Today the project was presented before a large crowd and a panel of distinguished professionals and academics (G. Hargreaves, R. Belatchew-Lerdell, S. Grahn, Th. Doxiadis, S. Phillipou, B.Gill).
The team wants to wish all the best to Stella Georgiou and Pavlina Platonos, architecture students of the Frederick University of Cyprus, that worked with us and with their commitment, hard work and professionalism carried the project forward.
Special thanks, also goes, to our environmental advisors, Efthymia Karyoti (Architect, 1995 MSc Environmental Design and Engineering UCL) , Katerina Meresi (Architect, Dr., 2000, Department of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, ΜSc Environmental Design of Buildings, 2003, Cardiff University, UK; PhD, Department of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2010) and Aylin Ayna (Architect, 2008, Department of Architecture, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, with postgraduate studies at the Architectural Design Issues Programme at the same university, research assistant in Environmental Analysis and Control Subdivision at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, since 2009)
Finally our work became much easier and informed with the help of two colleagues and dear friends that jointed the team, Eleni Mitakou (Architect, 2005, postgraduate studies at the National Technical University of Athens at the Inter-Departmental Postgraduate Course, PhD candide at the same institution) and Ioanna Volaki (Architect, 2005, postgraduate studies at the National Technical University of Athens and at the Berlage Institute- laboratory of architecture), we thank you a lot.
A few words about the brief.
The team focused on Karakasi street, which is central of a residential neighborhood of Thessaloniki, and although its large section of 22metres is misused, has failed to attract and accommodate communal activities and is burdened by excessive on street parking, despite its minimal traffic load.
Our contacted the Planning Office of the Municipality of Thessaloniki and was informed about the requests that is was receiving by the citizens of the area concerning the state of the urban environment in the area. Thus plans for works are already under way and the officials were interested on our views on the topic.
Taking into account the latter, our strategy consists of a hyper-topic and multi-functional core, at the centre of the Karakasi street axis, among the streets of Delfon, Martiou, Paraschou, Makedonias, within a wider degraded urban environment where there are athletic activities, free parking spaces and warehouses of the Greek Municipality. The re-designing of the space is composed of:
a) the pedestrianization of Karakasi street between Martiou street and Kaoudi Square.
b) the unification of the existing common spaces and urban voids through their enhancement and their enrichment with communal green area as well as with new functions like the school for children with disabilities, neighborhood centre, swimming pool, play ground, energy efficient multi storey parking and underground parking space.
c) the configuration of the Kaoudi Square, so it will stop functioning as a traffic junction, but as is integrated with the pedestrianized section of Karakasi street, but also with the adjacent unexploited open spaces between the streets of Karakasi, M. Miltiadi, Gamvetta, I. Kondylaki and Makedonias. The new design includes a communal market, a children’s library, a bike rental station.
d) the transformation of the block of flats’ backspaces to communal green spaces and the integration of systems that enhance sustainability in them (rainwater harvesting, geothermal plants, vegetable garden).
e) the connectivity of the area with the urban fabric, via the creation of bicycle lanes towards the sea side leisure area and the link with the adjacent metro station.
The design interventions influence positively the social cohesion of the neighborhood, the quality of life (reduction of pollutants and noise, accessibility for disabled groups, traffic service of the residents, the removal of the car where possible, etc.), the aesthetics and function of public space. The strategies of interventions aim at the amelioration of the microclimate (increased shaded areas, increase of the green area percentage, absorbency and albedo of the surface materials), the correct water management and the reduction of the consumed energy (energy efficiency of the proposed buildings, the contained energy of the materials used, use of “green” transportation eg. bicycle).
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