group photo from Acronauplia, April 2024
Coastal Domains
University of Patras
Department of Architecture
4th & 5th year Architectural Design Option Studio
University of Patras
Department of Architecture
4th & 5th year Architectural Design Option Studio
Coastal Domains design research, launched in Spring 2016 at the University of Patras, Department of Architecture, focuses on the coastal territories of Greece and the northeastern Mediterranean. The approach encompasses a transdisciplinary spectrum and, through explorations, mappings, and assessments of geomorphological settings and respective anthropogenic interventions, aims to project a sustainable and resilient urban future for coastal landscapes.
Coastal Domains ArgoSaronic Sea design research employs a range of methods and references, including territorial planning and GIS, literature, history and ethnography, photography and painting, architectural and urban design precedents, and urban and landscape urbanism bibliography. During the Fall Semester of 2016-17, Coastal Domains ArgoSaronic Sea studio participants explored the diachronic transformations of Attica's coastal landscape through selected case studies from Eleusis to Sounion and Lavrion to Marathon. Human appropriations and patterns of development along the coast differ depending on geological characteristics, technology and infrastructures, socio-economic pressures, and cultural values at the time of appropriation.
The studio projects identify and record layered phenomena and stringent pressures caused by intense urbanization and sprawl, conflicting land uses, deindustrialization and tourism development, land-based and sea pollution, mainland and maritime transport infrastructure, and overexploitation of natural resources and agricultural lands. They speculate on developmental, socio-economic, and environmental challenges through architectural strategies. Participants work collaboratively on the compilation of the Attica Atlas, a cartographic, drawing, and media archive of the conditions and transformations of coastal contexts, and in turn, on the delineation of the respective Panoramas: the programmatic speculations and design projects.
A cooperation with TU Vienna and the studio of Professors F. Orso, P. Rajakovics, and A. Zöhrer was initiated during the Coastal Attica field trip and workshop on October 24-27, 2016, followed by a studio trip and joint workshop in Vienna between November 14-18, 2016.
During the Spring Semester of 2023-24, Coastal Domains Attica studio participants explore the coastal sectors and the marine area along the Argolic Sea peninsula. From the Anavalos Dam to Karathona Bay, the coastline of Argonauplia has, for centuries, been the birthplace of the ancient world and the homeland of demigods and heroes. It is a place of habitation and domination, fiction and representation, production and exploitation. Today, landscapes of tourist infrastructure, agricultural production, world cultural heritage, and protected areas on the edge of the Argolic Gulf are undergoing rapid transformations with new forms of occupation and production.
On the basis of intensive mapping and analysis, students will formulate a site-specific intervention strategy, which will then be developed into a design proposal. These proposals will synthesize a common vision—Atlas—for the coastal territory of Argonauplia.
During our field trip in April 2024, in collaboration with the Center for Hellenic Studies of Harvard University in Nafplion, the meetings with local institutions and experts, as well as tours on land and sea, aim at an in-depth understanding of the site and its challenges.
[July 2024]
Design Research Leader & Studio Instructor
Demetra Katsota, AADipl MArch(Harvard) RIBA
Professor of Architectural Design DoAUP
Regular Critics
C. Petrakos, Adjunct Lecturer, Dept. of Architecure University of Patras
I. Papailiakis, Visual Artist, Associate Professor, Dept. of Architecure University of Patras
Teaching Assistant & Platform Coordinator
Kostis Terzidis, Diploma Student, Dept. of Architecure University of Patras
Collaborators
F. Orso, Lecturer, TU Vienna
P. Rajakovics, Lecturer, TU Vienna
A. Zöhrer, Lecturer, TU Vienna
C. Giannopoulos, Managing Director, Harvard Centre for Hellenic Studies
Consultants
Ch. Antoniadis, Land Surveyor, Argolis Archaeological Ephorate
C. Stal, Professor, Dept. of Real Estate & Applied Geomatics, Ghent University College
C. Papaspyropoulos, Structural Geologist, Ministry of Environment & Energy; Adjunct Faculty, University of Athens
A. Stourna, Set Designer, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of the Peloponnese
Research Team
Marianna Antoniou
Manos Anyfantakes
Sevi Argyropoulou
Christina Athanasiou
Elina Akiozoglou
Maria Alexiou
Martha Bryone
Anna Biza (Teaching Asst.)
Constantinos Carvouniaris
Melina-Maria Daskalopoulou
Georgia Drakou
Nefeli Panagiota Drongiti
Zoe Gabriel
Christina Georgopoulou
Nikoletta Georgopoulou
Diogo Jorge
Michalis Karamichalis
Iro Karountzou
Michaela Koutsoudaki
Maripola Kouli
Iro Leventi
Georgia Machaira
Panagiota Maneta
Vassiliki Martin
George Mexis
Eleni Nikolaou
Foteini Papanikolaou
Mariantina Papadea
Orestes Papaioannou
Alice Papamichalopoulou
Petros Pitsiladis
Gabriela Ribeiro
Eleanna Roussou
Aikaterina Ritsoni
Elina Sakketou
Johann Schulz-Greve
Polymnia Scorda
Malamatenia Siaveli
Carine Smagulova
Theodore Tselepides
Georgios Tsoukalas
Alexandros Tsougkranis
Maria Tziora
Anastassia Tzobanaki
Danai-Natalia Xanthi
Athina Xenouli
Contact
katsota@upatras.gr