The Revitalisation of the Thessaloniki Forum The Brief “The area consisting of Aristotelous square, Aristotelous St., the Agora Square and the area around St. Demetrius comprises the single most important public open space in the city of Thessaloniki and constitutes the geographical, structural and monumental centre of the city.” The original 1997 brief for The Redesign of the Aristotelous Monumental Axis made a call for architects from all around the world to redesign the central axis of the city of Thessaloniki. The aim was to work towards enhancing the image and uses of this attractive, yet problematic area of the city. While the competition may not have reached completion, it is of note that this civic axis has remained a “problematic, yet attractive” location within the city of Thessaloniki to this day.
Museum History of the Forum The Roman Forum of Thessaloniki exists as a problem within a problem. During the 1960s when the construction of the Aristotelous axis was under way, the Roman forum was accidentally discovered. Existing as an important piece of heritage, and being the previous centre of the city during the 2nd to 6th centuries, this discovery was initially a stroke of luck. However, shortly after its discovery, archaeologists excavated all of the important artefacts and relocated them to a number of prominent museums within Thessaloniki. Once all the artefacts had been relocated, the city of Thessaloniki did not know what to do with the Forum. The discovery had interrupted their plans for the Aristotelous axis and they could no longer turn the space occupied by the forum into public space. As a solution, they partially restored this ancient agora and put an entry fee on it, officially transforming it into a tourist attraction. Over the years, the Roman forum would begin to suffer from graffiti on its outer walls, a population of stray cats and tourists who wouldn’t even bother to enter its confines as they could see the whole thing from the footpaths surrounding it without having to pay an entry fee.
Agora Park Shadesail Tapas Strip Theatre
North Eastern Tunnel
South Western Tunnel
This once grand structure had become a shadow of its former self.
Concept The Revitalisation of the Thessaloniki Forum aims to return the ancient agora to its former glory while simultaenously creating the public space that was once intended for the area. The proposal will aim to incorporate multiple functions once more into the agora through 6 unique fragments; the archaeological tunnels, the agora park, the shadesail, the theatre, the tapas strip and the museum. In addition to these fragments, the forum will need to be opened up and made more accessible, while simultaneously respecting the existing heritage of this ancient site during the installation of the 6 fragments. The Revitalised Forum of Thessaloniki will become a connection to the city, the past, history, nature, culture and both the people of Thessaloniki and tourists alike.
Student number: 20950992
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Context Thessaloniki is a densely packed city with very few dedicated public spaces within its centre. The Aristotelous axis was created during the 1950s as an attempt to rectify this ever growing problem of lacking open space. The Roman forum is located towards the top of the axis where it has been cut off from the both the park to the North East and the Agora square to the South West by a number of moderate traffic roads. This combined with a lack of entrance points has contributed to a lack of accessibility within the forum and reduced visitors. The Roman forum is a large space that possess significant unfulfilled potential as an additional public space along the Aristotelous axis.
Partially Restored Odeon
Entrance Remnants of a two storey Porticoes Underground Museum Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
Remnants of Cryptoporticus
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The Roman Forum of Thessaloniki
Student number: 20950992
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The Tunnels: A Connection to the City
North Eastern Park
Due to the Roman Forum’s location within the centre of Thessaloniki, a number of moderate to high traffic roads pass within close proximity of the site. These roads have resulted in a lack of safe and easily accessable path ways to the forum.
Agora Square
Potential Train Station Entrance
North Eastern Tunnel
S1 South Western Tunnel
North Eastern Park
Roman Forum Olimpou
Thessaloniki Metro
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Forum Tunnel
Egnatia
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It is also of note that the construction of an underground metro is currently underway within Thessaloniki. This underground railway is planned to pass underneath Egnatia, a high traffic road to the South West of the forum. The South Western tunnel will open up within close proximity of the Egnatia station’s opening, providing an added level of access for those travelling from all over the city.
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Olimpou
These tunnels will have to be mindful of the unknown archaeology within the surrounding area and may have their path’s adjusted accordingly. It is planned that the archaeology in the surrounding area will provide the foundations for the tunnel’s layout and design in order to create an archaeological experience within each tunnel.
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Two tunnels have been proposed as a solution to the issue of safe access. These two tunnels will link up to the parks to the North East and South West along the Aristotelous axis and will provide a continuous path of travel to the revitalised forum.
Agora Square
Phillipou
Egnatia
50m Student number: 20950992
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Circulation: The Connection of the Fragments Currently only posessing three main entrances into the site, and requiring an entry fee the Roman forum is lacking in a degree of openness which has contributed to it’s limited use. Many of Thessaloniki’s tourists state that they don’t even bother to enter the forum, as they can see all it has to offer from the footpath next to it. In addition to no longer requiring an entrance fee to the main body of the forum, a number of stairs and elevators have been proposed in order to improve the circulation around and within the forum. These changes will all work together to create a welcoming and easily accessible forum. The added circulation elements work together to connect and provide guidance to both the new and old elements within the revitalised forum. The agora will become easily accessible to locals, tourists and those with disabilities alike.
