The subject of my diploma project, is the design of a contemporary orthodox monastery at Plastira lake. I have always been interested in monastic buildings and in general in spaces offered for prayer and retrenchment. Monasteries specifically are spaces of high architectural interest, with excellent space qualities. Special feature of monasteries is the unique atmosphere of their spaces that aims to inspire the monks and the believers (visitors) helping them to detach from the everyday life and come closer to God, through the prayer procedure. In order to learn in depth the monastic architecture, I made the decision to study first some important orthodox monasteries and then to design one, based on the basic design principles of monastic architecture but simultaneously with a contemporary philosophy.
