“Megara”) that were built mainly in the 1960s, the buildings of banks and large enterprises on the central streets of Stadiou and Athinas as well as a rich network of shops, small and medium - sized enterprises, even industries, within the densely-built web of the Commercial Triangle, on the sidewalks of Ermou, Aiolou, Agiou Markou and Evangelistria and their narrow streets and in galleries on the ground floor of the large office buildings.
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ATHENS, GR
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TIMELINE
1800 1833
First urban plan of Athens and the commercial triangle by Kleanthis Stamatis and Eduard Schaubert at the beginning of Athens as the capital of the newly established Greek state.
1834
Revision of the urban plan of Athens by the German architect Leo von Klenze.
1846
Formation of the area intended for the construction of the palaces on a square called “Platia (Square) Anaktoron”. It was then renamed to “Platia (Square) Othonos “.
1862
Renaming the square to “Platia (Square) Omonias” after a concentration of the leaders of rival political parties giving a homonymous (Omonias) oath to the bloody riots caused by the dynasty in the country.
1930
Excavation of the Omonia Square subsoil for the construction of the underground station of the ISAP.
1954
The layout of the underground begins with the construction of an underground square with banks, shops and post office, as well as with the first escalators in Athens.
1900
Completion of the work that began in 1954 and shaping of the upper part of Omonia Square into an artificial lake with fountains, which was a project of the Greek sculptor Georgios Zongolopoulos.
1960
Architectural design and construction of a 12-storey shop with the name KATRANTZOSPOR at the corner of Stadiou and Aeolou (area of Chaftia), designed by the architect Michalis Fotiadis.
1972
Arson attack that resulted in the total destruction of KATRANTZOSPOR and MINION stores.
1980
The corner of Stadiou and Aeolou streets is characterized by a Presidential Decree “communal green” and its expropriation was decided in favor of the Municipality of Athens.
1982
2000 Completion of Omonia metro station projects serving line 2.
2000
Redesign of Omonoia square from the team that won the first prize in an architectural competition in 1998: Bozani Ariadni, Dessylas Grigoris, Katsikas Eleni-Maria, Tsiatas Theodoros.
2004
New proposal for the expropriation of the plot located at Stadiou and Aeolou from the municipality of Athens. The plans of the municipality were to create a free green space of 560 sq.m. and to build a public building that will host a cafe and a citizen’s information center.
2009
Revising the wider region of the commercial triangle (University axis) under the name Re-think Athens.
2013
PROJECT AREA 1. USE OF LAND Most of the Commercial Triangle is made up of local shops, crafts, laboratories and leisure facilities. Trades and crafts were “always” in the triangle, as the first market of Athens began. Even today, people from all over Attica are coming to the CT to buy specific products such as textiles. The first coffee houses slowly pressed for opening and others, while the privileged geographical location of the triangle was another reason for creating other recreation areas, whether for tourists or not. We notice that there are no buildings under construction in this particular area, while buildings without use do not go by unnoticed. Both the economic conditions and the already dense construction of the center are responsible for this. Last but not least, the change in use from the ground floor to the upper floors, which occurs almost everywhere, is interesting. The ground floor is almost always for commercial uses, for a more direct relationship with the client, while on the upper floors we find more often offices, workshops, and sometimes residences.