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Phillipou Pre-existing Entrance
Pre-existing Entrance (removed)
Pre-existing Entrance
Proposed Circulation Additions Student number: 20950992
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Pedestrian Circulation
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The Agora Park: A Connection with Nature UP
Drawing its inspiration from a combination of the traditional Roman garden, the grid-like layout of the previous forum and the Argead star, the proposed Agora park aims to create a place of serenity and relaxation.
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Located within what was originally the paved courtyard during the Roman era, the Agora park has been designed to serve the same function as its predecessor; a place for relaxation and socialisation. Amongst the parks grid of plane trees, the remnants of the original paving as well as other ruins have been preserved and incorporated into the park. All of the access points and boundaries within the park have been defined with the use of the Argead star, which aids in the connection of the other fragments of the forum.
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Student number: 20950992
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The Shadesail: A Shadow of the Past The shadesail acts as a representation of the Roman forum’s heritage. Constructed through the use of wire and 2 by 2 metre squares of high density polyethylene, the shadesail casts a large shadow across the lengths of the forum. visitors of the revitalised forum are provided with an extra source of shade while also being exposed to the grand scale of the original forum represented through the shadesail’s shadow of the past. The wire of the shadesail is supported by a number of extruded columns in addition to the museum’s roof and the site constraints to the North East. .
A Shadow of the Past
Student number: 20950992
Thessaloniki Annual Sunpath (Degrees)
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The Theatre: A Connection to Culture Already existing within the forum’s confines is a small, partially restored theatre that already sees use for the hosting of small events. Within the revitalised forum, this small theatre has been expanded upon by two extra tiers of seating constructed primarily out of steel. This structure works with the heritage by simply floating above and next to the ruins with as minimal impact upon the forum as possible. From the street, this large steel structure appears light as it floats above the ruins and footpath. Additionally, a steel circular stage supported by angular steel beams has also been proposed. Together, these additions will allow for the hosting of larger, more significant events, drawing people to the Roman forum to experience the culture of Thessaloniki through music, art or plays.
Site boundary, Pedestrian Footpath
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The remnants of the original theatre Steel construction seating extension Pre-existing Partially restored Theatre seating Male and Female toilets Disability lift providing access to the forum Added stairs placed between heritage fragments providing access to the theatre seating Stairs leading from outside the site boundary into the
S2 20m
Steel Stage extension Remnants of the two-storey porticoes Safety railing across the top of the theatre Steel construction theatre extension Disability lift Pre-existing Partially restored Theatre seating Stairs providing access to the theatre Steel truss system placed between visible heritage fragments and providing support to the theatre addition Remnants of the original theatre Footing providing support for truss system (Will need to be mindful of heritage) Student number: 20950992
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The Tapas Strip: A Connection with People
S3
Even during the current economic crisis within Greece, the people of Thessaloniki continue to go out to eat and drink. The Tapas strip exists as a floating platform above the ruins of the forum with 5 allocated bars/restaurants. This platform has been constructed primarily out of steel and features a number of glass panels allowing for the visitors of the strip to enjoy a meal and a drink above the visible heritage of the site below, with an excellent view of the Agora park directly across from the strip. S3
Ramp providing access to the museum
Stairs providing access to the main body of the forum
Agora Square Phillipou
Student number: 20950992
Entrance into the Strip
Disability Lift Glass panels withinto and out in floor of the steel of forum platform.
The foot print for each structure has been determined based on the position of ruins underneath the platform
Single continuous roof connecting all Pre-existing Concrete support restaurants heritage for truss system and bars wall Restaurant/bar
Outdoor seating overlooking forum
Each structure has been provided with a kitchen, bar, toilets, staff only entrances and indoor seating
Steel truss system supporting Steel platform Tapas strip
Outdoor tables overlooking the forum
Ruins below steel platform
Benches provided overlooking the forum
Stairs into Disability lift forum
The Agora Park
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The Museum: A Connection to History The proposed Museum extension has been designed with the primary intention of providing a place within the forum capable of housing the artefacts previously relocated to larger museums. It is also of note that as a trade off for the rest of the forum having free entry, those visiting the museum are encouraged to make a small donation upon entry. With the use of a central main axis to provide guidance to the visitor’s circulation, the structure aims to take the visitor seamlessly through the museum in such a way as to experience both the pre-existing heritage connecting to
Open Access Roof
First Floor
Ground Floor
Basement Level
Student number: 20950992
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The Museum: A Connection to History The roof of the museum has been provided with open access, allowing for people to walk across its entirety. With the inclusion of a cafe and giftshop as well, the visitors of the museum and forum are able to enjoy a coffee and take in the sites of not only the forum, but the entire down hill length of the Aristotelous axis. The space has been left largely open to accommodate the potential for live performances or outdoor art exhibits. North Western Elevation
South Eastern Elevation
South Western Elevation Student number: 20950992
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