Remnants of remembrance_thesis

Remnants of remembrance

Vasiliki Panagopoulou, Stavroula- Rallou Tzormpatzaki Supervisors: Ariadne Vozani, Andreas Kourkoulas Thesis project_April 2014 N.T.U.A School of Architecture

Remnants of remembrance

Vasiliki Panagopoulou, Stavroula- Rallou Tzormpatzaki Supervisors: Ariadne Vozani, Andreas Kourkoulas Thesis project_April 2014 N.T.U.A School of Architecture

A thousand metres above sea level.

Mount Parnitha. Abies Cephalonica.

A recent fire’s ashes.

Sanatorium. Tuberculosis, isolation, aero-therapy.

Five storeys of stone and concrete, crumbling.

A hundred years of history fading into oblivion.

In memoriam.

A hundred years post- construction, we return to the Sanatorium of Parnitha, now an abandoned ruin,

in an attempt to salvage the memory of a place where the signs of the June 2007 catastrophic forest fire

are still present. A minimum of architectural elements - building remnants registered as nosocomial in the

collective memory - are incorporated in a series of new spaces, along a traversing route. The memory of

the place is reconstructed through the physical experience of the space; the body’s movement, the visually

discernible scenery, the natural elements -sun, water, and wind- constitute the foundations of a synthesis

of spaces accessed in sequence. Integrated in the concept are Yiannis Ritsos’ “Earini Symponia” (Spring

Symphony), a long poem written while the poet was hospitalised here for tuberculosis, and Nekyia from

Homer’s Odyssey. The space unravels in a cinematographic manner, each domain focusing on different

aspects of death, decay and destruction. Finally, the complete synthesis is revealed theatrically to reclaim

its fading memory; to render the remnants meaningful

and timeless.

contents

4

remnants of remembrance

[04]

[06]

parnitha

maps [08] sections [10]

tuberculosis

[14]

decalogue against tuberculosis [16] plans of the parnitha sanatorium [17] sanatorium photos [18] sanatorium’s ruin photos [19]

[22]

forest fire

28th June 2007 fire/ before [24] 28th June 2007 fire/ after[25]

remnants of remembrance

current condition drawings (2013) [28] plans [28] elevations and sections [30]

a memorial

[26]

[36]

concept principles [38] plan[44] three-dimensional [46]

transversing [48] [56] glade nekyia [66] garden [76] aero-therapy [84] body_gaze

sources appendix

[90]

[102] [104]

sketches [104] physical scale model photos[110]

parnitha Pinus halepensis.

Abies cephalonica.

Slate. Limestone.

6

remnants of remembrance

[06]

Who has forever tied

Ποιος έδεσε για πάντα, the ends of the horizon?

τις άκρες του ορίζοντα;

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_XXV_44

Military facilities Στρατιωτικές εγκαταστάσεις Telecommunications Tower (OTE) Πύργος ΟΤΕ “Bafi” shelterΜπάφι Καταφύγιο Καταφύγιοshelter Φλαμπούρι “Flabouri”

Mont Parnes Casino Καζίνο Sanatorium Σανατόριο

landmarks map

altitude map

8

remnants of remembrance

road network map

parnitha

9

10

remnants of remembrance

parnitha

11

12

remnants of remembrance

parnitha

13

mycobacterium tuberculosis. a disease for the poor. chronic coughing, fever, night sweats, weight loss.

tuberculosis sanatorium. a hospital for tuberculosis. high altitude, fresh air, sun. rest and aero- therapy. isolation.

14

remnants of remembrance

[14]

Let the poor die

Ας πεθαίνουν οι πένητες outside the door of eternity

έξω απ’ τη θύρα της αιωνιότητας knocking without being answered

χτυπώντας δίχως ν’ ακούγονται closing the eyes

κλείνοντας τα μάτια in the ephemeral grass

στην εφήμερη χλόη preserving eternity

που συντηρεί την αιωνιότητα.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΧΙΙΙ_21

DECALOGUE AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS

16

remnants of remembrance

south elevation of the Parnitha sanatorium

plan of the Parnitha sanatorium

tuberculosis

17

doctor’s office patient’s room

stairway corridor

18

remnants of remembrance

tuberculosis

19

southeast view of the Parnitha sanatorium

20

remnants of remembrance

the 2013 ruin

remnants of remembrance

21

28th June 2007

forest fire eleven days 49.000 acres in ashes

22

remnants of remembrance

[22]

