The Organisation for the Cultural Capital of Europe "Thessaloniki 1997" is launching an international competition for ideas on the redesign of the major public open space of the historic city, the civic axis of Aristotelous.
The competition is open to international professionals, architects and town planners, singly or in teams.
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Site : The project involves the principal cross axis of Thessaloniki forming a sequence of public open spaces, located in the geometrical centre of both the intramural city and the metropolitan area. Candidates must submit both a global concept on the entire Axis, plus a project design for the designated site.
Propositions : The competition is anonymous. Candidates must submit seven panels (70×100 cm size): three panels on the global urban concept (scale 1:1000), two panels on the detailed plan for a designated site (scale 1:500), and two free panels illustrating further the proposal. Candidates must also submit a bound volume (42×29,7cm) illustrating the thinking behind the project plus reduced reproductions of the panels.
Winners and runners-up : An international jury of experts will chose a maximum of three winners and four runners-up. First prize 40,000 ECU, second prize 24,000 ECU, third prize 16,000 ECU, and four mentions of 8,000 ECU each (tax included).
Exhibition, forum and publication : The projects submitted will be displayed in an international exhibition and a forum discussion on the results of the competition will be held. All winning projects as well as projects selected by the Organiser will be published in a catalogue.
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Theme : Redesign of the civic axis of Thessaloniki
The area consisting of the square, Aristotelous St., the Agora Square and the area around St Demetrius comprises the single most important public open space in the city and defines the geographical, organisational and monumental centre of the city. The centuries old history and existence is expressed most explicitly within this axis, which stretches from the hills of the Upper Town to the sea, since within it, some of the most important historical monuments of Thessaloniki coexist with modern central activities and entertainment and demonstration areas of various social groups.
The purpose of the proclamation of an international architectural competition for the redesign of the Aristotelous civic axis is to attract the attention of international architects to an exceedingly attractive but problematic area of our city and to creatively enhance the discussions on its image and functioning.
The expected result of the competition is the emphasis on the symbolic and organisational role of the Axis in terms of the city’s architecture, aesthetics, monumental wealth and open air spaces and the support of the various functional uses that have developed within and around the axis in order to promote it into the most important public area in the city, in the year 2000.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Registration : candidates must register with the competition secretariat in Thessaloniki, Greece. Registration fees are fixed to the equivalent of 85 ECU (in candidate’s local currency).
Candidates must submit to the secretariat of the competition : an application on a plain paper with the name of the participant, address, telephone number and if possible fax number; a photocopy of the architecture/town planning diploma or authorisation to practice the profession; a bank cheque for the sum of the registration fee or a photocopy of the receipt of the postal order or of a bank receipt. Bank cheque, postal order or bank deposit should be made out to : Organisation for the Cultural Capital of Europe "Thessaloniki 1997", account number 163720/9, Macedonia Thrace Bank, Thessaloniki, Greece. Each candidate or team of candidates will receive a certificate of registration and the complete dossier of the competition. The original certificate must be returned in the sealed envelope accompanying the proposal, and will guarantee the candidates anonymity.
Competition dossier dispatched to applicants : The competition dossier is published in Greek and English. It contains : the competition rules; articles by experts on the theme and the objectives of the competition; detailed description and planning data of the axis; an appendix on the historical evolution of the city and the genealogy of the axis; historical maps of the city; charts, aerial and ground views of the site; a 1:2000 scale plan of the intramural city; a historical 1:500 scale plan of the site; plans and sections of the site ïn a scale of 1:500.
Time Schedule :
Project launch, opening of registration : March 26, 1997
Closing date for registration : July 30, 1997
Closing date for submitting or mailing proposals : September 25, 1997
Closing date for receipt of proposals by express mail : October 10, 1997
Date of award - technical committee and jury : end of October 1997
Date of proclamation of the results : early November 1997
International exhibition, forum and publication of catalogue: January 1998
Jury :
The jury will be composed of nine members: one architect appointed by the UIA; Prof. Kenneth Frampton, architect (New York, USA); Prof. Francesco Dal Co, architect (Milano, Italy); Prof. Didier Rebois, architect (Clermont-Ferrant, France); Prof. Carmen Pinos, architect (Barcelona, Spain); Prof. Dimitris Fatouros, architect, (representing the Organiser); Çelektra Zikopoulou, architect (Municipality of Thessaloniki); Theophanis-Rizos Matikas, architect-planner (Masterplan Organisation of Thessaloniki); Angelos Sismanopoulos, architect (Association of Architects of Thessaloniki). Two alternate international members.
Organiser :
The Organisation for the Cultural Capital of Europe "Thessaloniki 1997".
The competition is carried out in agreement with the UNESCO regulations and the UIA.