prof. aristotelis naniopoulos aristotle university of thessaloniki accessibility improvement...
TRANSCRIPT
Prof. Aristotelis NaniopoulosAristotle University of Thessaloniki
Accessibility improvement interventions in Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki in the
frame of the “PROSPELASIS” project
TRANSED, September 2012
Contents of the presentation
• Some general remarks
• The PROSPELASIS project
• The methodology developed and followed
• Accessibility improvement interventions realized at selected Monuments
• Signing of a route connecting three important Monuments
• Main Conclusions, Suggestions
Some general remarks
• Access to culture is also a fundamental right of people with disabilities
• A visit to an archaeological site provides direct contact with the area and the Monument, an authentic, irreplaceable experience which cannot be substituted by any representation
• Archaeological sites and Monuments, by their nature, do not allow major interventions to their structure, and are also heavily protected by law
Some general remarks
• A scientific approach established and followed• Interventions have been realized in 6 UNESCO byzantine Monuments• All main disability groups have been considered and interventions designed for them: mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive• Two acknowledged international artists participated in the design to give a special quality flavour• Users involved actively in various stages
Some general remarks
The concept of accessibility, as used here, includes:
- usability and possibility of independent physical access and movement; and -perceptibility, referring to the way one perceives, understands the Monument
The PROSPELASIS project
The “PROSPELASIS” project had as main target the development of a methodology for the improvement of the accessibility of Monuments and its application in at least five Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki
Project Promoter- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki/ Transport Systems Research Group AUTh/TSRG
Partner - 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities
The PROSPELASIS project
The project has been financed by a grant of the EEA Financial Mechanism (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) ( 50%) and the public investments programme of the Hellenic Republic (50%)
The methodology developed and followed
A theoretical approach model was defined first for the improvement of accessibility in Monuments. This contains the following steps:• Evaluation of the existing accessibility level and identification of obstacles Definition of the parts of the Monument that can become accessible•Definition of alternative solutions at pre-study level• Creation of final studies and implementation of accessibility improvement interventions• Informing Monuments’ users about the new provisions• Cooperation of all involved actors/ training on disability issues
The methodology developed and finally followed
Because UD interventions should be of high aesthetic value and innovative
Two international artists participated In the design of
the interventions:
the Greek – French artist Constantin Xenakis,
whose art work has been particularly occupied with
the “code of the route”, and
the Greek – American artist Cris Gianakos, who
has the design of ramps as a main theme of his work.
Constantin Xenakis
Cris Giannakos
Accessibility improvement interventions realized
In six important Byzantine Monuments accessibility
improvement interventions have been realized which
include systems facilitating:
•physical access (bridges, ramps, lifts, platforms)
• information provision via WiFi using different modes:
audible, visual text, (all in three languages) sign
language (Greek and International).
• creation of tactile models, in two of them
• signing of a route connecting three of them
Rotunda
The Rotunda owes its name to its shape. It was built c. AD 306, either as a temple of Zeus or Kabeiros or as the Emperor's mausoleum. It stands on the axis of the Monumental avenue that linked Galerius' triumphal arch and the palace to the south.
During the fifth century, the Christians carried out the necessary changes to convert the building into a church. The original structure has a diameter of 24.5 m. A massive brick dome, 30 m high at the top, crowned the whole building.
Rotunda was converted into a mosque in 1590/1 by Sheikh Suleyman Hortaji Effendi.
The earthquake which struck the city in 1978 caused extensive damage to the Rotunda. The restoration work necessitated major interventions in both the building and its decoration.
Rotunda
Rotunda
Physical access interventions realized
• A new metal bridge of 15,5m span has been created
• A new metal staircase has been constructed
• A platform lift has been installed
Rotunda
Rotunda
Specificities, difficulties of interventions
• No accepted solution for entering from the existing entrance was found.• A new entrance was chosen which restores the main “Imperial” gate of the Roman and Byzantine times. Its approach required the building of a bridge over existing archaeological findings.• During the construction of the bridge’s foundation, significant archaeological findings were revealed requiring a redesign of the bridge’s length and foundations.
Acheiropoietos
The Great Church of the Theotokos was built in the centre of Byzantine Thessaloniki. It is a three-aisled, timber-roofed basilica. The foundation of the church may be dated to the third quarter of the 5th century
The superb mosaics surviving, belong to the church's first phase and consist of vegetal and symbolic decorative subjects.
