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Artificial earth | Ioannina, Greece

This project was selected to participate in the International exhibition of University Projects in the Schools of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, 5th European Biennial of Landscape Architecture, Barcelona, (Honorable Mention for the Amics d’UPC Award), 2008.

The plot is found in the lakeside region of Ioannina, in the western side of the city and a small distance from its centre. The lake constitutes an element of vital importance around which the largest part of the resident’s public life is organized. An issue that was intensively tackled was the conjunction of the landscape and the outer shell. We saw the earth surface as an essential syntactic element. The goal was to design a form able to create exciting spaces.

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The border of the lake and the street, led us to design lines that follow the outline of the coast. The existence of the biotope prompted us to allow the nature to infiltrate the region of study. We sought to intertwine the flows of visitors with the green creating spaces of minor congregation. Decks of resting, walkways and spaces of recreation are set out harmonically and turn towards the serenity of the lake. The passable terraces of the construction create a continuation with the ground level allowing gazing at all directions. We seek the distribution of visitors along the whole length of the park which is achieved through a network of fascinating routes.

These routes which are in three layers are connected optically offering the visitor multiple spatial experiences. The access to the lower level of the park is obtained with a smooth ramp that forms a crack in the continuity of the shell. Through this the visitor can go to the skate park and to a room of alternative recreation, technology and information. A recess in the shell-terrain directs bicyclists to a fascinating route that crosses through the lower level, beside large sculptural columns that support the construction above and compose an unusual and lunar landscape. Indefinite surfaces compose a space of amusement and play.

Our intention was to create a ground-building that would give the impression that it is born from the earth. Elements of the construction are mixed with the natural ground as it unfolds and assumes them. The shell seems to become inflated, torn and to define walkways and spaces.

Project: Artificial earth | park on the lakeside of Ioannina. Location: Ioannina, Greece Design date: 2007 Design team: Xaris Tsitsikas, Dimos Moysiadis

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