taking the urban design principles of giambattista nolli as its point of reference, the papalampropoulos syriopoulou architecture bureau has shared its concept for the transformation of the former municipal cemetery of nikaia in athens, greece. the large impact area of the site directed the proposal towards a strategy based around the function of events in the public sphere. 

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
the impact area of the site directed the design towards a strategy based on the function of events in the public sphere

 

 

the concept’s main objective was the creation of a new typology within the space capable of hosting non-predicited and spontaneous events by the citizens themselves. this interaction would turn the intervention site from a regional park into an active public space for the wider area of nikaia. winning third place in the architecture competition that called for the redesign, the concept borrows heavily from the theories of italian architect and surveyor giambattista nolli. nolli formulated a method of perceiving a city’s structure through the analogy of mass and void — public and private — introducing a strategy of exploiting empty space in urban design. nolli saw the city represented as an extensive mass that is then carved out to create interior space. these built areas are represented with black on the map, while white areas signify fields of possible events in the public sphere. 

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
the proposal’s main objective was the creation of a new typology within the space

 

 

the papalampropoulos syriopoulou architecture bureau takes this idea and applies it to the vegetation surrounding the main park. ‘in our case, the core of the park is formed as an empty space of possible events which is defined by the dense surrounding planting of the park’, explains the studio. ‘the existing vegetation is enriched, creating a forest around the main field, while a clearing-square is created along the site: the central public space of the design.’ the relationship between ‘urban space’ and the dense vegetation of the park is consolidated through the bureau’s proposed creation of green ‘portals’ — man-made corridors through the greenery that provide a gradual transition between nikaia and the park proper. 

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
the concept borrows heavily from the theories of italian architect and surveyor giambattista nolli

 

 

the main square highlights the axis of the former cemetery and provides space for both fixed and temporary functions. a church, café and cinema-theatre are all proposed as permanent additions to the site, while temporary functions such as concerts, sporting events, theme parks, festivals and markets can also be accommodated. the ‘green mass’ surrounding the clearing hosts an artificial lake, rest points, basketball court, playground, open air gym and dog park, as well as a memorial and museum of immigration and a recycling point. 

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
the relation between ‘urban space’ and vegetation is consolidated through the bureau’s creation of green ‘portals’

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
man-made corridors through the vegetation provide a gradual transition between nikaia and the park proper

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
the main square highlights the axis of the former cemetery and provides space for both fixed and temporary functions

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
concept diagram

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
general layout plan

papalampropoulos syriopoulou imagines former greek cemetery as public event space
event space

 

project info:

 

competition: redesign of the former municipal cemetery of nikaia
status: architectural competition/ 3rd prize / municipality of nikaia-rentis
year: 2016
location: ptolemaida, greece
architects: leonidas papalampropoulos, georgia syriopoulou
studio: papalampropoulos syriopoulou architecture bureau

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: peter corboy | designboom