Landscaping the Surrounding Space of the Monumental Area of Eptapyrgio, Thessaloniki

Β2 Summary
The area is dominated by fragments: wall segments that continue throughout the city centre, parts of a continuous but often invisible spatial and historical network; dynamic elements that emerge now and then and converge towards Eptapyrgio. Around them sherds of urban tissue, products of anarchic building and historical circumstance. The austere prismatic geometry of the ancient fortifications rises on the natural curves of a humble hillock, defining loci and developing deep, long shadows that attract.

To these two connecting and organizing systems are added:

1. Hill walks: a circulation system that attaches itselft functionally to the lanscape, here determining transitions, there deflecting attention and at other places forming discrete reminders of boundaries and directions. Normally at a respectful distance from the monuments, this system dares to tangle with and transcend them at critical points.

2. Wall walks: a recognizable network of loci directly but discretely adjacent to the monuments allows visitors to approach the latter but also to shift attention and discover rare views and vistas of the city.

The design provides approach solutions for motorized traffic and pedestrian movement to the benefit of both the area itself and surrounding urban areas. Motorized traffic is concentrated in a one-way network, with its entrance from Venizelou street and its exit on Eptapyrgiou street. Pedestrians are encouraged to cross the area, following the hill walks system, so as to bypass the problematic pavements of Venizelou and Eptapyrgioy streets. This system also extends to the west allong the fortification remains, connecting the area to the archaeological walk of the city and revealing rare views.

The monuments form cohesive parts of the whole area, allowing direct access to the users through the two walks systems, which permit acess without danger to the monuments. Where possible monuments are stabilized and directly integrated to the area design. Those monuments that require more respectful treatment are accessible through the wall walks system, which brings visitors to them both from the canonical views and from unexpected sides, permitting overview and direct experiences. Within the coherent space of the design, most monuments are evident by virtue of their scale. The lighting of the area contributes to the presentation of the monuments: spotlights built into the ground illuminate and transform them into indirect light sources that do not blind or otherwise impede viewing or recreation.

The geometry of the design follows the principle of fragmentation by means of elements that both touch and penetrate: prismatic, often pointed forms (reminders of the fortifications as well as of the fortress history) form part of the lanscape without imposing on the monumental elements. Arranged in acute and obtuse arrangements they direct movement or allow for escape towards places of rest and view.

Vegetation in the design is geared towards defining a natural landscape that promotes the monumental elements. Through a thorough analysis of the existing character in the various parts of the area it arrives at a distinct approach in the spaces between the walls and (respectively) the surrounding urban tissue and the fortress.