“Student Housing in Mitilini”

Students : Papageorgiou Eleni, Papathanasiou Georgia, Tedoma-Zervou Vithleem
Supervisor : Tasis Papaioannou
National Technical University of Athens, Department of Architecture
Presentation date : 1 April 2011

The diploma project concerns the creation of student housing at the vicinity of Sourada, in Mitilini. Mitilini is the capital of Lesvos, where the University of the Aegean is based. A motivation for this project was the fact that the University lacks of student housing infrastructure. The main concept is the creation of a system of two complexes of housing in two plots. The central plot constitutes the main public space.

Two complexes of housing and a central restaurant constitute the proposal student housing. The traditional building of the central plot is an important part of the main concept. This building and the outside area collects the student housing resource, and simultaneously collects people from the neighborhood since it refers also to the public. The central plot is the heart of the synthesis (Α) and we exploit the different qualities that outdoor space offers, like sitting areas, views, green elements, processions, materials. Considering the site of the two others plots (Β1 and Β2), our intention is the gathering of students in the central plot in order to create a unit    (Α, Β1, Β2). The subsets Β1 and Β2 refer to Α, converse with it and with each other. The dialogue of the two subsets with the central plot is accomplished by creating two powerful boundary lines - axis in the margins   of each plot. The linear axis enhances the element of the wall, the outdoor corridor and the united roof. Beside the axis are the units of the houses. These three elements constitute elements of collectivity and reinforce the concept of a strong boundary. An introvert synthesis with heart the reference point -benchmark the A is the main concept of the project. The dialogue of the two subsets   is achieved by the creation of a smoothest boundary in the internal side of each plot. The housing units that create this internal boundary arise from the principal axis.