AT THE SPRINGS, IN THE MOUNTAINS: Field seminars with Vassilis Nitsiakos
Thursday, June 6th, 2024
Sheepfold shelter of Panos & Christos Apostolinas
Tiza, Northern Pindos, Epirus, Greece
Pastureland
Tiza, Northern Pindus, Epirus, Greece
Valia Kalda Mountain Refuge
Vovousa, Eastern Zagori (Vlachozagoro), Epirus, Greece
In June 2024, we visited Vovousa in Eastern Zagori, in Epirus, Greece, hoping to visit the headwaters, springs of the rivers after a difficult year marked by the dramatic floods in Volos. We wanted to discover the paths of the waters and the artefacts built by people alongside them, high up in the mountains. We were interested in detecting the connection between human communities and ecosystems, through the interweaving of material structures and objects that revitalizes this connection constantly; we were also interested in understanding the cultural diversity of the mountainous regions across the northern Greek border, a place that has served as a place of encounter, a route for cross-national and cross-ethnic exchanges, and a site of historical events that shaped the modern history of Greece and the Balkans. This complex undertaking, which aims to raise awareness among first-year students regarding the complex and delicate relationship between architecture, place, and culture, would not have been possible without the on-site presence and generous contribution of particularly important individuals, whose work has shaped the academic or technical fields in which they operate and whom we mention by name below. In this short video, which was spontaneously filmed by three students, we have compiled the on-site talks by Vassilis Nitsiakos, Professor Emeritus at the University of Ioannina, on mountains and borders, the worlds of transhumance, the Vlachs of Greece and the Balkans, and much more.
The educational field trip to Vovousa in Eastern Zagori (Vlachozagoro) was organized as part of the course Introduction to Architecture II offered by the Department of Architecture at the University of Thessaly during the 2023–2024 academic year.
Tutors
Phoebe Giannisi
Aspasia Kouzoupi
Anthi Kosma
Iris Lykourioti
Guest lectures by (alphabetically)
Apostolinas Panos, livestock farmer
Apostolinas Christos, livestock farmer
Bissa Alexandra, Textile Designer
Douros Vassilis, Member of the Tzoumakers team
Embirikos Leonidas, Historian, Center for Asia Minor Studies
Kokkonis George, Professor, Department of Music Studies, University of Ioannina
Kostakis Vasilis, Professor, Tallinn University of Technology
Nitsiakos Vassilis, Professor Emeritus, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Ioannina
Papakyritsi Christina, Lead of Marketing and Communication, The High Mountains Social Cooperative
Panagiotopoulos George, Researcher, Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center
Stara Kalliopi, Ethnoecology researcher, University of Ioannina
Tsiakiris Rigas, Forester, Ioannina Forestry Office
Tsoukarellis Sotiris, President, The High Mountains Social Cooperative
Tzalonikou Eugenia, Weaver, Metsovo Vocational Training School
Musicians (alphabetically)
Apostolinas Panos
Chaldoupis Yiannis
Kramer Nellie
Student organizing committee (alphabetically)
Archontaki Sofia
Chondrou Vassiliki
Kaisaris Jo
Koukoura Stella
Kourti Eirini
Mastoraki Eirini
Petromanolakis Yorgos
Stefanou Sophia
Student Support Team (alphabetically)
Atsoniou Margarita
Babalis Yorgos
Daskalaki Eftychia
Diamanti Marilia
Douna Giota
Drikou Maria
Kadiroglou Aris
Kalagasidi Angeliki
Kournioti Daphne
Mataraga Despoina
Samouhou Maria
Samouhou Lydia
Takias Aris
Taladianou Andromachi
Video / Documentation:
Cinematography (alphabetically)
Aris Kadiroglοu
Yorgos Petromanolakis
Maritina Pousia
Film editing
Aris Kadiroglοu
We would like to thank Kamillo Nollas, Dimitris Drougias and the Vovousa Festival for organizing the trip and for the warm hospitality.
We would like to thank the following people (in alphabetical order) for scientific advices and support:
Gerothanasi Lena
Pantazis Alekos
Papapetrou Voula
Terzopoulou Miranda
Vrazitoulis Yiannis
Yiannoulis Yiannis
Zoubouli Maria
We would like to thank the members of The Pindos Perivallontiki (Pindos Environmental Association) for their hospitality and generosity and all the residents of Vovousa for their support throughout our stay in the village.