This diploma project aims at the design of a periurban metropolitan park, where the natural landscape is combined with athletic and recreational facilities. It is a large-scale landscape architecture project, with strong elements of strategic planning. The main motivation behind is the ever growing need of western Thessaloniki for quality public green spaces and the restoration of access to the sea front. ​​​​​​​

Environmentally wise, the impact area is characterised by the artificial Dendropotamos torrent which is the main flood protection infrastructure of the city and coexists with extended but heavily polluted undeveloped green areas. A residential zone, a productive activity zone and a logistics and petroleum storage zone can be identified, the latter of which poses a high risk for industrial accidents. The area is the western entrance to the city and can be adequately reached by car or public transport. A motorway bridge will connect (when completed) the port with national highways decongesting the traffic in the unsuitable local road network, which currently hinders the access and circulation of pedestrians and cyclists.

The intervention area faces an increased risk of  coastal flooding associated with sea level rise. It is dominated by wetland vegetation and it is an important habitat and migration area for several bird species. The plain topography with depressions below sea level which usually collect rainwater combined with poor mechanical performance of the soil make the area unsuitable for building infrastructure requiring deep foundations. Where natural soil is not present, large areas of waterproof materials and smaller semi-permeable surfaces are found. Focusing more on land use, access and circulation, the analysis concludes with an interpretive diagram of nuisance factors that impede human presence on the landscape. 

The key strategic goals include the introduction and integration of new land uses, the facilitation of (hyper)local access and circulation within the area, soil decontamination, biodiversity enhancement and flood protection. The design concept is the 'ecotone' a transitional zone between two neighbouring ecosystems, containing characteristics of each adjacent unit as well as species not found in either of them. ​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​In the third phase, the shutdown of the petroleum facilities and the reuse of the oil-tanks for culture and leisure are proposed. Access is improved and circulation networks are extended to cover the new areas included in the park.

The resulting micro-landscapes integrate previous elements of spatial discontinuation, such as the Dendropotamos torrent and the bridge axis, into the network of ecotones that also include the transitional zones of the brackish lakes and the coastal dyke. ​​​​​​​These enhanced or new environments are landscaped through minor interventions to the restored soil, the local reuse of concrete debris and the introduction of light structures and paving consisting mainly of water permeable and shock-proof materials. The planting of a mix of mediterranean, salinity resistant and phytoremediation flora species contributes to landscape resilience and creates a hospitable environment for animals and humans alike.

RAIKIDOU Evangelia | MOSCHOGIANNI Georgia
2022 | AUTh | Thessaloniki, Greece