Polis and Chora Recalibrating Natural and Urban Harmony in Porto Rafti by Christina Carydis A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Architecture Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2009 © Christina Carydis 2009 AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revi- sions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii ABSTRACT The landscape of Attica in Greece suffers rapidly progressing urban sprawl in a culture of over privatization. In the absence of proper legislation, corruption and poor implementation of existing laws, the consequences of allowing unplanned settlements to emerge unhin- dered in Athens and its periphery are now palpable and irreversible. This thesis illustrates that the continuous fragmentation of the ground plane into easily consumable land for private development does not bring about social progress, as is advocated by its proponents. The unregulated contemporary consumptive way of life essentially leads directly to the collapse of civil society through the silencing of the public voice in the propagation of settlements devoid of both natu- ral and urban public space. Consumption of natural resources at an unsustainable rate pollutes and destroys the delicate ecological bal- ance, generating a situation of crisis which simply feeds the cycle of urbanization. This thesis presents a critical examination of the unique conditions affecting the development of Athens and its periphery, and the result- ing ecological and social pressures in order to establish a case for a socially and environmentally sustainable urban intensification and the creation of vital public spaces. A paradigmatic vision is present- ed for the rapidly developing ecologically sensitive coastal town of Porto Rafti, based on restoring a harmonious coexistence of natural and urban realms. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Supervisor: Robert Jan Van Pelt Advisors: Rick Haldenby, Val Rynnimeri Thank you Robert Jan Van Pelt for your guidance and constant encouragement. Thank you Rick Haldenby and Val Rynnimeri for your support and insight. To those who graciously offered their assistance and in- sight during my research in Greece, Eleni Petouri, Yiorgos Tzirtzilakis, and Stamatis Methenitis, your contributions have been most useful and appreciated. To Amanda Reed, Michelle Van Eyk, James Swain, Pooya Baktash, Taymoore Balbaa, thank you for your insight, inspiration and support. To my family, thank you for all of your love, support and encouragement. Vasilis Tsirozidis, thank you for everything. I could not have done this without you. iv DEDICATION To my parents, Phoebus and Vassiliki for sacrificing so much so that I may get to know it, To Alexis, Sandy and Demetra, with whom I had the fortune of enjoying it, and To Vasili, who helps me appreciate its complexities. thank you v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ix List of Illustrations xix Preface SUMMER 001 Introduction 005 Methodology, Resources and Thesis Structure 015 Chapter 1 BIRTH OF THE METROPOLIS 043 Chapter 2 PORTO RAFTI 067 Chapter 3 LIKE FROGS AROUND A POND 103 Chapter 4 HARMONY 135 Conclusion 140 Looking Forward 145 End Notes 151 Bibliography vii viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xviii 0.1 Dinner time in Porto Rafti 22 1.10 Ruins of the stelai in ancient Athens agora family photographic archive, August 1988 source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A 16 1.1 Athens agora and Acropolis Cultural and Architectural History, p.73 photograph by author, September 2007 22 1.11 Bust of Solon 18 1.2 Greece’s location in the Mediterranean source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon drawn by author, source: Google earth 2008 22 1.12 Theseus slaying the Minotaur 18 1.3 Colonies of ancient Greece source: http://www.explorecrete.com/history/labyrinth-myth. drawn by author, source: Royal Ontario Museum, Ancient htm Greece exhibit. 23 1.13 Athenian ostraca 19 1.4 Sketch of Athens in context with its landscape source: http://traumwerk.stanford.edu:3455/ by Le Corbusier, source: Karin Skousbøll, Greek Architecture Archaeopaedia/166 Now, p. 35 23 1.14 Kleroterion 19 1.5 Phaistos Palace, Crete by: Matthew Gast, source: http://blog.matthewgast. source: http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/gaddis/HST210/ com/2008/04/27/athens-part-5/ Sept23/Default.htm 24 1.15 Ancient Greek Herms or Horoi 20 1.6 Theatre at Delphi source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History, p.73 Cultural and Architectural History, p.65 24 1.16 Property boundary walls in Mykonos 21 1.7 Plan of Ancient Miletus by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A of Self Knowledge, p.51 Cultural and Architectural History, p.69 24 1.17 Property boundary walls in Mykonos 21 1.8 School of Athens by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements by Raphael, source: http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z- of Self Knowledge, p.50 Patrons/MV_Patrons_04_01.html 