Cruise ship’s reuse

Student : Grigorios Grigoriadis
Supervisors : Kostis Paniyiris, Dimitris Philippitzis
University of Thessaly, Department of Architecture
Date : Volos, February 2012

Summary
The present diploma thesis explores the relationship between the city and the sea, so that the latter could contribute to the operation of the first. It is proposed an alternative construction which its aim will be to cover exceptional events of the city. Specifically, the proposal concerns the reuse and the reconstruction of an existing cruise ship to a fully equipped swimming center that is moved from a place to place to carry out large-scale events. Finally, an attempt is made to approach the shipbuilding, a specialty eminently active in studying structures moving in water in conjunction with the architectural aspects.

The purpose of creating the floating swimming center is the inability of most cities to host major sport events due to lack of the necessary infrastructure. In order to avoid construction investments for the necessary sports facilities - to be scrapped later (maintenance weakness - low population to support them, etc.) is given the opportunity in every coastal city, regardless of its size and capacity to become a pole of attraction for athletes and sportsmanship for some time, resulting in the promotion. The cruise is rented, travels, binds to ports in order to fulfill these goals.

The interventions were initiated under retention of essential morphological and functional elements of the cruise ship so as not to spoil its character. The major intervention is an open ramp that runs around the boat starting from the stern - an extension of the pier - and ends up on the bow of the vessel, the highest point in the former bridge and the current observation deck. The ramp other than main traffic medium, it is grouping functionally the vessel, separating the swimming center (reception, swimming pools, changing rooms, fitness, bars, retail) from the hotel which hosts the athletes, their support teams and the visitors. Finally, a procedure which takes advantage a feature field of the existing ship is the placements of the grandstands. Specifically, the slot on the side of the vessel where the lifeboats were kept turns into the stands, which open and close with a suitable mechanism. During the trip are kept closed, serving the buoyancy of the cruise ship and while the ship is in port, they open for the conduct of the game.