Ground Floor
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TRANSLATED IN ENGLISH FROM: ΠΟΛΕΟΔΟΜΙΑ 1, ΑΝΑΛΥΤΙΚΗ ΠΡΟΣΕΓΓΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΣΤΙΚΟΥ ΧΩΡΟΥ, ΕΜΠ, ΚΑΘ: ΒΑΣΙΛΑΡΑ ΑΡΧΟΝΤΟΥΛΑ, ΣΠΟΥΔΑΣΤΡΙΕΣ: Βαρουξάκη Ελίνα, Καίκα Χαρά, Κοκκάλα Ναισώ
Upper Floors
2. CONSTRUCTION / INVETERASY There is a variety of construction methods that took place and attest to the different time periods that the region has gone through. The overwhelming majority of buildings are made of reinforced concrete. They do not concentrate in an particular area but spread all over the triangle. Most of them date from 1950 to 1985 and are buildings of recompense. Quite a number date between 1920 and 1950 and are products of modernity. Much less are our relatively modern buildings from 1985 onwards. The second most common type of construction is the stone-built or brick-built, most of which are in good condition. Many are located around the Stadiou, Aeolou, Karagiorgi and Kolokotroni streets as well as in the area near Monastiraki Square. Most of them were built before 1920 with the Neoclassical style. They probably where used as residences. There are also several composite structures whose structural material can change from floor to floor or has been added to the existing frame. Much less, to nonexistent, are buildings made of metal or wood. These were mainly constructed from 1950 to 1985.
Construction
Inveterasy
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3. GALLERIES The galleries are an integral part of Greek architecture. That is why it is of particular interest to keep them in the urban fabric of modern Athens. The existence of galleries in the commercial triangle is evident. The galleries located in the wider study area are divided into transverse and narrow streets. Surroundingly, we call the galleries that are a passage through a building complex or a whole building block, have mostly taken a commercial character due to the shops inside. Instead, we define the galleries that form the threshold of the public from the private space on the ground floor of a building and are adjacent to the building’s construction line. Their existence is usually provided by the urban plan of the area and they must be aesthetically connected with the building.
Uncovered Spaces Transversal Galleries Progressive Galleries
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TRANSLATED IN ENGLISH FROM: Ανάγνωση σε περάσματα του κέντρου της Αθήνας - Παρέμβαση στο Ο.Τ. 17 Λασιθιωτάκη, Μαρίνα Μ. 2012, ΕΜΠ
4. LANDMARKS The commercial triangle is a central transport hub that serves the wider area, but at the same time supplies it commercially, culturally and administratively. Thus, it is hoped that there will be places within it that have stigmatized people ‘s daily routine but also contributed to the development of the commercial triangle in time both at a cultural and a social - economic level.
1. Omonia Square 1
2. Klafthmonos Square 3. Kotzia Square 4. Arsakeio Building
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3
5. Municipality of Athens
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6. Central Municipal Athens Market 7. Old National Printing Building
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2
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PROPOSAL The architectural study focuses on the corner of Stadiou and Aeolou streets. As has already been mentioned on the connection of the two roads was the department store “KATRANTZOSPOR”, which after an incendiary action in 1980 was completely destroyed leaving another residue in the Greek urban fabric and its situation remained unchanged until today, despite the efforts made to reintegrate it again in the urban plan of the city. The project site is a point of reference in the city with particular interest as it is located in the center of Athens creating a boundary between its historical center and its wider areas. At the same time, it is located at the end of a building block, raising so concerns how to deal with it, both in terms of the strictness of the structures that govern the area (facades of Stadiou and Aeolou), as well as its use and character towards the city. Due to the prominent position of the plot and the Construction Regulations the primary objective of our study was to place the main volume of the building at the back of the plot to maintain the visual contact to and from (Stadiou, Aeolou, Em.Menakis and Lykourgos) and its development in height. In addition, our main intention was openness and circulation on the ground floor (linking Lykourgos Street with Em.Menakis Street, connection and continuation of galleries of Stadiou and Aeolou streets) as well as the preservation of the optics in adjacent buildings through the “transparency” of the proposal. Another objective that was later proven to be of utmost importance was the design of a transforming character of the building. This resulted in the need for a public building that could be modified within the rigid urban plan of Athens, which has remained unchanged for years, thus passing the message that there is a willingness to change. The building itself is essentially a “message” and at the same time an “unconventional” building that changes its form - it transforms according to the needs of its users and the events taking place in it, in a city where the structures remain stationary. Because of this stagnation, the facades of our project follow the strictness of the facades of Stadiou and Aeolou streets (West and East side), while inside (North side), the unconventional character is directly perceived. Reference must be made to the relationship that is sought to be developed between the citizens and the city through the architectural proposal. In this building, everyone has the opportunity to learn about the city and the building itself, to get to know the city through the exhibitions on the very city that it is hosted and to experience the urban environment through its tour at all levels of the building, since the people experience direct contact with the city through the visual contact to city the building offers you. Finally, the access is made through the core of the vertical circulation found at the back of the plot connecting all levels, the raccoal which is an “extension” of the 28th October street (Patission Avenue), the tiers leading to the lower part as well as the underground connection of the metro station of Omonia Square.
