Redevelopment of the New Waterfront in Thessaloniki, Greece by nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Article source: nikiforidis-cuomo architects

In 2000, the Municipality of Thessaloniki launched an International Architectural Competition for the redevelopment of the New Waterfront and in 2006 the construction of the 1st prize begun. The first part (around 75800m2) was completed in 2008 and the second part (around 163000m2) started in 2011 and was completed in 2014. The total length of the New Waterfront is 3km. There are 2.353 new trees, 118.432 new plants, 58,75 acres of green spaces and 11.557m2 of playgrounds.

The waterfront with the sculpture of G.Zoggolopoulos, Image Courtesy © Prodromos Nikiforidis

• Architects: nikiforidis-cuomo architects
• Project: Redevelopment of the New Waterfront
• Location: Thessaloniki, Greece
• Photography: Bernard Cuomo, Prodromos Nikiforidis, Ionnis Kaktsis.
• Software used: AutoCad
• Date of completion: 2014
• Developer: Municipality ofThessaloniki
• Area: 238.800 m2
• Special collaborators: P. Tarani, E. Karioti
• Collaborators: I. Dova, E. Zografou, N. Karakosta, N. Biskos, S. Nikolakaki, D. Pavlopoulou, G. Skiadopoulos, F. Valsami, E. Konstantara
• Acoustic consultant (for the competition): N. Barkas
• SUPERVISION OF THE STUDIES: K. Belibasakis, M. Zourna, K. Bletsa, E. Fountoulidou, S. Laftsidou, D. Katirtzoglou, D. Sotiriadis
• SUPERVISION OF THE CONSTRUCTION: A. Spiliopoulos, D. Tzioras, N. Mourouzidis, I. Karagianni, S. Paraskeva

The wooden platform, Image Courtesy © Prodromos Nikiforidis

The New Waterfront of Thessaloniki is a linear place with relatively limited depth and big length, a fact that gives it the characteristics of a “front”, of a thin layer, inserted on the difficult and challenging limit between land and sea, between natural and constructed landscape. The sea background of the gulf of Thessaloniki, constitutes an amazing scenery, where the ephemeral and mutable elements, create a different atmosphere each time.

For the waterfront of the New Waterfront, we distinguished two major characteristic areas, which set the principles for the basic choices of the proposal.

The linear walk in the waterfront, Image Courtesy © Prodromos Nikiforidis

The breakwater: an ideal place for walking, without interruptions, without distractions. The “walker” is exposed to the light, to the open perspective, and has a continuous walk on the charming limit between two opposites: the stability of the massive breakwater – the instability and lucidity of the liquid element.

The garden of the sculpture, Image Courtesy © Bernard Cuomo

The green spaces: at the inner side of the coast, 13 green spaces were formed, as a succession of “green rooms – gardens”, each with a special thematic characteristic. The choice of this term, rooms – gardens, describes the intentions: it is about a sequence of spaces that attempt to maintain the familiar atmosphere of the private, while forming the public space. It’s not about big “parks”, but “rooms” of small size that remind of the domestic gardens that existed in the area and used to reach the natural seashore, before the landfill of the coast.

The garden of the seasons, Image Courtesy © Bernard Cuomo

The names of the gardens are successively: the Garden of Alexander, the Garden of Afternoon Sun, the Garden of Sand, the Garden of Shadow, the Garden of Seasons, the Garden of Odysseas Fokas, the Garden of Mediterranean, the Garden of the Sculptors, the Garden of Sound, the Garden of Roses, the Garden of Memory, the Garden of Water, the Garden of Music.

Detail of the quay, Image Courtesy © Bernard Cuomo

The sculpture of G.Zoggolopoulos and the wooden platform, Image Courtesy © Prodromos Nikiforidis

Walk along the waterfront, Image Courtesy © Bernard Cuomo

The New Coast with the Mount of Olympus in the background, Image Courtesy © Bernard Cuomo

Air photo of the project area, Image Courtesy © Bernard Cuomo

Plan of the garden of Alexander, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Plan of the garden of sand, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Plan of the garden of the seasons, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Plan of the garden of Mediterranean, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Plan of the garden of sound, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Plan of the garden of memory, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Plan of the garden of music, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Section of the garden of sculpture, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Section of the garden of the afternoon sun, Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Site plan ,Image Courtesy © nikiforidis-cuomo architects

Tags: Greece, Thessaloniki

Categories: Autocad, Landscape, public spaces

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