The desire to exploit the thermal properties of the springs of Ikaria and integrate them into a modern tourist unit was the trigger for this diploma thesis. Ikaria belongs to the islands of the Eastern Aegean and has a number of radioactive sources. Apart from the limited exploitation of these as the majority of the thermal centers have declined and are out of operation, no substantial effort is being made to modernize them and no plan has been planned for their substantial utilization for the benefit of the local community.
The center of interest of the project is the South side of the island and specifically the village of Therma, the spa town of the island. A key concern during the design stage was how geothermal energy can be utilized in all its aspects and create a center of interest for visitors to the island. For this reason, it was deemed appropriate to create a tourist unit that will have modern infrastructure that will be able to highlight the important properties of the springs but at the same time will be used for cooling and heating the facilities, a sector unknown until today for the island.
The primary goal is to promote thermal tourism and the beneficial properties of the springs through an integrated architectural program that will include, in addition to a wellness center, modern facilities for the accommodation of visitors designed with bioclimatic characteristics using a geothermal power plant, respecting the architectural tradition of the place and bringing it to today.