Here and there remain

Εδώ κι εκεί απομένουν the black marks

τα μαύρα σημάδια and the ashes

κι οι στάχτες

from the fires that

απ’ τις φωτιές που ανάβαν happy children lit

χαρούμενα παιδιά the nights of summer

τα βράδια του θέρους.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony _XXVI_18

The Parnitha Sanatorium photographed from “Aeras� peak. [before the June 2007 fire]

24

remnants of remembrance

The Parnitha sanatorium photographed from “Aeras� peak. [after the June 2007 fire]

fire

25

“The Parnitha Sanatorium was founded in its original form in 1914; it began operating as the mountainous anti-tuberculosis annex of Evangelismos hospital. The construction of the new Sanatorium, named Georgios Stavros & Georgios Fougk hospital, began in 1934. The construction of the new building began September 1934; gradual operation began August 1935. Architect Ioannis A. Antoniadis (1890-1977) was responsible for both the arhitectural design and construction supervision.

remnants of remembrance

[26]

The new building was erected in a 2000 acres area, property of the Sanatorium. It operated as such until 1960, with a pause between 1942 and 1946 due to the second world war. After 1960, it was converted to a Xenia hotel, along with aSchool for tourism professions, undergoing serious modifications. Today the building is in a deserted state, being abandonded for decades; it belongs to Tourist development Inc. translated extract from Aimilia’s Athanasiou article “The Parnitha Sanatorium, or Georgios Stavros and Georgios Fougk hospital” .

26

remnants of remembrance

Can’t you feel

Δε νιώθεις the pallid presence

την ωχρή παρουσία of ether and iodine

του αιθέρα και του ιωδίου the wounded scream

την πληγωμένη κραυγή of insanity

της παραφροσύνης a smell of rain that falls

μια μυρωδιά βροχής που πέφτει in frozen evening windows

σε παγωμένα τζάμια εσπερινά of sanatoriums and mental hospitals?

σανατορίων και ψυχιατρείων;

Earini Symfonia_IV_ 29

κάτοψη α’ ορόφου κάτοψη ισογείου

ground level plan

A level plan

28 0

remnants of remembrance 5

20

50

100(m)

D level plan

5

5

20

20

50

50

κάτοψη γ’ ορόφου κάτοψη ισογείου κάτοψη ισογείου

εγκάρσια τομή

0

ανατολική όψη

0

κάτοψη β’ ορόφου

εγκάρσια τομή

δυτική όψη

κάτοψη α’ ορόφου

B level plan

C level plan

100(m)

100(m)

κάτοψη α’ ορόφου κάτοψη γ’ ορόφου κάτοψη α’ ορόφου

ανατολική όψη

west elevation

north elevation

30

remnants of remembrance

διαμήκης τομή

δυτική όψη

east elevation

βόρεια όψη

ανατολική όψη

31

remnants of remembrance

εγκάρσια τομή

cross- section

longtitudinal section

32

remnants of remembrance

εγκάρσια τομή

cross- section

διαμήκης τομή

εγκάρσια τομή

remnants of remembrance

33

south elevation

δυτική όψη

longtitudinal section

34

remnants of remembrance

νότια όψη βόρεια όψη διαμήκης τομή

εγκάρσια τομή

35

remnants of remembrance

2014. The building’ s condition is irreversible. As the sanatorium shall turn to dust, the nature shall be reborn. The memory of the place shall fade to extinction.

But what if...?

a memorial

[36]

for death, decay and destruction

36

remnants of remembrance

We know nothing.

Δε γνωρίζουμε τίποτα.

We exist.

Υπάρχουμε.

The past inexistent.

Το παρελθόν ανύπαρκτο.

The future unsuspecting.

Το μέλλον ανυποψίαστο.

Present

Παρόντες in the complete moment

μες στην πλήρη στιγμή in eternity.

