remnants of remembrance_thesis

Remnants of remembrance

Vasiliki Panagopoulou, Stavroula- Rallou TzormpatzakiSupervisors: Ariadne Vozani, Andreas Kourkoulas

Thesis project_April 2014

N.T.U.A School of Architecture

A thousand metres above sea level. Mount Parnitha. Abies Cephalonica.

A recent fire’s ashes. Sanatorium. Tuberculosis, isolation, aero-therapy.

Five storeys of stone and concrete, crumbling. A hundred years of history fading into oblivion.

In memoriam.

A hundred years post- construction, we return to the Sanatorium of Parnitha, now an abandoned ruin,

in an attempt to salvage the memory of a place where the signs of the June 2007 catastrophic forest fire

are still present. A minimum of architectural elements - building remnants registered as nosocomial in the

collective memory - are incorporated in a series of new spaces, along a traversing route. The memory of

the place is reconstructed through the physical experience of the space; the body’s movement, the visually

discernible scenery, the natural elements -sun, water, and wind- constitute the foundations of a synthesis

of spaces accessed in sequence. Integrated in the concept are Yiannis Ritsos’ “Earini Symponia” (Spring

Symphony), a long poem written while the poet was hospitalised here for tuberculosis, and Nekyia from

Homer’s Odyssey. The space unravels in a cinematographic manner, each domain focusing on different

aspects of death, decay and destruction. Finally, the complete synthesis is revealed theatrically to reclaim

its fading memory; to render the remnants meaningful and timeless.

4 remnants of remembrance

[04]contents

parnithamaps [08]

sections [10]

tuberculosisdecalogue against tuberculosis [16]

plans of the parnitha sanatorium [17]sanatorium photos [18]

sanatorium’s ruin photos [19]

forest fire28th June 2007 fire/ before [24]

28th June 2007 fire/ after[25]

remnants of remembrancecurrent condition drawings (2013) [28]

plans [28]elevations and sections [30]

a memorialconcept principles [38]

plan[44]three-dimensional [46]

transversinggladenekyiagarden

aero-therapy

body_gaze

sources

appendixsketches [104]

physical scale model photos[110]

[06]

[14]

[22]

[26]

[36]

[48][56]

[66][76]

[84]

[90]

[102]

[104]


[06]parnithaPinus halepensis.

Abies cephalonica. Slate. Limestone.

Who has forever tied

the ends of the horizon? Ποιος έδεσε για πάντα,

τις άκρες του ορίζοντα;

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_XXV_44

Πύργος ΟΤΕ

Καταφύγιο Φλαμπούρι

Καταφύγιο Μπάφι

Καζίνο Σανατόριο

Στρατιωτικές εγκαταστάσεις


altitude map

landmarks map

Military facilitiesTelecommunications Tower (OTE)

“Bafi” shelter

“Flabouri” shelter

Mont Parnes CasinoSanatorium

9parnitha

road network map

11parnitha

13parnitha


[14]tuberculosis

mycobacterium tuberculosis. a disease for the poor.

chronic coughing, fever, night sweats, weight loss.

sanatorium. a hospital for tuberculosis.high altitude, fresh air, sun.

rest and aero- therapy. isolation.

Let the poor die

outside the door of eternity

knocking without being answered

closing the eyes

in the ephemeral grass

preserving eternity

Ας πεθαίνουν οι πένητες

έξω απ’ τη θύρα της αιωνιότητας

χτυπώντας δίχως ν’ ακούγονται

κλείνοντας τα μάτια

στην εφήμερη χλόη

που συντηρεί την αιωνιότητα.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΧΙΙΙ_21


DECALOGUE AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS

17tuberculosis

south elevation of the Parnitha sanatorium

plan of the Parnitha sanatorium


patient’s room

corridor

stairway

doctor’s office

19tuberculosis


southeast view of the Parnitha sanatorium

21remnants of remembrance

the 2013 ruin


[22]forest fire28th June 2007

eleven days49.000 acres in ashes

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony _XXVI_18

Εδώ κι εκεί απομένουν

τα μαύρα σημάδια

κι οι στάχτες

απ’ τις φωτιές που ανάβαν

χαρούμενα παιδιά

τα βράδια του θέρους.

