INSIGHTS: HISTORICAL ENSEMBLES AND SITES: REDESIGN – REGENERATION

Knowledge Deepening / Consolidation

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

1.Upon successful completion of studies, students cultivate their sensitivity in recognizing and reading the historically shaped natural and anthropogenic environment and their interpretation and transformation in modern life 2.Become familiar with issues of analysis and evaluation of the of the historically structured space (natural and man-made) and perceive the complex field of interventions in shaped sites (natural and man-made) and perceive the complex field of interventions in a historical environment, especially in historic ensembles and sites, as well as the requirements and the complexity that distinguishes them. 3.Become familiar with issues of architectural and urban planning, setting goals and specifications and their performance in the historically structured space. 4.Become familiar with legislation issues that governs the protection, town planning and architectural organization of historical ensembles and sites. 5.They are involved in issues of integrating new architecture into historically formed complexes in urban or rural environments. These issues aim at restoring historical buildings and integrating new architecture into private and public spaces, integrating new uses, infrastructures, services, environmental planning and generally all the sectors that shape the modern living environment, aiming at, restoration, redesign or regeneration /revitalization of historic ensembles and sites.

The Studio course" HISTORIC ENSEMBLES AND SITES: REDESIGN - REGENERATION" aims to provide students with the ability for synthetical research and experimentation on issues related to interventions in historic ensembles and sites. The studio will be based on a highly complex program which will exploit the cognitive and synthetical experience from past Lab/ Studios and courses. This highly complex studio / lab is focused on issues of redesign / regeneration interventions in historic ensembles and sites, such as: 1. Historic city centers 2. Degraded areas of historical interest 3. Traditional settlements 4. Abandoned historical settlements in the countryside 5. Abandoned historical industrial complexes and sites The studio course includes many levels and scales of analysis and design. Urban planning, urban design, environmental design, restoration of historic buildings and complexes and integration of new architecture into historical complexes and sites. The goal of the studio course is to familiarize students with: The recent theory and with today's concerns associated with the integration of historic sites and ensembles into the contemporary context, and with a critical approach to the cultural tradition, its interpretation in other words, as this tradition is recorded in the cultural heritage, the architectural ensembles and its components. It seeks to give them skills for programming and design new interventions for a sensitive sector of increased demands and complexity while familiarizing them with the multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach to the historical architectural and natural reserve. It also seeks to familiarize students with the handling of new architectural creation in dialogue with the historically shaped place at all levels of design. The studio course is of increased complexity and of demanding synthetical skills , aiming to familiarize the students with the very decisive role of the architect: that of redesigning and managing the historic environment, embodied in historical ensembles and sites, as a very important part of today's architectural creation. The studio topics will include complexes and sites of historic interest, such as: Historic city centers, degraded urban areas of historical interest, traditional settlements, abandoned historic villages in the countryside, abandoned historical industrial complexes and sites, etc. The project shall take into account the udated scientific methods of analysis, documentation, evaluation and management of historic complexes and sites and will be based on an interdisciplinary approach, deals with the architectural, urban and environmental planning and design in existing historical sites, aiming at their redevelopment, reuse and redesign and their integration into the contemporary spatial context and modern life. Provided interim presentations of students in all the members of the workshop, both during the process of documentation study of the historic site, as well as during the synthetic process of architectural interventions. Also in the context of our studio course the students’ sensitivity is cultivated in relation to architectural values of the past and also the ability of interpretating values and standards for creating an effective interactive relationship of the new urban and architectural intervantions, with historic landscape and man-made context and surroundings. The studio course consists of two stages: The analysis and understanding of the historical site through specific methodological tools and the redesign /regeneration project. The theoretical framework of the studio course is: The international and national institutional framework for protection and regeneration / redesign and restoration of historic ensembles and sites / new theoretical approaches and concerns. The presentation of applied examples of interventions in historic sites through interdisciplinary approaches. The presentation of management, redesign, and regeneration approaches of areas of historic interest at international and national level. Presentation of issues concerning the identification and redesign of the environmental parameters that govern the historical ensembles. Studio course development The course includes two modules: 1. Lectures - Presentations, which are included in the textbooks and in the teaching notes and other informative material, distributed to the students at the beginning of the semester 2. Synthetic exercise on the redesign/ regeneration/restoration/reuse of a historic settlement. Throughout the course, will be used the methodology and the experiences gained during the introductory course of the 4th semester 04E10 "Introduction to Restoration of Historic Buildings", as well as the 7th Semester 07EΒ10 "Design in a Historical Environment". The studio course is in 2 stages. The first stage involving field work is aimed at understanding and analyzing the historical set and is being prepared by groups of 5 students. Within the 5-member group there is individual responsibility for analyzing and processing the analysis data. This first phase of the workshop lasts for 5 weeks. The results of this first stage are then presented to all students and teachers. Then follows the 2nd stage of the workshop that lasts 9 weeks and when basically the restoration / redesign / regeneration project for this historical site is being prepared. The implementation of the workshop requires the movement of the students in the selected historic settlements and field work as part of the educational process. An educational trip is planned. During and at the end of the six-month course, the individual groups present their work, which is commented on and evaluated. With the comments of the members of the teaching group and with the interventions of their colleagues, they supplement or modify their proposals and, at the end of the examination period, deliver their work papers.

Historic ensembles, historical sites, regeneration, revitalization, restoration, redesign, rehabilitation

11-01-2025