"GREAT 2013 ∙ Their First Buildings"

Exhibition of 41 projects in the Megaron Moussikis of Athens

Athens, April the 30th, 2013

The 41 undergraduate and postgraduate architectural projects participating in the “GREAT 2013 ∙ Their First Buildings” contest were chosen by the selection panel to be exhibited in the Megaron Mousikis of Athens. GREAT puts particular emphasis on Greek architectural talent and its innovative spirit while striving to amplify its resonance in the global architectural community.

Giannis Giannoutsos participated with his work “New Kapralos Museum”.

"NEW KAPRALOS MUSEUM"

The celebrated Greek artist Christos Kapralos spent his summers and created his works on the island of Aigina. It was there, in the area of Plakakia, that he built his house/studio. The Kapralos building is already used as a museum housing his works. In addition to the already existing one, it is proposed that a new complementary museum be built to exhibit the sum of his artistic creation.

The ancient poros stone (local limestone) quarries are to be found in the same area. The guiding concept behind the new museum is inspired by the very idea of quarrying. The composition is subdivided in a threefold scheme: “Descending Underground – Discovering the Work – Internalizing the Experience”.

The proposal provides for the construction of an underground museum. The goal is to take advantage of the existing terrain configuration and render the desired symbolism. The museum’s spiral layout will determine individual exhibition segments. Visitors will encounter the sculptures (made out of bronze, wood, poros stone and gypsum) naturally lit from the level ground above them.

The second part of this architectural study aims at reclaiming and re-utilising the residences/studios of the artists. The proposal is to reopen Nikolaou’s residence as a guest house and studio for Fine Arts and Architecture students, and turn it into a museum dedicated to the artist’s work. It is further proposed that the Moralis residence/studio be also converted to a museum housing the painter’s creations. In the former Kapralos residence, the already existing exhibition could be augmented with the construction of an additional museum to host the sum of the sculptor’s work.

The study concludes with a proposal to redevelop the seafront. The intention is to construct a “cultural walkway” tracing the ancient esplanade and connecting the museums. The Nikolaou Museum will act as the walkway’s starting point. The route will then successively pass by the Moralis and Kapralos Museums. The 1.400m walkway is projected to end at the house where Kazantzakis lived from 1936 to 1944. Detailed drawings and models delineating the study area, along with fully illustrated study proposals for the museum and the seafront redevelopment are also included. As already mentioned, the objective is to create a “cultural walkway”.