In the context of my research project, in which I studied the intense humanitarian crisis and the built environment in Pomak villages, I was led to a diploma thesis that will focus on designing an intervention in this space.
Through my personal visits and conversations, I mainly focused on the mountainous villages of Pomak villages, which are facing complete abandonment. One of these villages that caught my attention is Medusa. It is a mountainous settlement near the Greek-Bulgarian border, 48.8 kilometers from Xanthi. The passing of time, due to the continuous settlement of the population in central villages and later on in nearby cities, played a significant factor in the complete abandonment of public and private buildings.
The goal of this diploma thesis is to create a model of action for the Pomak culture, with Medusa settlement as its axis. The model of action to be created will have a specially designed workshop at its center for learning the local cuisine, which is a particularly unique and interesting aspect of the place. The platform's operation will be achieved through the interaction of the village residents and groups (including individuals of different ages such as students or university groups, clubs, etc.) who will visit the program. Additionally, this a model of action will be surrounded by a recreation center, café-restaurant, office space, and the integration of a medical center that is currently missing in the village. To complete the program, it is proposed to build a guesthouse so that groups of 1 to 20 people can stay, avoiding the difficulties of transportation while at the same time enhancing interaction with permanent residents.