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BUILDING PROGRAM Square -6.80m The buildings square with underground connection to the Omonia Square metro station. It is surrounded by a bookstore, cafe, administrative offices and auxiliary spaces (960m²). Ground floor ±0.00m Info Point. Continuity of roadside galleries of the streets Stadiou and Aeolou, access to the building from a vertical circulation core, tiers and a raccoal (540m²). 1st Level +4.60m Café with semi-outdoor expansion (260m² + 145m² vertical circulation core). 2nd Level +8.40m Tranforming multipurpose hall with a foyer with the possibility of unification with the extension over Aeolou Street (250m² + 145m² vertical circulation core).
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3rd Level +12.20m: Administrative Offices – Second multipurpose hall entrance (210m² + 145m²vertical circulation core). 4th Level +16.00m: Semi-outdoor exhibition space (210m² + 145m² vertical circulation core). 5th Level +20.00m: Tranforming exhibition space (115m² +145m² vertical circulation core). 6th Level +24.00m: Transforming exhibition space (115m² +145m² vertical circulation core). 7th Level +28.00m: Reading room (200m² +145m² vertical circulation core). 8th Level +31.80m: Roof garden (195m² +145m² vertical circulation core). 21
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COURSE OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 1.
Vertical circulation core in fornt of the building
2.
Transition of the circulation to back side of the building
3.
Removing volume from the front side
4.
a. Removing of the North side elevation b. Forming of volumes inside the building c. Addition of raccoal as an extension of 28th October Street
5.
a. Remodeling of levels b. Downgrading the basement level
6.
a. Need of finding a ramped space for a multipurpose hall b. Addition of support
7.
a. Addition of levels to the basement b. Creation of a heated multipurpose hall c. Design of underground connection to the Omonia square metro stop
8.
Addition of an external support frame for the variability of volumes inside
9.
Exploring for a united circular path to connect all levels
10.
a. Addition of a double height volume in order to connect the first & second level. b. Transforming facades
11.
a. Extension of volume +9.00 above the Aeolos pedestrian street b. Possible connection to Kotzia square
12.
a. Addition of support b. Possible consolidation of uses (upper building) c. Creating an expansion of the coffee space above Aeolou Street (+5.00)
13.
Expansion-Variability of indoor spaces
14.
a. Remodeling of vertical circulation core b. Redesign of underground connection to Omonia square c. Addition of uses at the basement level d. Variability of multipurpose space
15.
