Ecotourism centre - marine park facilities in island "Kelyfos"

Students : Theocharis Theodoulidis, Sofia Symeοnidou
Supervisor :  Nikolaos Tsinikas
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Presentation date : 21/02/2013

Accompanying text-Summary
The island "kelyfos" (Turtle) which took its name from the eccentric shape that from distance looks like a turtle, is an uninhabited island in Toroneos Gulf in Halkidiki. Kelyfos size covers about 700 acres and its height is 148 meters. The depths around the island are large, with a tie of 50 meters located 0.5 miles off the island.

The biggest part of the island is covered with trees and woodland. The rest of it is uniquely designed based on the following specific areas:

a) The diving centre at the foot of the island, based on the area which is called "Nichi" ("Claw")
b) The research and athletic centre
c) The residential area, based on the area which is called "RACHI", ("Stitch")
d) Water sports facilities, based on the area which is called "Kefalos", ("Head")

Moreover, the whole project includes the installation of a lighthouse, a camping area and the placement of mechanical facilities area (desalination facility, wind park, etc.) on the island.

The whole project has sustainable and environmentally friendly design.

Flora and fauna of the island has been a significant element of the research of the design. Great importance issue is the protection of the woodlands covering the entire island and the numerous seagulls flying over the area and lays their eggs. Moreover, an important factor of choosing the location of the diving center is the fact that the surrounding place of the island is an attraction for private divers and diving schools to visit and discover the rich and rare world beneath the seabed.

A specific study of the ecological attitude of the island taking advantage of the factors of geomorphologic features, the territory and the altitudes of the ground has inspired the architectural design. More specific, the design of the diving centre has been inspired by the morphology and the elevation of the altitudes. The building seems to emerge from the ground and the main feature gives a sense of prismatic forms and wedges. The overall landscape looks like a restructured architectural plan, wherein the complete meets the vacuity and vice versa.

Studying the design of the research and athletic centre, we meet an extravagant building, which is placed above the altitudes of the area. Two axes intersect violently, forming a shape of V. Each axis has a different use. There is an ad of a third axis, which is entering the water element in the architectural ensemble.

The residential area is fully designed appropriate to the landscape. The houses respect the environment and give the sense of objects which are existed in the landscape.

The creation of an ecotourism resort, as this study suggest, would allow for development of the wider region, while would be contributed to avoid uncontrolled intervention of the wholesale markets. In addition, it could be a place of attraction for the world's diving tourism and all those who want to discover the element of water and its trousers in the nature.