Here and there remain

the black marks

and the ashes

from the fires that

happy children lit

the nights of summer


The Parnitha Sanatorium photographed from “Aeras” peak.

[before the June 2007 fire]

25fire

The Parnitha sanatorium photographed from “Aeras” peak.

[after the June 2007 fire]


[26]remnants of remembrance

“The Parnitha Sanatorium was founded in its original form in 1914; it be-gan operating as the mountainous anti-tuberculosis annex of Evangelismos

hospital. The construction of the new Sanatorium, named Georgios Stavros & Georgios Fougk hospital, began in 1934. The construction of the new building began September 1934; gradual operation began August 1935. Architect Ioan-nis A. Antoniadis (1890-1977) was responsible for both the arhitectural design

and construction supervision.

The new building was erected in a 2000 acres area, property of the Sanatori-um. It operated as such until 1960, with a pause between 1942 and 1946 due to the second world war. After 1960, it was converted to a Xenia hotel, along

with aSchool for tourism professions, undergoing serious modifications. Today the building is in a deserted state, being abandonded for decades; it belongs to

Tourist development Inc.

translated extract from Aimilia’s Athanasiou article “The Parnitha Sanatorium, or Georgios Stavros and Georgios Fougk hospital” .

Δε νιώθεις

την ωχρή παρουσία

του αιθέρα και του ιωδίου

την πληγωμένη κραυγή

της παραφροσύνης

μια μυρωδιά βροχής που πέφτει

σε παγωμένα τζάμια εσπερινά

σανατορίων και ψυχιατρείων;

Earini Symfonia_IV_ 29

Can’t you feel

the pallid presence

of ether and iodine

the wounded scream

of insanity

a smell of rain that falls

in frozen evening windows

of sanatoriums and mental hospitals?

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)

Σχέδια υπάρχουσας κατάστασης. Πηγή: αρχείο Ε.Ο.Τ. & επί τόπου καταγραφή

Πίσω στο εν Πάρνηθι παράρτημα

προςΑγία Τριάδα,Καταφύγια, Καζίνο

προςΑθήνα

ΚορυφήΑέρας

το εν Πάρνηθι Παράρτημα

Δε νιώθειςτην ωχρή παρουσίατου αιθέρα και του ιωδίουτην πληγωμένη κραυγή της παραφροσύνηςμια μυρωδιά βροχής που πέφτεισε παγωμένα τζάμια εσπερινάσανατορίων και ψυχιατρείων; IV, 29

βόρεια όψη

διαμήκης τομήδιαμήκης τομή

νότια όψη

δυτική όψη

ανατολική όψη

εγκάρσια τομήεγκάρσια τομή


A level plan

ground level plan

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



B level plan

C level plan

D level plan

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη




west elevation

north elevation

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη




east elevation

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη




cross- section

longtitudinal section

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη




cross- section

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη




south elevation

longtitudinal section

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη





[36]a memorialfor death, decay and destruction

2014. The building’ s condition is irreversible. As the sanatorium shall turn to dust, the nature shall be re-

born. The memory of the place shall fade to extinction. But what if...?

Δε γνωρίζουμε τίποτα.

Υπάρχουμε.

Το παρελθόν ανύπαρκτο.

Το μέλλον ανυποψίαστο.

Παρόντες

μες στην πλήρη στιγμή

μες στην αιωνιότητα.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_VII_17

We know nothing.

We exist.

The past inexistent.

The future unsuspecting.

