1866 – Chania Square
Projects
Our team was requested to propose a concept plan for the rehabilitation of 1866 square in Chania, Crete. It is found at the boundaries between the historical region and the commercial center of the town. Chania has a medieval Venetian wall. Next to the square there is a bastion and laterally are the traces of the main medivial gate to the old city. A course staring from it leads to the port is still used today but of minor splendor. To this context of mixed elements there is also a busy narrow motorway.
Taking all these into consideration we attempted to integrate all these different characters into a unified whole. By arranging the traffic we maintained the flow of the pedestrians unhindered. We tried to restore the connection with the bastion that is now concealed. By continuing the traces of the pavement to the course that leads to the port, by diffusing the bounds to all directions and by repeating other architectural elements, we attempted to give a unified character, familiar to the users. Additionally, we suggested the integration of the private open spaces network.
To all these attempts we tried to produce space by using natural elements and arrange plantation regarding their particularities, such as height, foliage, density, etc. denying any monumental character to all this intervention.
This is a workshop team work, 2004.