Spatial Seams at the Edge

The project proposes the activation of the northern part of Karpathos through a network of existing and new hiking and maritime routes, forming a unified spatial narrative that transforms movement into an experience of reflection and discovery.

 

Surveying the Landscape

The study focuses on revealing and activating the northern part of Karpathos through a network of routes connecting four key locations: Avlona, Vroukounta, Tristomo and Saria. These individual sites form a cohesive spatial narrative, where movement is not merely a transition but a process of experiential understanding of the landscape.

A key element of the approach is the systematic observation and analysis of the site, leading to the creation of a “lexicon of the place.” This tool operates as a methodological foundation for the design process, enabling the interpretation of the landscape’s characteristics and their translation into architectural gestures. The interventions emerge as “spatial seams,” subtly integrated into the environment, emphasizing the transitional and fluid nature of the experience.

Architectural Interventions

The proposed interventions form a system of points that activate the landscape without altering its character. In Avlona, “The Threshing Floor” is organized as a square–amphitheater, inspired by the traditional form of the threshing floor, functioning as a gathering place and a starting point for routes. Beneath the ground, a rainwater collection reservoir is integrated, reinforcing the relationship between architecture and the productive landscape.

In Vroukounta, “The Trace” is shaped as a space for information and contemplation. The composition draws references from the carved monuments of the area, with a grid oriented toward the necropolis. Vertical cuts pierce the ground, allowing light to penetrate and create an intense spatial atmosphere, where information transforms into reflection on memory and mortality.

In Tristomo, “The Rift” is positioned opposite Saria, reinforcing the condition of transition toward the island. Through the gradual lowering of the existing path, a protected space is created, where walls and incisions shape a controlled interplay of light and shadow. At the end of the route, the framed view of Saria becomes the culmination of the experience.

Design Philosophy

The central aim of the proposal is the assimilation of the interventions into the landscape, enhancing the experience of the visitor while revealing the cultural richness of the area. The composition forms a narrative journey, where the visitor is invited to listen, learn and experience the place as a living entity.

Architecture does not impose itself but operates as a medium of revelation. Based on primordial forms and spatial principles, it translates the landscape into experience, where memory is activated through the sequence of spaces. It is a compositional approach in which the human presence recedes, allowing the place to speak, forming a journey through fragments of memory and physical presence.