“State School of Dance and reconstruction of archaeological site in Moschato, Athens”
Supervisors: Pr. Tasis Papaioannou (Dpt. I: Architectural Design), Pr. Sanias Kirportin, Panagiotis Basilatos
NTUA School of Architecture (Dpt. I: Architectural Design), Athens / March 2012
Grade: 10.00/10.00
Synopsis
The objective of this diploma project is the designing of a technologically contemporary building (10000 sm2) which meets the needs of a dance in higher education and is integrated appropriately into the existing built structure. The proposal for a higher educational institution for dance originated from the need to create in Greece appropriate conditions for a full practice of dance education. That means it surmounts the higher level achieving an intercultural connection between our country with the rest of Europe and the world. It also contributes to the solution of chronic problems in the field of contemporary dance in Greece.
The selected site is situated in Piraeus Street near the Moschato area. This historical axis between Athens and Piraeus was considered as appropriate for such use due to its post-industrial character. Its facades of empty urban spaces and industrial building shells nave functioned for over two decades as magnetic poles of cultural, commercial and educational use. The lower section of Piraeus street presents a unique abandonment compared the upper part towards Athens. We have considered that such an institution would revitalize its lower part and function harmonically with the National School of Arts and the other educational buildings of the area. Additionally, it will give smoother access to the city of Piraeus.
Since the 5th century Piraeus Street has connected Athens to Piraeus port. As a result of the 80s post-industrialization, the street was endowed with multiple historical and industrial building shells, most of which were officially pronounced preservative from the government in 1999. In the selected site there is one of those preserved buildings of the former offices of “BIOSOL-ROLCO”, presently “ROLL”. And a selection of the southern Long Wall as an unexploited archeological site. The proposal attempts to unite both historical elements with the present proposed use. Om the one hand this is achieved by forming the archeological site and offering access to it through an outdoor public passage; on the other hand by reusing the preserved building within the new facilities as a functionally independent building. This building is, however connected to the others on the ground level as well as on a higher level by means of an open-air bridge.
The new building is shaped on the side of Piraeus Street completing the city planning network and leaving passages to the inner open-air space. This space takes on the shape of an oversized, “not built” area, between the existing buildings due to the atrium layout of the back parts of the surrounding buildings. Moreover, at the back end of this site there is access to Moschato station. In this way a public passage is created from Piraeus Street to the center of Moschato.
Sofia Kondylia 