The power of nature has always been a mystery for mankind. Natural phenomena like earthquakes, tsunami and hurricanes affect the globe on a daily basis, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
The topic of the current diploma project is the design of a disaster prevention and education center in Athens, located at Tourkovounia. The central location, the altitude, the rock’s endurance to earthquakes and the unique morphology of Tourkovounia leaded to the selection of the particular area.
The center is situated on the highest spot of the hill and offers a panoramic view of the city. Basic point of the proposal was the architectural dialogue formed between the natural plateau and the gorge that existed in that particular area, both an outcome of the mining activity that lasted up to 1978.
The idea of the building is a dipole, both functional and morphological, between offices and exhibition area. The offices are underground, protected and more private, like a “bunker”. The exhibition area is a linear way tailoring over the gorge, which sews together the two opposite hills, (bridges link exhibition rooms that are carved inside the rock). This gesture intensifies the feeling of the gorge and highlights the whole intensity of the area’s morphology.
Offices, a media lab, a files room, the lobby, four exhibition rooms and a coffee-bar form the building program.
The corten bridges are the only visible part of the building from the outside that indicate its existence, as most spaces are underground. This preserves the mystery and roughness of the land intact. The main goal of this project was the architectural handling of natural elements such as light and shadow, flotation and gravity so as for the whole space to achieve and transmit the feeling of uncertainty during natural disaster and the power of nature over man.


CV