The purpose of the thesis is the design of the main facilities for a small monastic community located at the edge of the Pagasetic gulf, south of mount Tisaio. The region is near the village “Trikeri” and has a view of the Aegean Sea and the island of Euboea far south.
The chosen area retains a sufficient distance from the nearest urban center (Volos, 72km away) and is surrounded by nature. The natural landscape is kept intact except for some cases of the few local breeders and their handmade facilities.
The monastic community consists of 25 monks and has a capacity to accommodate 12 guests, (pilgrims/worshippers and researchers). The library and the various courses such as hagiography, traditional book binding techniques as well as lectures on introductory themes of Theology are the main themes that are available for each guest.
The architectural solution is not to be considered as a radical proposition regarding the way monasteries are designed. The main source of inspiration are the monasteries of Mount Athos. The characteristic central role of some building as the “Katholikon” is one of the main starting points of the design proccess, whereas the inaccessible manner of many monasteries built on steep hills or similar cases is considered of lesser importance in this project and the choice of the area was thus made so. Finally, attention was paid so as to produce a fully functional monastic life designed to fill the needs of introspection and Hesychasm, as well as recreation and worship.
