A NARRATION OF SYMBOSIS: BETWEEN LANDSCAPE FRAGMENS AND THE RESIDENTIAL FOOTPRINT

The project examines the area of Stavros Akrotiri, a coastal region in Crete, and its surroundings. It is a resort settlement that developed within a landscape with a unique geological context. Initially, the uniqueness of the area is emphasized as a place of contrasts: on one hand, a settlement with limited public space, developed in a labyrinthine manner, and on the other hand, a fragmented and difficult-to-access natural landscape that is highly privatized. Seeking balance in the coexistence of these two aspects, the project attempts to redefine the boundaries of the settlement, providing space for the natural landscape and organically articulating the two worlds. Subsequently, the study focuses on the archaeological settlement, the ancient Venetian quarry (located in the rockiest part of the coast, separating the two beaches) as a space between the natural and the human-made. Using its structure and form as a tool, it seeks to bridge the contradictions and create a new urban system: a system of connections, public spaces, paths, and public buildings with cultural uses. Finally, a new character is sought for the settlement, one that is more compatible with the symbiotic relationship aspired to in this research. A scenario of uses is configured, aiming for a common presence of culture, local producers, and leisure in public space, with a focus on the two new squares of the settlement and the buildings that frame them.