μες στην αιωνιότητα.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_VII_17

κάτοψη ισογείου

κάτοψη α’ ορόφου

ground level plan (current condition)

0

38

5

remnants of remembrance

20

50

100(m)

elements to be preserved

a memorial

39

elements to be preserved

cross- section

the building’s stone is cut into gravel and spread on the floor of the northern slope

40

remnants of remembrance

the water is gathered through the northern and southern slopes in what used to be the hospital’s corridor

a memorial

41

42

remnants of remembrance

o

sec

l

eve

l nd

plan of the proposal

43

44

transversing

glade

in between

nekyia

garden

aero-therapy

45

transversing

46

glade

in between

nekyia

garden

aero-therapy

47

walking between borders; a water corridor and a steep rock. trapped and alone, corridor upon corridor the black metal casting its black shadow on the stone floor

transversing free gaze, restricted body restricted gaze, free body

48

remnants of remembrance

[48]

I let myself go

Αφήνομαι in the hidden rythm

στον κρυμμένο ρυθμό.

Do not wake me up.

Μην με ξυπνήσεις.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΧΧΙΙ_47

50

remnants of remembrance

transversing

51

fifteen rows of metallic walls, twenty seven pivoting doors

transversing

53

perspective section along the sanatorium’s corridor the door positioning provides multiple movement possibilities

54

remnants of remembrance

transversing

55

glade

[56]

pure light and flowing water one can now cross the water border into the dark

56

remnants of remembrance

How can it be opened

Πως μπορεί να ανοιχτεί this door of light

αυτή η θύρα του φωτός for me that i have not known

για μένα που δε γνώρισα even the shadow of a shimmer?

μήτε τον ίσκιο μιας μαρμαρυγής;

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΙΙΙ_17

58

remnants of remembrance

glade

59

60

remnants of remembrance

glade

61

62

remnants of remembrance

glade

63

πίσω από τον τοίχο

64

remnants of remembrance

in between

65

nekyia

[66]

What does it look like, this under-world, Ades?

One can only see a fragile reflection.

Standing between the crumbling past and the still present.

66

remnants of remembrance

Silence is floating in the air.

Η σιωπή επιπλέει στον αέρα.

The awe lurks

Το δέος παραμονεύει in the corner of our eyes

στην άκρη των ματιών in the tips of our finger.

και των δακτύλων μας.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΧΧΙΙ_6

68

remnants of remembrance

nekyia

69

ο διάδρομος του σανατορίου (2013)

70

remnants of remembrance

nekyia

71

72

remnants of remembrance

Then, when we had got down to the sea shore we drew our ship into the water and got her mast and sails into her; we also put the sheep on board and took our places, weeping and in great distress of mind. Circe, that great and cunning goddess, sent us a fair wind that blew dead aft and stayed steadily with us keeping our sails all the time well filled; so we did whatever wanted doing to the ship’s gear and let her go as the wind and helmsman headed her. All day long her sails were full as she held her course over the sea, but when the sun went down and darkness was over all the earth, we got into the deep waters of the river Oceanus, where lie the land and city of the Cimmerians who live enshrouded in mist and darkness which the rays of the sun never pierce neither at his rising nor as he goes down again out of the heavens, but the poor wretches live in one long melancholy night. When we got there we beached the ship, took the sheep out of her, and went along by the waters of Oceanus till we came to the place of which Circe had told us [...] ”Then I tried to find some way of embracing my mother’s ghost. Thrice I sprang towards her and tried to clasp her in my arms, but each time she flitted from my embrace as it were a dream or phantom, and being touched to the quick I said to her, ‘Mother, why do you not stay still when I would embrace you? If we could throw our arms around one another we might find sad comfort in the sharing of our sorrows even in the house of Hades; does Proserpine want to lay a still further load of grief upon me by mocking me with a phantom only?’ “’My son,’ she answered, ‘most ill-fated of all mankind, it is not Proserpine that is beguiling you, but all people are like this when they are dead. The sinews no longer hold the flesh and bones together; these perish in the fierceness of consuming fire as soon as life has left the body, and the soul flits away as though it were a dream. Now, however, go back to the light of day as soon as you can, and note all these things that you may tell them to your wife hereafter.’

“Thus did we converse, and anon Proserpine sent up the ghosts of the wives and daughters of all the most famous men. They gathered in crowds about the blood, and I considered how I might question them severally. In the end I deemed that it would be best to draw the keen blade that hung by my sturdy thigh, and keep them from all drinking the blood at once. So they came up one after the other, and each one as I questioned her told me her race and lineage.

selected excerpts from Nekyia, Book XI of Homer’s Odyssey, translated by Samuel Butler

nekyia

73

προς τον κήπο

74

remnants of remembrance

remnants of remembrance

75

garden flowers upon ashes

76

remnants of remembrance

[76]

An interlude of whiteness

Ένα διάλειμμα λευκότητας offered to praying.