When Thessaloniki fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1430, Acheiropoietos was the first church to be converted into a mosque. After Liberation in 1912, it was restored again to Christian worship. The earthquake of 1978 caused serious damage to the Monument, necessitating extensive restoration, which were funded by the European Union and the Hellenic state.
Acheiropoietos
Acheiropoietos
Physical access interventions realized
• Installation of an external lift• Creation of an accessible route – installation
of a metal platform with tactile guidance• Creation of a new entrance – installation of a
new door• Construction of a metal staircase• Installation of an internal lift
Acheiropoietos
Acheiropoietos
Acheiropoietos
Specificities, difficulties of interventions
• During the design face the construction of a large ramp
was proposed instead of a lift. However, the construction
size and shape was not accepted by the Central
Archaeological Council.
• The lift’s placement was dictated by the presence of an
existing retaining wall.
• The entrance door selected (side entrance) has been
widened and redesigned.
Heptapyrgion
The fort of the Heptapyrgion is at the north-east end of Thessaloniki’s citadel. It consists of ten triangular and square towers and the curtain-walls between them. It comprises a complex of various building phases from the Early Byzantine period down to the period of Turkish domination, the final phase being the addition of the prison buildings in early modern times.
The Heptapyrgion is not dated as a whole. The five towers and curtain-walls on the north side belong to the general Early Christian fortifications of the citadel. The south side, with its five towers, was added in Byzantine times, thereby creating the fort.
The fort fell into disuse as a defence work in the late 19th century, and was converted into a prison. In 1989 the prison was moved and the site was taken over by the Ministry of Culture and the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine and Modern Antiquities.
Heptapyrgion
Heptapyrgion
Physical access interventions realized
• Design, with the contribution of the artist Cris
Giannakos, and construction of a two-part
metal ramp at the secondary entrance of the
Monument with tactile guidance
Heptapyrgion
Heptapyrgion
Specificities, difficulties of interventions
• Major height differences at the Monument’s main entrance led to the selection of the secondary entrance, which had to be reopened
• Due to the significant width of the fortress walls, two separate ramps, one inside the Monument and one outside of it, connected by a platform were constructed.
• A wheelchair user can enter the fortress and visit only limited areas, including the area where events (concerts etc.) are organized.
Hagios Dimitrios
On the site where "most blessed Demetrios" was imprisoned and then beheaded in 303, stands the church dedicated to the memory of the martyr, the patron saint of Thessaloniki.
According to the "Martyrdom of the saint", the martyr was secretly buried there and the Christians erected a small chapel in 313. In the mid-5th century Leontius erected a church after he had been cured of an illness by saint Demetrios. In about 620, Leontius' basilica was burned. A five-aisled basilica was thus erected, with a transept, narthex and galleries.
The form of the church today is the result of restoration which began after the great fire of Thessaloniki in 1917 and was completed in 1948. In 1493, Saint Demetrios church was turned into a mosque. The church was restored to Orthodox Christian worship in 1912. After the fire of 1917, the restoration work was begun, and ended in 1948.
Hagios Dimitrios
Hagios Dimitrios
Physical access interventions realized
•Creation of an accessible toilet
•Creation of a new ramp leading to it
Hagios Dimitrios
Hagios Dimitrios
Specificities, difficulties of interventions
Since the Monument’s toilets are located at a separate wooden building, major strengthening of its wall was required in order to ensure that the handrails installed can withstand the forces required.
Hagios Nikolaos Orfanos
A dependency of Blatadon Monastery, Hagios Nikolaos Orfanos church was once the katholikon of a monastery. The Monument and its paintings are probably contemporary, the latter being dated to 1310-20.
Today the church is an aisleless timber-roofed structure with an ambulatory terminating in two chapels at the east end.
The depiction in the naos of St. George, patron saint of the Milutin family, and of St. Kliment of Ohrid (both popular subjects in Serbian religious painting) underlines Thessaloniki's prominent role in the art of the Balkans.
The monastery continued to operate during the Ottoman period. The frescoes were discovered in 1957-60 during restoration work on the church.
Hagios Nikolaos Orfanos
Hagios Nikolaos Orfanos
Physical access interventions realized
Due to the Monument’s very small scale and particular characteristics, significant interventions would be required to improve physical access to it which would be at odds with its character.
