Dimitris Mitsimponas

Project Location
Giali, Greece

Topic 
Landscape Regeneration Production, Tourism 

Program 
Mixed use - Cultural & Social Compact, Facilities, Architecture, Bath 

Baths and a Power Production Facility 

The project proposes a new scenario for Giali island’s manufactured landscape which has been irreparably altered by mining, causing many environmental and social effects. It explores the relation between energy production infrastructure and recreational facilities to reclaim the mine and create a new revenue stream for the local communities. 

Giali is a small volcanic island in Greece with one of the world’s largest open-pit pumice mines. Although it is included in the Natura 2000 Network and declared as a Protected Landscape of Natural Beauty, two companies operate in four locations. The royalty fees mining brings to the nearby island of Nisyros are the biggest source of revenue for its Municipality. The excavations started in the 50s and have a specific time frame, but no plan has been proposed regarding the island’s development. Due to this mono-cultural economy, Giali is at risk of eroding away. Within the future climate goals, Nisyrians decided to prevent further exploitation of unrenewable resources and reclaim the mine sustainably. 

The project focuses on utilizing Giali’s geothermal energy through an architectural program in which energy production and the bathing element have the leading roles. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source in the form of heat generated inside the earth and has many applications in various industries. The geothermal power plant is a heat hub that produces electricity for Nisyros, meeting its needs. Its waste heat is consumed directly at the bathing facilities, just as geothermal sources are used by different cultures for purification and relaxation. According to a cascading system, the spaces are organized depending on their heat and humidity requirements, creating a hybrid where all the senses are stimulated. The proposal explores the connection of the plant’s industrial character with the stimulating aura exuded by the baths, and it is in harmony with the "genius loci," highlighting the site’s unique atmosphere. It also differs from the standard mine reclamation practices, mainly including topsoil placement and reforestation. In this thesis, a combination of three design approaches is applied. The first one seeks to engage the public and the local communities and educate them about energy production and consumption in the present age, mining, and future land use by designing the info point, power plant, and exhibition. The second one focuses on utilizing Giali’s rainwater and clean, renewable energy resources with environmental responsibility to reduce energy and resource inputs. The third one suggests rehabilitating the location for public and recreational amenities, namely electric utilities, walking trails, and baths. The thesis highlights the architects’ social responsibility and proposes a sustainable scenario for the area's development and self-sufficiency. It also raises awareness of critical environmental and energy management challenges. The approaches can act as catalysts in solving critical issues and positively impact the region's socioeconomic future. The project could trigger a series of new interventions related to Giali, Nisyros, and other islands.