Tourist Centre of Alternative Tourism in Lefkada 

UTH [diploma project]
Supervisor : Spyros Papadopoulos

The subject of this diploma is placed in an Ionian island of Greece, Lefkas, more specifically in the unique region of Niras, next to the monastery of St. Nicholas. In that area there was functioning, an old olive press, which is no longer in operation. The diploma consists of the construction of a modern mill where the product of the olive will be collected from the area and processed; creating products that will be stored ready for trade. The intervention continues going down the slope with a small unit of production of essential oils that end up on site of spa, ydatotherapy. Finally, apart from dining area, overlooking the Ionian Sea that lies in front of the entire complex, there are rooms of accommodation serving 36 people. The complex is situated in an environment where you can organize routes of exceptional beauty and enjoyment such as walking trails, swimming in natural outstanding beauty and beaches tour to archaeological sites with breathtaking views all day long. 

The special feature of this project is the continued use of the site every month of the year, giving life to the area and development of the island. In this way, visitors will be able to come into direct contact with nature and to see a production process, which comes from our country and directly connected with our history, but also by taking advantage of the products of this process will have the opportunity to relax, enjoy nature and views of a particular landscape. 

As Bernard Tschumi writes in his book «Architecture and Disjunction», «Architecture is defined as the sensual and sometimes violent confrontation of spaces and activities.” With clear influences from the above sentence uses located in the area that seem completely opposite but in fact closely related. 

Through this form of surgery finally sought the revival of all the senses through the forms and materials of the buildings and the rewriting of the movement of bodies in space, together with the actions and events that take place.