CHRISTINA CARYDIS M-ARCH THESIS

175 Pages·2009·13.98 MB·English

Polis and Chora
Recalibrating Natural and Urban Harmony in Porto Rafti
by
Christina Carydis
A thesis
presented to the University of Waterloo
in fulfillment of the
thesis requirement for the degree of
Master of Architecture

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2009
© Christina Carydis 2009
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This
is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revi-
sions, as accepted by my examiners.
I understand that my thesis may be made electronically
available to the public.
ii
ABSTRACT
The landscape of Attica in Greece suffers rapidly progressing urban
sprawl in a culture of over privatization. In the absence of proper
legislation, corruption and poor implementation of existing laws, the
consequences of allowing unplanned settlements to emerge unhin-
dered in Athens and its periphery are now palpable and irreversible.
This thesis illustrates that the continuous fragmentation of the ground
plane into easily consumable land for private development does not
bring about social progress, as is advocated by its proponents. The
unregulated contemporary consumptive way of life essentially leads
directly to the collapse of civil society through the silencing of the
public voice in the propagation of settlements devoid of both natu-
ral and urban public space. Consumption of natural resources at an
unsustainable rate pollutes and destroys the delicate ecological bal-
ance, generating a situation of crisis which simply feeds the cycle
of urbanization.
This thesis presents a critical examination of the unique conditions
affecting the development of Athens and its periphery, and the result-
ing ecological and social pressures in order to establish a case for
a socially and environmentally sustainable urban intensification and
the creation of vital public spaces. A paradigmatic vision is present-
ed for the rapidly developing ecologically sensitive coastal town of
Porto Rafti, based on restoring a harmonious coexistence of natural
and urban realms.
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Supervisor: Robert Jan Van Pelt
Advisors: Rick Haldenby, Val Rynnimeri
Thank you Robert Jan Van Pelt for your guidance and
constant encouragement. Thank you Rick Haldenby and Val
Rynnimeri for your support and insight.
To those who graciously offered their assistance and in-
sight during my research in Greece, Eleni Petouri, Yiorgos
Tzirtzilakis, and Stamatis Methenitis, your contributions
have been most useful and appreciated.
To Amanda Reed, Michelle Van Eyk, James Swain, Pooya
Baktash, Taymoore Balbaa, thank you for your insight,
inspiration and support.
To my family, thank you for all of your love, support and
encouragement.
Vasilis Tsirozidis, thank you for everything. I could not have
done this without you.
iv
DEDICATION
To my parents, Phoebus and Vassiliki for sacrificing so much
so that I may get to know it,
To Alexis, Sandy and Demetra, with whom I had the fortune
of enjoying it,
and

To Vasili, who helps me appreciate its complexities.
thank you
v
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ix List of Illustrations
xix Preface SUMMER
001 Introduction
005 Methodology, Resources and Thesis Structure
015 Chapter 1 BIRTH OF THE METROPOLIS
043 Chapter 2 PORTO RAFTI
067 Chapter 3 LIKE FROGS AROUND A POND
103 Chapter 4 HARMONY
135 Conclusion
140 Looking Forward