Present

in the complete moment

in eternity.


ground level plan (current condition)

κάτο

ψη

α’ ο

ρόφ

ουκά

τοψ

η ισ

ογεί

ουκά

τοψ

η β’

ορό

φου

κάτο

ψη

γ’ ο

ρόφ

ου

040 5 20 50 100(m)




προςΑθήνα




βόρεια όψη


νότια όψη

δυτική όψη



39a memorial

elements to be preserved


cross- section

elements to be preserved

the building’s stone is cut into gravel and spread on the floor of the northern slope

41a memorial

the water is gathered through the northern and southern slopes in what used to be the hospital’s corridor

43plan of the proposal

second level

44 transversing glade in between

45nekyia garden aero-therapy

46

transversing glade in between

47

nekyia garden aero-therapy


[48]transversing

walking between borders; a water corridor and a steep rock.trapped and alone, corridor upon corridor

the black metal casting its black shadow on the stone floor

free gaze, restricted bodyrestricted gaze, free body

Αφήνομαι

στον κρυμμένο ρυθμό.

Μην με ξυπνήσεις.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΧΧΙΙ_47

I let myself go

in the hidden rythm

Do not wake me up.

51transversing

fifteen rows of metallic walls, twenty seven pivoting doors

53transversing


perspective section along the sanatorium’s corridor

the door positioning provides multiple movement possibilities

55transversing


[56]glade

pure light and flowing waterone can now cross the water border into the dark

Πως μπορεί να ανοιχτεί

αυτή η θύρα του φωτός

για μένα που δε γνώρισα

μήτε τον ίσκιο μιας μαρμαρυγής;

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΙΙΙ_17

How can it be opened

this door of light

for me that i have not known

even the shadow of a shimmer?

59glade

61glade

63glade


πίσω από τον τοίχο

65in between


[66]nekyiaWhat does it look like, this under-world, Ades?

One can only see a fragile reflection. Standing between the crumbling past and the still present.

Η σιωπή επιπλέει στον αέρα.

Το δέος παραμονεύει

στην άκρη των ματιών

και των δακτύλων μας.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_ΧΧΙΙ_6

Silence is floating in the air.

The awe lurks

in the corner of our eyes

in the tips of our finger.

69nekyia

ο διάδρομος του σανατορίου (2013)


71nekyia

selected excerpts from Nekyia, Book XI of Homer’s Odyssey, translated by Samuel Butler 73nekyia

Then, when we had got down to the sea shore we drew our ship into the water and got her mast and sails into her; we also put the sheep on board

and took our places, weeping and in great distress of mind. Circe, that great and cunning goddess, sent us a fair wind that blew dead aft and stayed

steadily with us keeping our sails all the time well filled; so we did whatever wanted doing to the ship’s gear and let her go as the wind and helmsman headed her. All day long her sails were full as she held her course over the

sea, but when the sun went down and darkness was over all the earth, we got into the deep waters of the river Oceanus, where lie the land and city of the

Cimmerians who live enshrouded in mist and darkness which the rays of the sun never pierce neither at his rising nor as he goes down again out of the heavens, but the poor wretches live in one long melancholy night. When we got there we beached the ship, took the sheep out of her, and went along by the waters of Oceanus till we came to the place of which Circe had told us

[...]

”Then I tried to find some way of embracing my mother’s ghost. Thrice I sprang towards her and tried to clasp her in my arms, but each time she

flitted from my embrace as it were a dream or phantom, and being touched to the quick I said to her, ‘Mother, why do you not stay still when I would

embrace you? If we could throw our arms around one another we might find sad comfort in the sharing of our sorrows even in the house of Hades; does Proserpine want to lay a still further load of grief upon me by mocking me

with a phantom only?’

“’My son,’ she answered, ‘most ill-fated of all mankind, it is not Proserpine that is beguiling you, but all people are like this when they are dead. The

sinews no longer hold the flesh and bones together; these perish in the fierce-ness of consuming fire as soon as life has left the body, and the soul flits

away as though it were a dream. Now, however, go back to the light of day as soon as you can, and note all these things that you may tell them to your wife

hereafter.’

