Traces of Spatial Foldings as Narratives of the Athens’ Character

Technical University of Crete, Department of Architecture, Chania, Crete

Project idea

In an attempt to understand the “being” of human existence in a modern metropolis, the original elements of spatial perception, feeling and psychology are sought, through the field of cognitive psychology. This aims to create a vocabulary of tools, both for understanding these elements and create a spatial planning that will help improve the city’s character and activate the walker’s willingness to discover it. The approach was aimed at treating architecture as an art. Both on a philosophical level, in the sense that an art exhibit tries to evoke emotions; a mental uplift in the observer, as well as on a practical level, as a subjective aesthetic intervention that, after research, would indirectly turn the city’s emotions, on the basis of a scenario, in tensions more sincere in its character.
Modern architecture can move in 2 areas: variability - adaptability, through technology and participation - appropriation through cognitive psychology. Since modern philosophy has surpassed materialistic views on the concepts of space - place and the individual has been characterized as “multiple”, in this approach traces of spatial elements create spiritual folds, which become cause for differentiation, thus producing relationships as close as possible to “becoming” and form that aims to highlight the subtle sense, which makes the physiognomy of the city special.

Project description

The research area is the Athens Commercial Triangle, which as the core of the Greek metropolis experiences the touch of globalization and tends to the Generic City described by Rem Koolhaas. With the hero’s circle model, the urban space is transformed into a setting, where the people are the protagonists and part of the exhibit. Light interventions, perforated and reversible, coloured negative volumes, works of art and green surfaces create traces of places, inviting the passer - by to interact with them in an effort to highlight the feeling of the city. After some time, it is recommended to remove the operations and extract questionnaires regarding the way they affected the psyche of the individuals.

Technical information

The well-known hero’s circle was used as the main urban scenario. Someone leaves his usual world as he is invited on an adventure. After leaving, he arrives at a special world that he may encounter a test, gains some treasure-reward and returns to his usual world, more mature from the experience.
The urban space, therefore, is transformed into a setting, where the individuals are the protagonists and part of the exhibit. All spatial elements are made from wire material for reasons of permeability, lightness, evolveness and reversibility; to achieve the sense of the translucent; this that exists and does not exist at the same time.
Starting at the top of the triangle, an attractor will invite the walker to embark on the adventure. Then there will be some emotional escalation and as a treasure will operate a relaxation area with the aim of visual satisfaction.
Colored negative volumes, works of art and green surfaces create traces of places, in an effort to highlight the city’s feeling. After some time, it is recommended to remove the operations and extract questionnaires regarding the way they affected the psyche of the individuals.

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