προσφερμένο στην προσευχή.

Are you cold?

Κρυώνεις; The leaves have rustled.

Τα φύλλα θρόισαν.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_XXIII_29

78

remnants of remembrance

garden

79

80

remnants of remembrance

garden

81

co w lo er ur

flo

ia hy tia

m et

al lill ce iu do m ni cu m

ch

er i

an a

es

ra

in c

is

el os

lo m

ep is

cr

rit

de

si

er

m

su m

ua

liq

ob

i

lc

ce

ri

ge

ha

ria

lla

iti

fr

a

lip

tu

la

nu

pa

m

ca

a

tin

lu

ve

a

ic

et

cr

ia

ag

of

tr

pe

is

er

rb

be

g

rin

sp

us

oc

cr

us

oc

cr

s

vu

fla

us

tic

at

r

te

in

w m

cu

m

bi n

a

ov ae

ul

si c

co lig lch ul i c at um um

hi

co lc

gi a

n

nb er

tu

st er

au

se ao n

82

remnants of remembrance

remnants of remembrance

83

aero-therapy

[84]

a practice used for tuberculosis treatment before the development of antibiotics. the patients were exposed to fresh air and sunlight, usually lying outdoors in rows of chaize-longues

84

remnants of remembrance

Safe

Εμείς ασφαλισμένοι in our earthly shiver

μέσα στο γήινο ρίγος μας we taste the sky

γευόμαστε τον ουρανό

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_XII,_27

86

remnants of remembrance

aero-therapy

87

88

remnants of remembrance

aero-therapy

89

body

from the cinematic route

90

remnants of remembrance

e

gaz

to the theatrical disclosure

body_gaze

91

92

remnants of remembrance

transversing

glade

nekyia

body_gaze

93

garden

in between

94

remnants of remembrance

aero-therapy

remnants of remembrance

95

96

remnants of remembrance

remnants of remembrance

97

98

remnants of remembrance

remnants of remembrance

99

100

remnants of remembrance

remnants of remembrance

101

appendix

102

remnants of remembrance

[102]

parnitha http://www.parnitha-np.gr/welcome.htm official site of Parnitha National Park

http://www.parnitha.net/

Parnitha National Park admistration (greek only)

http://www.edasa.gr/en/

Forest fire protection volunteers of Attica

tuberculosis Αντωνιάδης Α., Το επί της Πάρνηθος Νοσοκομείον Γεωργίου Σταύρου και Γεωργίου Φουγκ. Τεχνικά Χρονικά 1936, 5:900−911 publication in “Technica Chronika” (1936 technical magazine), featuring the Parnitha Sanatorium, by A. Antoniadis

forest fire http://parnitha.wwf.gr/Assets/Files/fire.pdf http://politics.wwf.gr/images/stories/fireparnisreport2007_14.pdf reports on the impact of the 2007 fire by WWF (greek only)

remnants of remembrance Αθανασίου, Α., Το Σανατόριο Πάρνηθας του Ιωάννη Α. Αντωνιάδη (Νοσοκομείο Γεωργίου Σταύρου και Γεωργίου Φουγκ), Π.Ε.Β.Ε 2007, ΕΜΠ, 2009, σελ. 241- 256 article by Aimilia Athanasiou, featured in N.T.U.A publication (greek only) the plans presented are based on the hand-drawn set found in EOT (Greek Tourism Organisation) archive; they were digitized and modified to fit the current situation by the authors

earini symphonia (spring symphony) Ritsos, Y., Earini Symphonia, Kedros, 1986 (greek only) This poetry collection by Yiannis Ritsos has not been translated in English. The english translation presented here is solely for purposes of a general understanding of the atmoshpere and by no means constitutes an official translation.

Odyssey

by Homer

translated by Samuel Butler http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.11.xi.html

sources

103

104

remnants of remembrance

sketches

105

106

remnants of remembrance

sketches

107

108

remnants of remembrance

110

remnants of remembrance

physical scale model photos

111

i ‘ m leaving

θ’ αφήσω the white snowy peak

τη λευκή χιονισμένη κορυφή that was heating, bare smiling,

που ζέσταινε μ’ ενα γυμνό χαμόγελο my infinite isolation.

την απέραντη μόνωσή μου.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_I_1