Anna-Marietta Gioni, "French Wharf Park in Lavrio", Diploma Work, School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece, 2023
https://doi.org/10.26233/heallink.tuc.97566
As a follow-up to my research thesis, this diploma thesis is about the revitalization of the central coastal front of the port of Lavrio, which is under construction and functions as a marina for fishing and sailing vessels. In the last 30 years, there has been a wide urban void in this area, which was created by the closure of the industries that operated in the area: Lavrion Spinning Mills S.A. and the French Mining Company of Lavreotiki. The existence of a vast empty space without any use in the busiest part of the city led to the birth of the idea of stitching together the fragmented green spaces and the existing industrial shells, which consist of the building complex of Lavrion Spinning Mills S.A., the Warehouses and the French Wharf of CFML. Observing the existing situation and the kinesiology of the citizens of the city of Lavrio, the intention of this research is the creation of an urban park, so as to return the public space to the citizen. The existing industrial shells are reused with the foundation of a School of Music and Performing Arts in the area of the Spinning Mills. At the same time, in the area of the former Warehouses of CFML, an urban greenhouse is designed to give shelter to a botanical garden as a place of peace. Regarding the transport network, a proposal has been given for the study area to have pedestrian and cycle paths, while parking spaces have been provided for visitors in the vicinity. The urban park combined with the pedestrian paths connect the city center with the coastal front by embracing it. At the same time, they create places of rest supporting the mental health of the citizen and reinforcing his need for coexistence with nature, emphasizing the element of greenery and that of water. The aim of this diploma thesis is to operate as a reminder that, as Henri Lefebvre argued, the right to reshape ourselves through changes in the city is one of the most important and neglected human rights.