“Design Ark“ Workshop
2012
“Urban Container“
Participated in the team of visual artists and architects Urban Container, undertaking the study and design of a digital 2D/3D model, constructing the model (laser-cut), and creating a 3D animation.
Team: Dimitris Agathopoulos, Marianna Kaltsa, Konstantinos Moustakas, Nikos Fragiadakis
Navigating the city...
The modern built environment often appears inhospitable and impersonal towards pedestrians and cyclists, presenting numerous obstacles to their experiences in public spaces. Facilities that were once commonplace have now vanished, leaving these individuals struggling to find adequate amenities.
The primary issues identified include the scarcity of resting spots throughout the city, the presence of abandoned urban equipment, the encroachment of vehicles onto sidewalks and pedestrian paths, the lack of readily accessible drinking water, the absence of free Wi-Fi, inadequate facilities for receiving freely distributed printed material, and the disorderly parking of bicycles due to the lack of designated spaces. Overall, the public space appears degraded, offering a fragmented and disjointed array of services to citizens.
In response to these concerns, a need emerged for the creation of a functionally and aesthetically pleasing space that could accommodate, organize, and address some of the identified needs, serving as a hub for sustainability in public spaces.
The designated site for these facilities lies within the confines of a parking space measuring 2.00 x 5.00 meters. This location effectively extends the pedestrian movement area, merging it with the vehicle movement and parking zones, both conceptually and physically. It represents a provocative action against the vehicle-centric urban landscape, advocating for a more pedestrian-friendly and accessible city.
An urban box was designed, serving as a an ideal place for brief stops and providing essential services to facilitate the "survival" of pedestrians within the city. A partially open-air stop accessible to the public was developed. Externally, the boundaries defined by the parking space are strictly adhered to, embodying the orthogonal, hard geometry of the built environment. Within, the forms become more malleable and "soft," creating a space welcoming to pedestrians seeking respite. Curved surfaces transform into seating areas and standing or support spaces. The construction material remains uniform throughout, with wood suggested as the primary choice. The metal water supply facility and a schematic map of the site occupy a central position within the composition.
Workshop Info: https://designark.blogspot.com/
Following the workshop, an exhibition titled "6 proposals for alternative uses of parking spaces" was held at the Center for Architecture of the Municipality of Thessaloniki - Design Ark.
The exhibition was organized in conjunction with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Municipality of Thessaloniki as part of the city's 100th anniversary celebrations. The exhibition venue was the Foyer of the Centre of Architecture, and it ran from July 1st to 17th, 2012, with an extension until July 29th.
The exhibition showcased the proposals of six collaborative teams comprising visual artists and architects who had participated in the intensive Industrial Design workshop of the Department of Visual and Applied Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The workshop took place over two sessions, from February 20th to 24th, and March 2nd to 5th, 2012.