145 End Notes
151 Bibliography
vii
viii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
xviii 0.1 Dinner time in Porto Rafti 22 1.10 Ruins of the stelai in ancient Athens agora
family photographic archive, August 1988 source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A
16 1.1 Athens agora and Acropolis Cultural and Architectural History, p.73
photograph by author, September 2007 22 1.11 Bust of Solon
18 1.2 Greece’s location in the Mediterranean source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon
drawn by author, source: Google earth 2008 22 1.12 Theseus slaying the Minotaur
18 1.3 Colonies of ancient Greece source: http://www.explorecrete.com/history/labyrinth-myth.
drawn by author, source: Royal Ontario Museum, Ancient htm
Greece exhibit. 23 1.13 Athenian ostraca
19 1.4 Sketch of Athens in context with its landscape source: http://traumwerk.stanford.edu:3455/
by Le Corbusier, source: Karin Skousbøll, Greek Architecture Archaeopaedia/166
Now, p. 35 23 1.14 Kleroterion
19 1.5 Phaistos Palace, Crete by: Matthew Gast, source: http://blog.matthewgast.
source: http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/gaddis/HST210/ com/2008/04/27/athens-part-5/
Sept23/Default.htm 24 1.15 Ancient Greek Herms or Horoi
20 1.6 Theatre at Delphi source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A
source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History, p.73
Cultural and Architectural History, p.65 24 1.16 Property boundary walls in Mykonos
21 1.7 Plan of Ancient Miletus by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements
source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A of Self Knowledge, p.51
Cultural and Architectural History, p.69 24 1.17 Property boundary walls in Mykonos
21 1.8 School of Athens by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements
by Raphael, source: http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z- of Self Knowledge, p.50
Patrons/MV_Patrons_04_01.html 25 1.18 Diagram of Axis Mundi
22 1.9 Reconstruction drawing of the stelai in ancient agora source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A
source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History, p.28
Cultural and Architectural History, p.73
ix
26 1.19 Pericles attacked by Cleon 30 1.32 The great fire of Smyrna
by Philipp von Foltz, source: http://historievg2.cap source: http://forums.ec.europa.eu/debateeurope/viewtopic.
pelendamm.no/c187043/sammendrag/vis.html?tid=189867 php?t=3976&sid=123b6c9e1bd7d79ed0651614d50041f2
27 1.20 The Secret School 30 1.33 Greek slave labour trains
by: Nikolaos Gyzis, source: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/ source: http://www.pontian.info/genocide_info/GENOCIDE_
Cafe/1867/ngyzis.htm TRAIN.jpg
27 1.21 The Siege of Constantinople 30 1.34 Boarding boats to escape at Smyrna quay
by: unknown artist, source: http://www.greece.org/Romosini/ source: http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/horton/
fall.html smyrn3.jpg
28 1.22 The Bishop of Old Patras Germanos Blesses the Flag of 30 1.35 Sinking boat at Smyrna quay
the Greek War of Independence source: http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/horton/
by: Theodoros Vryzakis, source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ smyrni.jpg
Theodoros_Vryzakis 31 1.36 Greek refugee settlement map
28 1.23 Georgios Karaiskakis on Horseback Rushes to Acropolis source: Richard Clogg, A Short History of Modern
by: Georgios Margaritis, source: http://www.eikastikon.gr/ Greece, p.105
zografiki/margaritis_en.html 32 1.37 Population exchange and family migration routes map
28 1.24 Prince Otto of Wittlesbach of Bavaria drawn by author
source: Stamatis D. Methenitis, Markopoulo of Mesogeia: 33 1.38 Refugee apartment blocks
Journey Through the Ages, p.203 source: Karin Skousbøll, Greek Architecture Now, p. 44
29 1.25 Map of Great Greece: Treaty of Sèvres Land gains 33 1.39 Refugee quarters in Piraeus
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megali_Idea by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements
29 1.26 Eleftherios Venizelos of Self Knowledge, p.127
source: http://www.venizelos-foundation.gr/lefkoma 33 1.40 Refugee quarters in Michalakopoulou
29 1.27 David Lloyd George source: Georgiou M. Sarigianni, Athina 1830-2000, p.159
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lloyd_George 33 1.41 Refugee quarters in Anaphiotika
30 1.28 Pontian Greek death march by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements
source: http://www.greek-genocide.org/multimedia/photo/g_1. of Self Knowledge, p.116
html 33 1.42 Refugee quarters in Kaisariani
30 1.29 Constantinople Porgrom by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements
source: http://www.byzantinos.com/Photos_Pogrom_1955/ of Self Knowledge, p.119
img_1_Turkish%20mob%20and%20soldiers/1-cons-turk- 33 1.43 Refugee quarters in Kokkinia
mob-destr4.html by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements
30 1.30 Greeks tortured and killed of Self Knowledge, p.125
source: http://www.greek-genocide.org/multimedia/photo/ 34 1.44 View of Athens and Piraeus from Kipseli
g_1.html photograph by author, September 2007
30 1.31 Christian leaders hung 34 1.45 View of Athens from Hymettus mountain
source: http://forums.ec.europa.eu/debateeurope/viewtopic. source: http://www.igogreece.com/apFiles/Photos
php?t=3976&sid=123b6c9e1bd7d79ed0651614d50041f2 moPhoto 451-Athens_from_lecabetus_.jpg
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