Reutilisation of the building T.A.O.L. in Lefkada

Students : Zoumpou Ilianna, Trikatsoula Eleni
Supervisor : St. Stavridis
Advisor :V. Tsouras
National Technical University of Athens, School of architecture and engineering
Date of presentation: 4/11/2009

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

T.A.O.L. is located in Lefkada on the beach "Kastro" and it is the first wine factory of Greece.

The main principles of the design are: handling of the optical visions and natural lighting, introduction of new dynamic axes and the constant interchange of closed and open spaces and multiple levels, while taking into account the strong earthquakes of the region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

The subject of the project is the reutilization of the building T.A.O.L. which is the first wine factory of Greece. The building characterizes the island of Lefkada due to its historical significance and its strategic location, because it is placed at the entrance of the island.  Its function has recently stopped and it is not considered scheduled-building, so we have proposed its reutilization.

The building is located on the beach "Kastro". On the East there is an abandoned touristic pavilion, on the Southwest the lake and on the Southeast the castle of Saint Mavra. T.A.O.L. is an enclosed and self-referring building and it does not connect properly with its surroundings. Through the reading of its environment, dynamic axes were introduced in the landscape, which are strongly connected with the building and aim for the building's accession in its region.

After the analysis of the existing building, we concluded that the continuing damage of the building created a very impressive natural lighting in the interior. The light enters the building not only through the openings, but also through parts of the almost damaged roof. The glasses of the windows through the years obtained different qualities and this fact played a major role in the proposal of the facade system and generally in the handling of the light.

In order to keep the complex vivid throughout the year, cultural and recreational uses were proposed (International Folklore Festival and local Cultural Festival). Specifically, performance spaces are designed on the Northeast, exhibition spaces are designed in the interior of the cemented and metallic tanks, café on the ground-floor and finally bar on the upper floor.

In the comparing plan between the building as it is and the proposal, orange colour indicates its actual situation, while black indicates the proposal. From the building volume the preservation of the rectangular prism is proposed. New concrete walls penetrate the building and corrupt its strict geometry, while creating optical visions to the surroundings and connecting the existing building with the beach.  In the meanwhile these elements determine outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces and play a major functional role.  Additionally, the triangular space in the entrance of the complex welcomes the visitor and reminds him of the old entrance building. The metallic tanks play a major role in the character of the existing building so the preservation of them is proposed. Four of them are located in the performance space, while three of them are located on the beach.  

In the facades the existence of the multiples levels is observed, while the moving panels characterizing them lead to the continuing change of the building's façade as well as to the change of the light in its interior.

Due to the strong earthquakes occurring in the island, all new constructions proposed are consisted of an autonomous bearing system which is located in a distance of 5centemetres from the existing bearing system. First of all the lowest concrete slab of the cemented tank was 2.4m far from the concrete slab of the ground floor. In the perimeter a space of 30 cm is left. In the spot of the section a metallic conjunction is placed in the perimeter in order to intake the horizontal deformities during a probable earthquake. In the hole created and in a distance of 5 cm from the bearing body (pillars, beams) of the building the metallic construction (attic) is placed. All the side openings are created in the same way. Leaving a distance of 5 cm between the attic and the bearing organism of the building the percussion between them during an earthquake is avoided.