Xanthi became famous in the 19th century where it flourished economically due to the production of tobacco. It was called Little Paris because of the wealth of that time. A Paris that has preserved its building heritage but keeps it unexploited. This naturally leads to the neglect of the buildings - most of which are tobacco warehouses - with the latest event being the burning of the tobacco warehouse on Anaxarchou Street in 2022. The use of the tobacco warehouse premises is an urgent issue to this day as half of them have been left to rot.
The present project focuses on the tobacco warehouse Π on Andreou Demetriou Street, in the city centre, in contrast to the other tobacco warehouses located on the outskirts of the city. Xanthi has 3 museums which meet the traditional museum standards that want the user to be a viewer rather than a participant. This thesis proposes the expansion of the old tobacco warehouse in the form of a modern museum. The new building will be able to house exhibitions, performances, presentations, audiovisual installations and offer a flexible space to all participants. The ground floor can also be used as a gathering space in the evening while exhibitions will be hosted on the covered and outdoor floors. The association with the old tobacco warehouse is done from the inside letting the participant jump from era to era.
The tobacco warehouse has retained the industrial architecture of the era while the new building meets the modern industrial architecture.
The aim of the project is not only to create an attraction in the city centre, but also to enhance an existing preserved site with an extension. The site is designated as a green lung which is currently used as a car park. I want the radical and somewhat immature proposal of this thesis to also serve as food for thought. What is it that we preserve and why preserve it if we cannot enhance it with respect and adaptation to it. The building additions do not obscure but on the other hand support the cultural wealth and work together as a palimpsest.
