INFORMATION
location:
Ioannina, Greece
client:
Municipality of Ioannina City
year:
status:
competition entry
program:
public space
total area:
7.000m2
competition team:
Marina Kounavi
Irgen Salianji
Karolina Szóstkiewicz
Harris Vamvakas
Tatiana Zoumpoulaki
DESCRIPTION
The Urban Balcony
The proposal for the new Purros Square
in Ioannina suggests an open and accessible public space that creates a new
identity and captures the imaginary of the city. Acting as an ‘urban balcony’
overlooking the lake of Ioannina, the new square presents a unified and
flexible space for both everyday leisure time and large events to take place.
The open space of the square is subdivided in three main programmatic clusters:
The
Circle, a sunken and central circular space that involves the element of water,
symbolizing the lake and its effects to the culture of the city. The Circle
becomes a water mirror in spring, a foggy fountain in the summer, a hangout
space in autumn and a frozen skating surface in winter. It includes 9 large
water jets, 72 smaller water diffuser and more than 140 randomly placed spotlights
that simulate the stars in the sky
The
Urban Garden, a rectangular cluster of tall trees arrayed on a grid with
rotating chairs and wooden benches in between them. This area offers shade and
a playful green environment for small groups to hung out, while it retains
visual and physical connection to the Circle
The
Stripes Square in front of Café Oasis, an open space of monolithic benched
positioned playfully along an array of travertine stripes, it functions and a
generic relax space for users to sit individually or in groups under the sun.
The overall design refers back to the historic roots
of the square, highlighting the qualities of unity, continuity and
monumentality, while it corrects the recent design mistakes it received a
decade ago when the underground parking was constructed. The project can offer
Ioannina a modest landmark and a point of reference that blends elements from
its culture, landscape and urbanity.
