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