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Georgios Tsoukalas
Lavrion is a coastal town in the eastern part of Lavreotiki region. Located 60 km southeast of Athens, 74 km from Piraeus port and 7km south of cape Sounion.
The area owns its development to great deposits of valuable minerals such as silver, lead, arsenic, litharge, minio et cetera. The first indications of mining activity in the area can be traced back to 3600 B.C. with the greatest burst of mining activities placed during 6th and 5th century B.C.
The present town was developed as a company town by Roux Serpieri - Fressynet C.E. in 1865 based on contemporary neoclassical urban plans with a rectangular road grid, boulevards and groves. In order for the export capacity to be increased the natural port of Ergastiria was enlarged and a railway connection with Athens was established.
Being well connected and located in an a privileged position, Lavrion emerged as a significant industrial town attracting also textile and chemical industries.
As a result of the 1980’s deindustrialization, social and economical problems emerged. The shutting down of the railway connection, the gradual outdating of the port and the heavily contamination of the area caused the majority of the 9.000 headstrong population to become unemployed.
With the mapping research focused on the in depth analysis of the historic and topographic features contributing to the connectivity and the industrial development of the area, the strategy aims upon the reestablishment of the superlocal, national and international connection lines. The underlying goal is to restore Lavrion as the industrial hub it once was. The port and the railway dig, both prominent elements of the urban fabric of the city, are the main keys of unlocking that multilayered area.
Unabhängigkeit
Lavrion, Attica, GR
Georgios Tsoukalas
Unabhängigkeit,
F., >Fehlen einer Bin- dung<, Lüs. mlat. independentia, F., >Un- abhängigkeit<, 2. H. 18. Jh. (Kramer-Moer- beek 1768), zu unabhängig (2. H. 18. Jh.), zu un, abhängig (um 1750 übertragen ge- braucht, 1480 erstmals belegt), zu Abhang, ig, s. ab, Hang, vgl. Weiske 1839ff.
Freedom from outside control or support.
The present proposal addresses Lavrion as a significant node in mediterranean marine traffic network. The privileged location and the capability of the port, to be further expanded, were the two predominant conclusions drawn by the in-depth investigation and mapping of the area.
Re-drawing the regional plan of the area secured the connectivity of the port with the national and international transportation lines. Getting into smaller scale, the strategy envisions a connection between all the heterogenous elements forming Lavrion’s identity. Preserving and showcasing the remains of the past, while creating a dialogue with new forms inspired be preexisting functions, are the main techniques used to ensure that the strategy’s vision will be well communicated.
Lavrion remains a place with ever-present sense of historic continuity, but now gains its independence from the burden caused by its history, so prosperity can be ensured for a sixth consecutive millennium.