a. Final multi-site configuration feasible to connect to the +8.40 level b. Creation of coffee space at the level +4.60
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
+35.70m
+31.80m
Roof Garden
+28.00m
Reading Room
+24.00m
+20.00m
+16.00m
+12.20m
+8.40m
+4.60m
±0.00m
-6.80m
Exhibition 2
Exhibition 1
Exhibition 0
Offices
MultiUse Space
Cafe
Info Point
Square
Cafe
Info Point
Square Book Shop Cafe
Semi-Outdoor Exhibition
Entrance Offices
Aiolou Crossing Multiuse Space
+36.20m
Roof Garden
Reading Room
Exhibition 2
Exhibition 1
Exhibition 0
Offices
MultiUse Space
Cafe
Info Point
Square
+31.80m
+28.00m
+24.00m
+20.00m
+16.00m
+12.20m
+8.40m
+4.60m
±0.00m
-6.80m
Roof Garden
Reading Room
Exhibition Space
Exhibition Space
Circulation
Roof Garden
Reading Room
Exhibition 2
Exhibition 1
Exhibition 0
Offices
MultiUse Space
Cafe
Info Point
Square Mechanical
+35.60m
+31.80m
+28.00m
+24.00m
+20.00m
+16.00m
+12.20m
+8.40m
+4.60m
±0.00m
-6.80m -8.00m
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CONSTRUCTION
DETAILS
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Main Format Two independent exhibition areas with a semi-outdoor exhibition level.
Joint Format A single exhibition space with 4.70m hight and a level of semi-outdoor exhibition.
Double Height Semi - Outdoor Raising the first slab and facades of the first exhibition space by creating a double-height semi-outdoor exhibition area and maintaining a closed exhibition space.
Double Semi - Outdoor
Joint Semi - Outdoor
Creation of a double semi-open exhibition space as the plates 3 and 4 move up.
Creation of a single semi-open exhibition space with 7,50m height, as the plates 1, 2 and 3 are raised.
COMPACT FORM
SUBSTRACTION
Growth of the plot as a full volume
Detaching from buildings Granting part of the distribution to the city
DETACHMENT
FIGURATION
Volume uplift, creating degraded square, creating access at city level
Volume formation in relation to the city’s passing axes
Pedestrian
Street
Existing Pedestrian Crossings
Car Lane
Passing Through Proposal
Public Transoprt Lane
Proposed Crossing
Deadend Underground Parking of Kotzia Square Public Transport Stops
Existing Plantation
Max Hight (>28m)
Proposed Plantation
Big Hight (20-28m) Middle Hight (12-20m) Small Hight (4-12m)
CIRCULATION DIAGRAM
The diagram below shows the movements and routes that a visitor can follow in order to navigate in the building. It is easy to realize that the access point to the building is on the ground floor (level +0.00m) where the visitor has the option either to go down to the basement (level -6.80m) through the ramps or follow the raccoal and reach the 1st floor (level +4.60m) or even use the vertical circulation core and reach the desired level. The vertical traffic core as well as the auxiliary straight stairs unite all levels of the building between them very clearly, giving the visitor the ability to choose the route he wants to follow.
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SOLAR DIAGRAM
Observation of the position of the sun at three different time points during the day for two different seasons (summer, winter). In the first three slopes of the summer we observe that the high position of the sun allows the sun to shine on the western and eastern facade as well as the northern part at some point during the day. On the contrary, this is not the case in the winter where the sun is low allowing only the lighnting of the east and west facade. As a result, the northern facade remains shaded for most of the time, which allows the building to be transparent in terms of its interior visibility.
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SOURCES TRANSLATED IN ENGLISH FROM: Ανάγνωση σε περάσματα του κέντρου της Αθήνας - Παρέμβαση στο Ο.Τ. 17 Λασιθιωτάκη, Μαρίνα Μ. , 20-12-2012, ΕΜΠ http://www.thetoc.gr/magazine/plateia-omonoias-i-koketa-pou-xathike-sti-skoni
https://anoihtipoli.gr/geitonies/emporiko-trigono ΤΑ ΕΠΤΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΠΟΛΕΟΔΟΜΙΑΣ, ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ Ν.ΚΑΡΥΔΗΣ Εκδότης: ΠΑΠΑΣΩΤΗΡΙΟΥ, Δεκέμβριος 2008 ΧΡΗΣΕΙΣ ΓΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΟ ΤΡΙΓΩΝΟ ΤΗΣ ΑΘΗΝΑΣ, ΑΝΝΑ-ΑΝΘΗ ΓΚΟΥΝΤΡΑ 2016
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