Zipper Project

Students: Vassiliades Constantinos, Vollas Dimitrios, Kalatha Antonia
Supervisor: Giorgos Papakostas
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Faculty of Engineering - School of Architecture
Workshop: Architecture in exaggeration_ Places of information, recreation and desire
Date: February 2012

Accompanying text:
In Nea Paralia Thessalonikis, where Nature is in its most unstable form, as the limits of land and sea tend to become one, designing seems difficult and challenging as well. At the same time, the location, highly interesting and unique, looks like it is teetering between the solid past and the uncertain future, as if the land is trying to secede from the city and join the open horizon.

In such a transitional place, on a jetty, the siting of a new public place of urban leisure, information and desire was decided. A difficult task with high demands. Besides, how could such a fragile piece of land acquire a specific character and identity in order to become a recognizable landmark amongst the already existing iconography of the beach and the whole city, surpassing in influence other structures-monuments?

The answer to this difficult question was given by the «Zipper_Project». Through the identification and the soulful analysis of the area we observed that the linearity and the roughness which characterizes the waterfront of Thessaloniki make the water- land outlook demarcation even more intense. Therefore, we came to the conclusion that the residents, as well as the visitors to the region, may have the opportunity to walk along the water element, however, they are given no chance to interact with it. Furthermore, we noted that the various buildings sited all along the beach seem to ignore the pedestrians' movements; they veer the largest portion of their bulk towards the city and eventually create an intermediate space, particularly narrow and indifferent, which bars the dialogue between them and the public; forcing the visitor to pass them by quickly and in haste.

In our study, therefore, the redefinition of various boundaries is firstly suggested and secondly the usage of the above mentioned intermediate space as a key design element which would namely receive some basic function in order to make this particular structure a new incentive for the beach area. And it is these two elements that will ultimately create the conditions so that our work can serve as a linking element between sea, land and walker.

The design is based on some simple principles. The land is transformed into five oblong strips which are folded and recede in order to give a sense of natural terrain, and, starting from land, they extend, some more and others less, in the sea. The spaces between them allow the fission of the natural water-land boundary and operate as transitional sites, entrusted with the symbolism of the jetty which was substantially deconstructed. Finally, an open to the public glass passageway along the coastal path allows the perpetual and clear movement of people all through the day. This is indeed the factor which allows our main goal to be achieved, as the visitors' waterfront tour does not stop but goes on indoors, challenging them to explore the building and not just simply pass it by.

Simple and functional forms create a complex of spaces that house and host a wide range of activities appealing to every age, taste and style. Large glass surfaces and spot openings allow plenty of natural light penetration all over and give the impression of transparency, continuity and affiliation to the wholeness. The complete lack of colours, as well as any other type of affectation, emphasizes the overall design philosophy. The rationale simple and sincere; a project can be impressive and spectacular within its austerity.