Venetian Arsnals of Chania

Postgraduate student: Michalis Zotos
Supervisor: Giannis Kizis
Contributor: Ivi Eulogimenou
National Technical University of Athens, Postgraduate Program: Protection of Monuments
Date : December 2011

The 7 shipyards in the Venetian port of Xania were part of a larger complex that included 16 docks and the Grand Arsenal. The shipyards' construction began in early 16th century to meet the needs of the Venetian fleet. The Arsenals are elongated domed structures with the longitudinal axis facing the sea. They were open to the sea side in their original form, so that the ships can get in. The internal communication of Arsenal is made through arched openings in the walls. The complex was completed in early 17th century and since then it has held a number of modifications, deposed and crashes that have determined its form. The most important changes include

- Collapse of 9 shipyards and constructing the building of the Customs and 2 squares in their place
- Creation of the harbor pier that cut off the docks by the sea
-Demolition of the central portal at road Daskalogianni
- Construction of walls on the north side
- Change in the level of the floor slab
- Construction of barracks in touch with the East wall of the Complex
- Construction of new walls within the complex that block some of the arched openings
- Collapse of domes in the fourth and fifth Arsenal

Today the shipyards are used as warehouses and workshops of Chania Municipality and they suffer from pathological problems because of the continuing neglect. The main problems are:

- Separation of the southern lateral walls of the longitudinal and vaults
- Uplink and downlink moisture in large portions of the walls and domes.
- Deterioration of the monument's image because of the additional constructions
- The collapse of some cornices

The proposed rehabilitation and reuse will have two objectives. Firstly, the main concern will be to restore the shell, to solve static problems, to remove the later additions which alter the picture of the monument and to emerge the various historical phases that are important for the monument. Secondly, the intervention will focus on highlighting the monument through new uses such as the Museum of Fisheries, new construction and landscaping. In summary, the main propositions are:

- Cut parts of the north pier so as water get into the docks.
- Redesign of squares Katehaki and Customs.
- Demolition of the new walls.
- Reconstruction of the central portal.
- New constructions to host restaurant, library, the amphitheater as well as the offices of this museum