25 1.18 Diagram of Axis Mundi 22 1.9 Reconstruction drawing of the stelai in ancient agora source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A source: Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History, p.28 Cultural and Architectural History, p.73 ix 26 1.19 Pericles attacked by Cleon 30 1.32 The great fire of Smyrna by Philipp von Foltz, source: http://historievg2.cap source: http://forums.ec.europa.eu/debateeurope/viewtopic. pelendamm.no/c187043/sammendrag/vis.html?tid=189867 php?t=3976&sid=123b6c9e1bd7d79ed0651614d50041f2 27 1.20 The Secret School 30 1.33 Greek slave labour trains by: Nikolaos Gyzis, source: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/ source: http://www.pontian.info/genocide_info/GENOCIDE_ Cafe/1867/ngyzis.htm TRAIN.jpg 27 1.21 The Siege of Constantinople 30 1.34 Boarding boats to escape at Smyrna quay by: unknown artist, source: http://www.greece.org/Romosini/ source: http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/horton/ fall.html smyrn3.jpg 28 1.22 The Bishop of Old Patras Germanos Blesses the Flag of 30 1.35 Sinking boat at Smyrna quay the Greek War of Independence source: http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/horton/ by: Theodoros Vryzakis, source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ smyrni.jpg Theodoros_Vryzakis 31 1.36 Greek refugee settlement map 28 1.23 Georgios Karaiskakis on Horseback Rushes to Acropolis source: Richard Clogg, A Short History of Modern by: Georgios Margaritis, source: http://www.eikastikon.gr/ Greece, p.105 zografiki/margaritis_en.html 32 1.37 Population exchange and family migration routes map 28 1.24 Prince Otto of Wittlesbach of Bavaria drawn by author source: Stamatis D. Methenitis, Markopoulo of Mesogeia: 33 1.38 Refugee apartment blocks Journey Through the Ages, p.203 source: Karin Skousbøll, Greek Architecture Now, p. 44 29 1.25 Map of Great Greece: Treaty of Sèvres Land gains 33 1.39 Refugee quarters in Piraeus source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megali_Idea by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements 29 1.26 Eleftherios Venizelos of Self Knowledge, p.127 source: http://www.venizelos-foundation.gr/lefkoma 33 1.40 Refugee quarters in Michalakopoulou 29 1.27 David Lloyd George source: Georgiou M. Sarigianni, Athina 1830-2000, p.159 source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lloyd_George 33 1.41 Refugee quarters in Anaphiotika 30 1.28 Pontian Greek death march by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements source: http://www.greek-genocide.org/multimedia/photo/g_1. of Self Knowledge, p.116 html 33 1.42 Refugee quarters in Kaisariani 30 1.29 Constantinople Porgrom by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements source: http://www.byzantinos.com/Photos_Pogrom_1955/ of Self Knowledge, p.119 img_1_Turkish%20mob%20and%20soldiers/1-cons-turk- 33 1.43 Refugee quarters in Kokkinia mob-destr4.html by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements 30 1.30 Greeks tortured and killed of Self Knowledge, p.125 source: http://www.greek-genocide.org/multimedia/photo/ 34 1.44 View of Athens and Piraeus from Kipseli g_1.html photograph by author, September 2007 30 1.31 Christian leaders hung 34 1.45 View of Athens from Hymettus mountain source: http://forums.ec.europa.eu/debateeurope/viewtopic. source: http://www.igogreece.com/apFiles/Photos php?t=3976&sid=123b6c9e1bd7d79ed0651614d50041f2 moPhoto 451-Athens_from_lecabetus_.jpg x 34 1.46 Satellite image of Athens 44 2.1 Porto Rafti Panorama source: http://www.maps.com/map.aspx?cid=8,1626,1629 by: Marios Tomas source: http://www.panoramio.com/ &pid=16546 photo/1251513 35 1.47 Camping on the beach in Gythio 46 2.2 Political and Infrastructural map of Attica source: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/235914862_ drawn by author, base map source: Greek National Tourism b0d693f630.jpg?v=0 Organization, Attica road map, http://www.gnto.gr/ 35 1.48 Labourer napping outdoors pages.php?pageID=805&langID=2; Map of Central Greece, by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements http://www.greeklandscapes.com/images/maps/greecemap/ of Self Knowledge, p.11 gr_tb_02.jpg 35 1.49 Outdoor wedding in Porto Rafti 47 2.3 Markopoulo vine harvest photograph by author, July 2008 source: Stamatis D. Methenitis, Markopoulo of Mesogeia: 35 1.50 Seaside tavern in Chania Journey Through the Ages, p.457 source: http://www.chania-guide.gr/pics/companies/ageri/ 47 2.4 Markopoulo wheat harvest ageri22.jpg source: Stamatis D. Methenitis, Markopoulo of Mesogeia: 35 1.51 Outdoor dining room in Salamis Journey Through the Ages, p.456 by: Aris Konstantinidis, source: Aris Konstantinidis, Elements 47 2.5 Porto Rafti 1945 of Self Knowledge, p.10 source: http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2Gree-fig- 36 1.52 Fire on Hymettus mountain WH2GreeP038b.html source: Η Καθημερινη, June 28 2008, p.1 47 2.6 Farmland at Prasiae 1920 36 1.53 Property in a shopping cart source: Stamatis D.