“Thus did we converse, and anon Proserpine sent up the ghosts of the wives and daughters of all the most famous men. They gathered in crowds about

the blood, and I considered how I might question them severally. In the end I deemed that it would be best to draw the keen blade that hung by my sturdy thigh, and keep them from all drinking the blood at once. So they came up one after the other, and each one as I questioned her told me her race and

lineage.


προς τον κήπο


[76]gardenflowers upon ashes

Ένα διάλειμμα λευκότητας

προσφερμένο στην προσευχή.

Κρυώνεις;

Τα φύλλα θρόισαν.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_XXIII_29

An interlude of whiteness

offered to praying.

Are you cold?

The leaves have rustled.

79garden

81garden

sprin

g

summer

autumn

berberis

cretic

a

petrofagia

velutin

a

campanula ce

lci

tulip

a hageri

fritill

aria obliq

ua

siderit

is ra

eseri

crepis

incana

lomelosia hym

ettia

lillium

chalce

donicum

stern

bergia si

cula

seaon

flower

colour

colch

icum binova

e

colch

icum

ligulatu

m

crocu

s atti

cus

crocu

s flavu

s

winter


[84]aero-therapy

a practice used for tuberculosis treatment before the development of antibiotics.

the patients were exposed to fresh air and sunlight, usually lying outdoors in rows of chaize-longues

Εμείς ασφαλισμένοι

μέσα στο γήινο ρίγος μας

γευόμαστε τον ουρανό

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_XII,_27

Safe

in our earthly shiver

we taste the sky

87aero-therapy

89aero-therapy


from the cinematic route

body

91body_gaze

to the theatrical disclosure

gaze

92 remnants of remembrance transversing

93body_gaze

nekyia

glade


garden

in between


aero-therapy


[102]appendix

103sources

parnitha

http://www.parnitha-np.gr/welcome.htmofficial site of Parnitha National Park

http://www.parnitha.net/Parnitha National Park admistration (greek only)

http://www.edasa.gr/en/Forest fire protection volunteers of Attica

tuberculosis

Αντωνιάδης Α., Το επί της Πάρνηθος Νοσοκομείον Γεωργίου Σταύρου και Γεωργίου Φουγκ. Τεχνικά Χρονικά 1936, 5:900−911

publication in “Technica Chronika” (1936 technical magazine), featuring the Parnitha Sanatorium, by A. Antoniadis

forest fire

http://parnitha.wwf.gr/Assets/Files/fire.pdf

http://politics.wwf.gr/images/stories/fireparnisreport2007_14.pdfreports on the impact of the 2007 fire by WWF (greek only)

remnants of remembrance

Αθανασίου, Α., Το Σανατόριο Πάρνηθας του Ιωάννη Α. Αντωνιάδη (Νοσοκομείο Γεωργίου Σταύρου και Γεωργίου Φουγκ), Π.Ε.Β.Ε 2007, ΕΜΠ, 2009, σελ. 241- 256

article by Aimilia Athanasiou, featured in N.T.U.A publication (greek only)

the plans presented are based on the hand-drawn set found in EOT (Greek Tourism Organisation) archive; they were digitized and modified to fit the current situation by the authors

earini symphonia(spring symphony)

Ritsos, Y., Earini Symphonia, Kedros, 1986 (greek only)

This poetry collection by Yiannis Ritsos has not been translated in English. The english translation presented here is solely for purposes of a general understanding of the atmoshpere and by no means constitutes an official translation.

Odysseyby Homer

translated by Samuel Butler http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.11.xi.html

105sketches

107sketches

111physical scale model photos

θ’ αφήσω

τη λευκή χιονισμένη κορυφή

που ζέσταινε μ’ ενα γυμνό χαμόγελο

την απέραντη μόνωσή μου.

Yiannis Ritsos_Spring Symphony_I_1

i ‘ m leaving

the white snowy peak

that was heating, bare smiling,

my infinite isolation.

remnants of remembrance_thesis

Documents

remnants meaningful

sanatorium of parnitha

parnitha sanatorium

sanatorium photos

aero therapy

fading memory

collective memory

ariadne vozani