time tissue – Square Eleytherias – Shortisted

  • Year2013
  • LocationThessaloniki, Greece
  • CategoryPublic landscape
  • Surface11.400m2
  • Prize: Project shortlisted (Place 12 / 131)
  • Extra prizes: International Award - Category of non implemented Projects - 6th International Landscape Architecture Exhibition (Belgrade – Serbia)
  • Competition: Architectural Design Competition for the Redesign of Eleytherias Square in Thessaloniki
  • Client: Municipality of Thessaloniki
  • Firm: topio7
  • Authors: Katerina Andritsou - Panita Karamanea - Thanasis Polyzoidis architects-landscape architects
  • Collaborators: E/M Engineering: PANOSKAMPOUKOS.GREATESPACE. Architectural Lighting Design: Eric David Photomontages: Marintina Kardarakou - Xenia Papantriantafylloy – Thanasis Polyzoidis Cost estimate consulter: Gougas Associates

The site has special importance for the city’s collective memory because various historical events happened there. The intervention aims to create a contemporaneous public space that maintains the site’s genius loci, has spatial cohesion and has a strong ecological aspect.

The concepts of Memory, Time as unifying tissue of historical levels and Urbanity are considered as the main inspiration that gives birth to a new square for urban events. In the center, a void space for gatherings is formed while shaded areas and gardens are located in the site’s borders where the “sculptural” filter of Platanus trees remains as the protagonist. A sculptural wall and trench are proposed as an anti-monument for the world’s victims and a canopy for ephemeral uses.