IN THE WOODS | ALTERABLE LIVING CONDITIONS IN AN EVERGREEN LANDSCAPE Diploma Project: Gkoufa Varvara, Thanasi Mirto, Zisopoulou Filothei, NTUA 2014-2015
ANALYSIS This diploma project concerns a set of interventions in mount Kallidromo. Despite its low altitude, the mountain special geographical features with elevations and hollows. The landscape is composed of variable and invariant elements, and gives a different perception to the visitor, depending on the season: the forest of conifers surrounding the lakes is the fixed reference point and contrasts with the existence and absence of water all over the year. The snowmelt is concentrated in the hollows of the mountain, with the water being at the highest of levels and evaporates gradually until it disappears completely at the beginning of autumn, turning basins in grazing pastures. Along with the variability of the landscape, we noticed a change in the activities that occur on the mountain depending on the season, such as camping and hiking. From these activities, we focused on a recording of hiking paths, which ensure the presence of users throughout the year with a non-invasive way and allow identification of the mountain with experiential way. The routes vary in difficulty level, are applied throughout the mountain linking the settlements and take advantage of the entire road network, from the asphalt to the rugged walking trails.
- amphitheatrical perception of the landscape - points for pause and leisure
Lake Nevropoli | Seasonal Alterability
- settlements interlinked with various pathways - escalated difficulty of paths
- theatrical landscape - contrasts in landscape: seasonal lakes and evergreen forest
STRUCTURES
MASTERPLAN FIRE LOOKOUT TOWER
WINTER SHELTER
WINTER SHELTER
SECTION
PLAN
communal space dorms beds Construction material: CLT wood
CAMPSITE
PLAN
SECTION
people
x 2-people units
CANAL
Construction material: pine timber
CANAL
PLAN
SECTION
m length
m3 water
0m
CAMPSITE
1 on 2 secti
n io ct e s
x 3-people units
200m
SECTION 1
Construction material: Accoya Wood
FIRE LOOKOUT TOWER
PLAN
SECTION 2
SECTION
people cabin Construction material: pine timber
KEY MAP
WINTER SHELTER
The third construction is a winter shelter in the location of the old abandoned one. As to the basic principles of its design the aim was to create a shell in order to house the basic needs of 32 users [weather protection, accommodation and food] with minimal intervention to the topography. Furthermore, it is a shell that indicates its function as a mountain refuge and with its long and narrow shape will be seen as a human intervention from the climber to reach. Alongside its low height and position behind the trees, it will highlight and not intervene in the landscape.
Synthetically, the elongated volume of rectangular plan of the refuge turns to the south and is located in the node two paths while permitting the uninterrupted passage from its interior, even if the visitor does not intend to stay in it. Morphologically, it is composed of a wooden frame which is mounted perpendicularly on the one side to stone walls and on the other to the ground. This design choice allows the perception of only one face at a time, depending on the direction from which it is ap proached.
0m
2m
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
VENTILATION SYSTEM
SHADING SYSTEM MODEL SCALE 1:100
CAMPSITE
sleeping units
net of beams
elevated pathway
3
2 1 CAMPSITE PLAN VIEW
0m
10m
The outdoor camping is placed on the south shore of the lake, where the forest is composed of high trunk trees with naked logs, in a location already used for overnight stay on the mountain. Unlike the strict geometry of the canal in the lake, the form of camping is defined by the entropy of the forest and the randomness of the logs. Within this disordered grid of logs, we selected some dominant axes of movement, which are arranged on either side of the units of residence for two or three people, always perpendicular to the secondary alignments-beams of 6-10 meters. The net of the axes in not based on the ground but releases the ground for the hiker and uses the logs themselves as the primary structural system.
TRANSFORMATION OF ELEVATED PLATFORMS TO SLEEPING
PLATFORM ELEVATION
1
2 SLEEPING UNIT ELEVATION
3 PLATFORM PLAN
PLAN OF CAMPING’S PART
el ev at io n
0m
ELEVATION OF CAMPING’S PART 0m
2m
2m
CANAL
CANAL SECTIONS
SECTION 1
FOUNTAIN SECTION 0m
2m
se ct io n
SECTION 2
SECTION 3
SECTION 4
SECTION 5
FOUNTAIN PLAN
WINTER
SPRING
AUTUMN
SUMMER
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2
3
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WINTER
SPRING
AUTUMN
SUMMER
The construction inside the lake was based on the emergence of the variability of the water element, operating inversely from it. Specifically, when the lake water has evaporated, the structure functions as spouted drinking trough for animals, in which is chanelled the water from the spring and when the lake is full, it is a passage for walkers, with spring water pourring into the lake. The linear form of the structure functions as an emphasis of the landscape. Despite the gradual seasonal change of the environment, the construction from viewing bridge converts to a linear reminder of the liquid element even during the dry months. Regarding the form of construction, we chose the shape of a container in section, the repetition of which constitutes the channel of 142 meters length, that follows the slope of the lake bottom. The formation of the inclination of the construction in sequence with the bottom, creates different perceptions for the hikers with the water level by varying the angle and the reflection image. Furthermore, the elevation of the floor of the channel allows the free passage of the lake water from one side to the other without being converted into a barrier. For the construction we selected enforced wood, with extra tolerance in an aquatic environment [accoya wood].
MODEL SCALE 1:100
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