This project deals with the redesigning of the sea front of the city of Thessalonica, from the Music Hall (Megaro Mousikis) until the Nautical Club of Thessalonica, aiming to redefine and restore the connection between the sea and urban landscape.
The study area includes the Music Hall, the Conference Hall, the Posidonio Athletic Center, the Nautical Club of Thessalonica, separate recreation areas and unformed areas to be used as parking spaces. It also abuts on the Allatini Flourmill complex, which constitutes a preservable historical monument.
The engineering reformation of this area is necessary in order to settle the incompatibilities in use in it, to annul the deficiencies, and to upgrade it, in order to be integrated smoothly to the surrounding urban area. The suggested land uses are according to the General Urban Planning of Thessalonica, and include sport facilities, recreation and entertainment areas, as well as planted areas. The suggestion aims at the creation of a park-square where uses will be harmonically integrated. The study area is divided in thematic zone with clearly defined boundaries. The first zone includes the Music Hall, its Conference Center, the Music Garden, and the land area situated in front of them. This area belongs solely to the aforementioned buildings and will function as their garden. The General Urban Planning of Thessalonica makes provisions for the establishing of sports facilities bear the Music Hall. However, the placing of cultural and sports facilities is judged incompatible. For the smooth transition of one use to the next, a second zone is suggested, to solely house areas for recreation and entertainment. Their clear distinction is expressed territorially with the interjection of an independent islet. The third zone includes mainly sports facilities and related infrastructure, and secondary recreation and entertainment areas. Finally, the fourth zone is given to the housing blocks that abut on the study area to the east, and is to be used as their wider yard. In order for the aforementioned thematic zones to be linked, a continuous linear course is suggested – a promenade crossing them, offering a smooth transition from one to the other. The planned cycle lane, crossing the entire area, also functions as an integrator, providing visitors with a tour route. The cycle lane is also the only element of this interference, linking the New Beach of Thessalonica with the study area. Hard wooden floors, grassy areas, organized wooded green areas; gardens and flowerbeds, ponds and pools form the landscape of the study area. The boundaries of the interference are defined so as to secure a smooth transition from the urban to the sea front of the city.
The various alternative uses of the proposed planning are able to constitute the study area a cultural landmark, equal to the center of the town (archaeological and Byzantine museum, White Tower, Kipos Theater), as well as with the Port, where the Movie Festival takes places during the past years. Thus, the sea square triangle closes, giving a semantic coherence to the town, and the study area becomes a living organism.