STUDENTS PROJECTS
PROJECTS2013
Students: Danae Avaraki, Aggeliki Dagka
Supervisors: Y. Tzirtzilakis, A. Psychoulis
University of Thessaly, Architecture Department
Presentation date: 2 December 2014
This thesis is based on our special research topic "Test Site Koyrsoymloy- the levels of lead" [2014], which refers to a particular area at the coastline of Rodhopi region, Thrace [peninsula Molivoti]. The research of our interaction with the landscape led us to the invention of an action transmitter, a protagonist. It was called Plasma and got indulged in a game with the matter of the place. Plasma is what we decided to proceed with in this project, developing a wider scale scenario.
In this case, Plasma is related to an organism that might have lived [or still lives] in the area - coastline of Rodhopi and Xanthi region. It reincarnates in Homo Plumbatus - simultaneously, an unofficial endemic species. Its existence and behavior constitute the most commercial myth of the area. We document and manage this myth.
The myth
For the last century there has been a conflict regarding the existence of a mysterious organism [unit or population] which is believed to live at the coastline of Rodhopi region.
Until today, there is no further scientific proof concerning this species, as nobody has ever achieve to capture one or study one's traces.
The hardest evidence in favor of the organism's existence are two photographs of the species, the first captured in 1935 and the second in 1989.
Apart from these pictures, a large number of descriptions from several eye-witnesses of Homo Plumbatus, each of them focusing on different scenarios regarding its appearance and behavior.
Having already examined the implementation of the concept Minority in the landscape during our previous project, we move oppositely. The kindness of the ecosystem is still not enough to classify it as a popular destination. The answer lies in the concept of Fantasy. The coherences are both, scientific and touristic.
A whole promotion campaign is created to establish the lakes and lagoons of Thrace as the ultimate chance to incarnate a mythic creature. Whoever attempts this incarnation, is now called Plasma. A whole culture is evolving into fashion, and vice versa - this fashion becomes the new culture of the area. Given that fashion is connected inextricably to imitation, Plasma grows to Rodhopi's new Brand Name.
To this purpose we successfully create a fashion lookbook which includes a series of 20 suits [10 for the summer collection, 10 for the winter collection].
These fashion pieces are used in various photoshootings all over the area of Rodhopi, presenting models as mythic creatures.
Available for plasma-fans are also products such as souvenirs, presents, energy drinks, vitamins etc, all characterized by an intense branding policy.
Even our proposal - ''Plasmatomania'' center [Vistonida lake] - aims at a deliberate imitation of other famous view spots.
A greedy Plasmatomania. By constant exaggeration we attempt to criticize commercialization, naderism, vacation, fashion - the modern man. We accept the human impact on nature, taking into account the anthropocene approach. Nevertheless, the subject of this research regards a non-human species, since we constantly question human being as the center of the world.
