A memo to visitors of this web page


This page is a reference to a past workshop.
If you were directed here by keywords such as vernacular architecture, Santorini, or seminar, then you might find the following links interesting:

- a 2006 conference paper about 'The Four Elements of Santorini Architecture'
  [text version with a few illustrations, or PowerPoint slides with photos]

- diaries of two similar seminars, in 2004 & 2005

- a proposal for future events on a regular basis.

The author of these would be happy to answer any queries by e-mail.
diary a brief diary
review 
snapshots snapshots
before the event before the event
the blue volcano An architectural introduction to Santorini
climatic data Santorini climatic data
E&ESP veterans
list participants list
contact send e-mail
 
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 Page edited with FrontPage 2000 by TNS for 1024x768 24bit colour display
 Latest update 15.05.01
summary

The Architectural Association Environment, Energy & Sustainable Design Programme held a seminar on the environmental aspects of Santorini vernacular architecture.

The seminar took place in the village of Oia in Santorini between 26/4-2/5/01, with support by the National Technical University of Athens Department of Architecture.

The aim of the event was to highlight the dialectic between nature & the local architecture through lectures, discussions, special site visits, and above all by direct observation.

The seminar was mainly addressed to AA-EESDP graduate students, with a limited attendance by NTUA students.

This page features an account of the event; the old seminar page -with travel tips, maps, brief etc.- is here.

 

 THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF SANTORINI ARCHITECTURE

 
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diary

  
Thu. 26/4   Arrival in Oia [due to the general strike only 6 participants made it to Oia]
Fri. 27/4 Arrival in Oia [several groups arriving all day & night -an organizer's nervous test...]
18:00 'Welcome to Oia'  [introduction by TNS]
18:30 Walk towards Goulas Castle [sunset at 19:55, then steps down to Ammoudi]
21:00 Dinner at 'Kyma' on the dock of Ammoudi [followed by drinks & salsa sounds at "the butcher's" till 3am]
Sat. 28/4 11:00 Bus Oia-Merovigli, then walk to Fira [magnificent sunshine & spectacular view; followed by a brief visit to the Prehistoric Museum of Fira]
  13:00 Bus Fira-Akrotiri to Kouvela's house [impressive design; clever wind breakers plus other features -"an antidote to neo-vernacular kitsch"]
  15:00 Lunch on the beach ['fresh fish vs. time' dilemma]
  17:00 Bus back to Oia  
  18:00 Walk to KyrManolis's old cafe [a live monument of Oia in the '80s]
  21:00 Dinner at 'Skala'  [followed by drinks & salsa sounds at "the butcher's" till 3am]
Sun. 29/4 11:00 AA student dissertations presentation [a day in a cave, using the floor as a display surface]
21:00 Dinner at 'Thomas'  [grill smoke & fortune telling through coffee cups, followed by etc. etc. till 4am]
Mon. 30/4 11:00 Bus to Akrotiri archaeological site [dull weather]
  12:00 Excavations visit  [walk through a 3,500 yr. old settlement destroyed by the Big Bang of Thera volcano]
    The new shelter of the excavation site [introduction by the designer, Nikos Findikakis]
    Fish lunch on the beach [a wind endurance test for those who didn't opt for the glazed verandah]
  17:00 Bus back to Oia  
  21:00 Dinner at 'Thomas' & 'Skala'  [followed by etc. etc. till 4am]
Tue. 1/5 11:00

Walk to eastern Oia, then back to captains neighborhood

[boat trip to the volcano cancelled due to rough sea; north wind force 9 blocks all ships at port]
18:00 'Architectural safari' display [by AA students only, on the verandah, with raki & wine, overlooking the sea; followed by diplomas & Alejandro's steel drum band at dusk]
21:00 Dinner at 'Thomas' [followed by party at "the butcher's" till 6am!!!]
Wed. 2/5   Exodus day [flights are normal, but no ferries available due to rough seas; fear of getting stuck in Santorini forces most of the group to depart prematurely on the first available ferry after the lifting of the 'No Sail' official notice -a repetition of the mass flee before the Big Bang?]
 

 
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review  The Oia 2001 seminar has been a success and a failure too: 
The group had a chance to experience the grandiose feeling instigated by the volcanic lagoon, to witness the architectural environment, to visit certain local attractions, all that blended with a dose of holidays. Santorini presents an informative architectural paradigm to observant eyes & minds and this time was no exception.
On the other hand, time was too short for a thorough study of the messages embodied in the architectural past -and present- of the island. The beginning of the seminar had to wait for the end of the 24-hour general strike that held most participants in Piraeus; furthermore, most of the group departed one day ahead of schedule, fearing that bad weather might keep them in Santorini, thus missing their flights abroad. As a result, the actual seminar duration was reduced from 7 to 5 days. 
Overall there seems to be a general consensus that the whole event has been as much interesting as smooth. Everybody was happy with the venue & its surroundings, and there were no complains for the limited night life options in Oia.
One should mention certain highlights during those five days:
[to be continued -come back!]
 

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email list
Alejandro Arizmendi alegrandote@yahoo.com
Anders Metz Kristensen anders_metz@yahoo.dk
Ania Krenz ania_krenz@yahoo.com
Annette Schirber annetteschirber@hotmail.com
Danny Wang pch94@hotmail.com
Defne Ulguray dulguray@yahoo.com
Evonne E. Paik evonnepaik@yahoo.com
Georgia Chatzivasileiadi xgama@yahoo.com
Giorgos Skourtis gskourtis@hotmail.com
Lynn Kelley lkelley4@aol.com
Maria Kalapanida mkalapanida@hotmail.com
Miliana Gruenberg miliana@earthlink.com
Nantia Rapti ar95006@central.ntua.gr
Simos Yannas simos@aaschool.ac.uk
Sonal Bhide sonalbhide@hotmail.com
Sherlene Ting st1179@yahoo.com
Stella Giatili stella.giatili@talk21.com
Susannah Hagan SHagan2298@aol.com
Tanya Keller Tanya@Keller72.fsnet.co.uk
Tassos Ringas tassos_ringas@hotmail.com
Thanos N. Stasinopoulos delaxo@central.ntua.gr
Theano Fotiou thfotiou@central.ntua.gr
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