Larissa

Planning

The project aims to create a new identity for the city of Larissa based on the enhancement of the city’s Ancient Theatre. The two main squares of the town, the central (Sapka) and Post Office square (Tahidromiou), are included in a holistic design approach, to highlight the temporal historical character of Larissa. To achieve these goals, the masterplan proposes the design of “the sculpted river”, marking the lost relationship between the city with its river (Pinios), and emphasizing the different landscape types of Thessaly (the uplands and the lowlands) along its route.The “the sculpted river” flows towards the Ancient Theatre and enables the development of the mountainous and lowland flora of the region.

The Masterplan was commissioned and supervised bythe Municipality of Larissa, Technical Service Department (Ms Vayoula Tsopanoglou). The townscape project was developed by the Landscape Sculptor Ms Nella Golanda (www.sculpted-architectural-landacapes.gr).

All funds for the masterplan and implementation of the project have been obtained from the Sectoral Operational Program about Thessaly and from local funding.

A public participation process was embedded through the development of the project, and process of construction. Local craftsmen and art students from the Free Workshop of Fine and Applied Arts of Art Gallery of Larissa (Museum Katsigra)were involved during the construction of mosaic duplicates of the originals, which were found during the excavation of the center of Larissa.

An aim of the Masterplan is to increase people’s awareness about the relationship of the city of Larissa with its historical and mythical Pinios River (e.g. floods, natural disasters and bombings) and to re-establish this connection. It also aims to “prepare” the city centre for the accommodation of the revealed Ancient Theatre, which is located a short distance from the central square.
i)Post office squarerepresents the strong water flows from the mountains of Thessaly, guided by three sections of the “sculpted river” (local loops) to the Ancient Theatre. It represents the landscape of the uplands of Thessaly.
The plant species have been to create an appropriate atmosphere.The designer has emphasised the archaeological value of the city’s underground by incorporating 24 replicas of floor mosaics, from the Archaeological Museum, into areas of seating. Information points are located close to the seating, providing details about the address (name and number of the street), where these are found, and the year of their excavation.
ii)Central (Sapka) squarerepresents the landscape of lowlands of Thessaly and is designed to create an impression of this type of landscape. The planting design has taken account of the choice of plant size, and here the river appears with high strong waterflow providing the potential of light refraction, during the day and night.
The design of the features is to be consistent with the intended perspective, with benches designed in the form of bails of straw and lamp posts at an appropriate height.
The “sculpted river”is designed to convey a sense of the archaeological richness of the city, penetrating both the squares and giving the impression that the river crosses the city underground.
iii)The Ancient Theatre was highlighted by the holistic design of pedestrian improvements. The pavement design represents the groundplan of ancient buildings existing underground the city of Larissa, originating from the Neolithic era, through the Classical and the Byzantine Periods, creating a palimpsest of the presence of different civilizations.

The biggest success was that Larissa has become the city in Greece which is the most beloved amongst its citizens, with a number of cultural thematic events along the Pinios River, and new groupings created with an aim of protecting of river’s history and landscape. In 2008, the pedestrianisation project of the Ancient Theatre was granted the first award of landscape architecture of archaeological sites by the Greek Association of Planners. In 2011, SADAS (the Panhellenic Union of Architects) organised a congress in Larissa with the title “Water: an important design tool for the contemporary cities”.

The involvement of local communities throughout the process of the project.

The landscape design process of the project involved the following steps:
•Identify and evaluate the present situation of the landscape and the buildings
•Analyze the relationship of the historical centre with Pinios River in a broader geographical context
•Assess the elements and characteristics of the landscape of Thessaly
•Develop a master plan presenting the design concept based on total art
The primary design key concepts are:
-Human scale and local daily lifestyle incorporated into the design
-Space is treated as a habitable sculpture, creating the sense of a total art
-The new landscape becomes a landmark
-Exploration through design of the natural phenomena and rhythms
-Dialogue between historical and natural environment
-Revealing of the lost way of life in Mediterranean public spaces
-The experience offered by living in the heart of the total art sculptured spaces contributes to a daily communication with art, as well as enhancing human relations among the inhabitants and especially among children.
The key proposals, as identified in the Masterplan, seek to promote the historical identity of the city of Larissa and to re-establish the connection of the city with its river by a number of redesigned public spaces. Within these proposals, three public spaces have been designed in relation to each other and to the river. These projects of “art total” create an art consciousness among the users and especially the children, increasing awareness of the value of landscapes.

In addition to the strong participation of local craftsmen and art students, this project is a good example of participation, supervision and management led by the public authority.