The purpose of this thesis is the re-use of the original, old factory buildings of Kyknos in Bolati, Argolida and,in so doing, reviving the wider region of Argolida.To be specific: the ways in which sites can be used in relation to the development of cultural life in Argolida, in conjunction with preserving the memory of the industrial unit by converting it into a museum per se.
The focus of this study is three-fold: a comparison between the old and the new, the visitor v. the permanent resident, and the birth of the industrial unit. Moreover, my main concern is to demonstrate respect towards the industrial heritage of the area, specifically, a study of the plot and the creation of a new architectual design which not only blends in harmoniously with that of the existing buildings, but also creates a dynamic link between these and those already in existence. On the one hand, the new alignments follow the orthogonal grid of the existing buildings, thus allowing a mild form of intervention to the precincts, whilst, on the other hand, permitting the creation of a new tour of the grounds to emerge completely.
With regard to the materials used in the new construction, special attention has been paid to their relationship with those of the existing buildings.Chronologically, the factory was built in 1937 and up to 1945, additions were made with brick and concrete. In order to achieve a discreet intervention, my proposal includes the construction of a mild-faced concrete, together with constructions of metal and glass, so as to achieve the transparency required to enable the outer shells of the preserved buildings to remain visible to the visitor.
To sum up, my intention is to create a space which will both contribute to, and stimulate,cultural, social actions and activities, with the ultimate aim of bringing a new pulse to the nearby urban centres, whilst simultaneously reviving the wider region of Argolida.