Purros Square Ioannina

Project Description:

The proposal for the new Purros Square in Ioannina suggests an open and accessible public space that creates a new identity and captures the imaginary of the city. Acting as an ‘urban balcony’ overlooking the lake of Ioannina, the new square presents a unified and flexible space for both everyday leisure time and large events to take place. The open space of the square is subdivided in three main programmatic clusters:

- The Circle, a sunken and central circular space that involves the element of water, symbolizing the lake and its effects to the culture of the city. The Circle becomes a water mirror in spring, a foggy fountain in the summer, a hangout space in autumn and a frozen skating surface in winter. It includes 9 large water jets, 72 smaller water diffuser and more than 140 randomly placed spotlights that simulate the stars in the sky

- The Urban Garden, a rectangular cluster of tall trees arrayed on a grid with rotating chairs and wooden benches in between them. This area offers shade and a playful green environment for small groups to hung out, while it retains visual and physical connection to the Circle

- The Stripes Square in front of Café Oasis, an open space of monolithic benched positioned playfully along an array of travertine stripes, it functions and a generic relax space for users to sit individually or in groups under the sun.

In an effort to preserve the human scale, the proposed volumes remain at maximum four (4) levels of height. The height difference between the edges of the Triangle is here used as a design principle, maintaining an almost straight skyline of the roofs in the road connecting Hotel Rila with the initial Cabin Ropeway. Reaching the forest area, the height of the volumes diminishes, so that the users can walk the designed pathways and discover buildings of different qualities and uses. The only structure that stands out is the proposed observatory tower, reaching the height of 24m. The wooden tower is designed following traditional construction methods of the broader region, as for example the Madan of Samokov. Ascending to the top level, the user has the chance to contemplate on the surrounding environment of Borovets and observe the natural landscape of the region.

The overall design refers back to the historic roots of the square, highlighting the qualities of unity, continuity and monumentality, while it corrects the recent design mistakes it received a decade ago when the underground parking was constructed. The project can offer Ioannina a modest landmark and a point of reference that blends elements from its culture, landscape and urbanity.

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