Following several designs and discussions, it was decided that no physical access interventions would be made and that only a portable ramp would be available, under request, to visitors with restricted mobility.
Hagios Nikolaos Orfanos
Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sofia)
The Church of Saint Sophia (Holy Wisdom) used to be the cathedral of the city in Byzantine times. It is dedicated to Christ, the true Word and Wisdom of God.
Archeological data show that it was built at some time around the end of the 7th century, on the site of an Early Christian, five-aisled basilica of the 5th century.
The church is a typical example of a transitional cruciform church with a dome and peristyle, a development of the new architectural style, the domed basilica, which was first introduced in Hagia Sofia in Constantinople.
After the imposition of Ottoman power, the church continued to function as the Orthodox cathedral until 1523/24, when it was turned into a mosque. In 1890, the building was damaged by fire and then restored by the Byzantinist Charles Diehl in 1907-1909. On 29 June 1913, the church was re-sanctified and handed over for Christian worship. After the earthquakes of 1978, restoration and stabilization work was undertaken.
Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sofia)
Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sofia)
Physical access interventions realized
There are no particular problems concerning the Monument’s physical accessibility.
The only intervention deemed necessary for the improvement of physical accessibility was the creation of a small ramp that would bridge a small height difference of 11cm at the Monument’s entrance.
Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sofia)
WiFi
Installation of a Wi-Fi information system providing:
- Audio information in:•Greek•English•Russian
- Visual information- Sign language video in Hellenic and International
Sign Language.
The system also supports screen readers. Tablet PCs compatible with the WiFi system are available to visitors upon request.
WiFi
antenna hardware
WiFi
Specificities, difficulties of interventions
• The hardware used was chosen in order to cause minimum aesthetic intervention with the surroundings
• The number and placement of WiFi Antennas was selected following various examinations.
• The placement of the WiFi Antennas was chosen to ensure that, in most cases, visitors can receive information even outside the Monuments.
• The application was tested with the participation of users with sensory disabilities.
WiFi testing
Tactile models
Two tactile models were created at the Rotunda and
Heptapyrgion Monuments.
An audible description of the tactile model is available
through the Wi-Fi system installed.
Members of the local Association of the Blind
participated in the design and construction process.
Tactile models, testing
Heptapyrgion
Rotunda
The route connecting three Monuments
An additional action of the project concerned
the signing and realization of interventions
on a route connecting three of the most
important Monuments of the city, i.e. Hagia
Sofia, Acheropoietos and Rotunda.
Main objectives of designing the route
To facilitate the orientation and route finding of people with Cognitive Functional Limitations but also of everyone.
Create a pilot intervention which will be probably extended later on the whole Egnatia route.
Create a successful precedent for the realisation of interventions, focusing on Universal Design with the cooperation of artists.
The route
Signage at bus stops en route
Resting stands, extending a concept of David Finnegan
Information columns and triangular sign
Main Conclusions, Suggestions
• The devised methodology creates a structured process assisting engineers in improving Monuments’ and archaeological spaces’ accessibility level.
• It should be noted that each Monument has its own particular characteristics which might render any efforts for improving its accessibility impossible without contradicting with its character. That was the case with the church of Hagios Nikolaos Orfanos where it was decided that no improvement on the Monument’s physical accessibility could be made.
Main Conclusions, Suggestions
• The methodology developed, through its successful implementation, proved its validity and aspires to provide a tool that could be applied to Monuments at a wider level.
• The proposed interventions proved to be a time consuming process due to the difficult procedures required and the number of involved actors (General Directorate of Ministry of Culture, Directorate for restoration, Ephorates of Antiquities, Central Archaeological Council).
• The participation of Artists added a flavour of high quality, inspired interventions and contributed in attracting Media interest
Main Conclusions, Suggestions
• Close cooperation is required between the team responsible for accessibility improvement interventions and the archaeologists of the Ephorates responsible for the specific Monuments.
• The realization of these interventions, as well as the training seminars realized during the “PROSPELASIS” project, have provided invaluable experience for all involved actors (including Authorities of antiquities, tourist guides, organizations of people with disabilities etc.).
• The project participants aspire that this experience can lead to further actions that will improve Monuments’ and Archaeological sites’ accessibility at national and probably at international level.
Thank you
All those interested in PROSPELASIS can visit the project’s site and download documents, particularly the PROSPELASIS HANDBOOK