The project is about the redesign of the campus of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Due to the many monuments and works of art that are located inside and outside the campus, the university has the conditions to become a place of culture.
The main aim of the strategic planning is the creation of an interactive environment, which can be improved by art,culture and human activities. Moreover, it is essential to improve the active life during the day, as well as to reduce the number of vehicles and prioritize pedestrians. It is proposed the sitting of new uses located in areas that have the infrastructures to support them and zones characterized by infringing behavior that has to be dealt with. It is necessary to redesign the transport system around and inside the university campus, including the construction of pedestrian ways, traffic calmed roads, new parking areas around the campus and a shuttle bus route which meet the needs of users.
Taking as a starting point the zone of central functions(including the event venue,,the building of Law school,the library building) and certain locations in space it is created a network of paths, which consists of low ramp slope rations and stairs. Depending on the significance of the path, it is changing her width. Spaces between the paths compose receptors for cultural events, voluntary activities, outdoor workshops and an outdoor library. Furthermore, it is proposed the sitting of commercial use and the construction of a new commercial building placed parallel to Egnatia street.
The materials that are chosen are pervious concrete for the network of paths, grass for ground cover, pebble concrete and deck for the receptors of the activities. Pebble concrete is allocated to smaller parts with wooden joints which decrease the scale and become rarer as they reach the buildings, referring to the linearity of the facade. Deck gives a sense of familiarity and shapes the outdoor rooms.
The planting creates better thermal comfort while at the same time acts like art. Long vegetation, which compromises evergreen and deciduous trees, is placed in a way to highlight paths and determine rest areas. The types of trees that are chosen, are characterized by a rich diversity of flowering during the seasons which creates a changing color range and a diverse environment. Herbs are selected for a better smell environment. Short vegetation is used either to highlight a border or a secondary path.
The water feature, which is jet fountains and water rills, plays a significant role and highlights the main paths, improves the microclimate and the aesthetic surroundings. The rill near the border with Egnatia street is shaped in steps for road traffic noise masking and the improvement of the sound environment.
The urban equipment composed of linear seats that are placed following the joints of the ground cover, wood coating slots at prisms, street lighting and floor lights which highlight or widen the borders, garbage and recycling bins. Finally, they are placed tables-surfaces that can extend to different heights make use of the mechanism of automatic rising bollards introducing the sense of flexibility and interaction in public space.
