PROPOSAL AT ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION OF REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SEAFRONT IN THE "KALAMIA" AREA OF CORINTH

Organizing Authority: Municipality of Corinth
Architectural design: Ioannis Panagiotou Msc-PGDip,
Vasilia Milioni Dipl. Eng.
Anastasios Balatsoukas Dipl. Eng. / MSc
Christina Tsartsaraki Dipl. Eng.
Landscape architect: Kelly Papaioannou
Location: Kalamia of Corinth, Corinthos, Greece
Υear: 2025

The integrated concept behind the proposal is characterized by the intention to unify the coastal front through the segmentation of its "rigid" existing straight line, which currently acts as a barrier. This is achieved by reinterpreting the relationship between the beach and the urban section through a system of broken and curved lines that create new spatial qualities in the public area for the benefit of its users.

The aim is to enhance accessibility to the sea by creating a unified seafront that organizes a range of uses and functions, with the goal of balanced utilization and an expanded significance through the creation of multiple points of interest. At the same time, universal accessibility is pursued by ensuring continuous movement for pedestrians, people with disabilities, and cyclists along the entire length of the front, on a pathway that unfolds like a ribbon and spans all levels of the proposal.

Through the synthetic approach, the aim is to eliminate the artificial boundary of the current unified pier that limits movement solely above the beach, preventing direct access to the shore and the sea except through a few staircases along the front. The proposal seeks, through the creation of distinct levels, to smooth out the elevation differences where they exist and facilitate a more seamless approach to the natural element of the coastline and the beach for pedestrians, people with disabilities, and cyclists.

For the development of the proposal, careful consideration was given to achieving the most balanced utilization of the seafront possible. The different functions of the “neighborhoods” along the coastal front played an important role, adapting the design to the existing public and communal spaces of the city plan, to the development of seasonal uses near residential areas, to the spatial organization of the needs of health-related establishments, and to the smooth integration of these uses with the sea.

Three spikes - piers – are proposed as a fundamental design gesture. Initially, one is placed at the beginning of the seafront, specifically just after the pedestrian bridge over the "Xiria" stream; another is positioned at the level of G. Papandreou pedestrian street, and the third is located approximately at the end of the coastal front.

The piers extend toward the sea, maintaining the continuity of the urban fabric’s uses. At the same time, they function as extensions of the public space along key axes where such an approach is needed for example, at the beginning of the coastal front, at the exit of the pedestrian bridge, creating a bold public space that welcomes you to the front, or along the G. Papandreou pedestrian street, which serves as an important axis for both the seafront and the city.

More specifically, the design articulates a bold open space that serves as an extension of the pedestrian bridge at the beginning of the coastal front and functions as the starting point for organizing pedestrian, accessibility, and micro-mobility vehicle movements along the front. The open space extends into the sea via a pier that incorporates extensive seating areas, offering visual escapes across the entire coastal front. At the same time, on the surface of the pier, a local discontinuity in form and material is created, which transforms the sea into an accessible swimming pool for both the young and the old from the level of the pier.

Next, the two layers of movement and rest unfold. The more urban layer consists of harder materials, as well as green zones with seating areas and shading. The second layer develops at the beach level with a softer materiality, organizing both the stay of swimmers and the use of the beach, as well as the movements within this level.

The two layers are interconnected through multiple ramps and staircase-seating areas, ensuring that no barrier is created between them. A third level, the beach itself, remains accessible along the entire waterfront, providing free access to both residents and visitors.

Since the mid-20th century, the "Kalamia" beach has served as a summer retreat for locals and visitors. Archival photographs from that era reveal makeshift shading structures that catered to the needs of taverns and other hospitality establishments. One of the key elements of this proposal is the revival of these shading structures, reinterpreted with modern materials. The pergola system, extending along a significant portion of the waterfront, acts as an additional layer above the two levels of movement and rest, providing shade for seated visitors, pedestrians, and beachgoers alike.

For the formulation of a unified vocabulary in the public space, urban furniture was designed, including seating areas, tables, and sunbeds. These, in combination with planting and shading, organize the expansion of the equipment for hospitality establishments throughout the year.

The pedestrian street of G. Papandreou evolves into a new landmark for the area as it "extends" into the sea with the creation of a pier, which serves as an extension and outlet of the upgraded pedestrian street, leading the walker towards the water. The pier develops elevated seating areas at its end, gently sloping, which provide visual escapes from the sea side towards the land, while additional extended seating areas are arranged for viewing the sea horizon. Furthermore, a discontinuity in the wooden pier allows both children and adults to descend to the sea level, in a protected area, without being obstructed by passing or parked boats.

The water element is chosen to penetrate the pedestrian street of G. Papandreou in the form of a shallow fountain, which can be filled and emptied at specific times and seasons, leaving free space for passersby and sitters when it is empty of water. In combination with the pier, a clear “L” shaped plaza area is created, serving as the focal point of the waterfront, with seating and green zone.

In the above area, cars do not enter. Instead, traffic is directed to a low-traffic road that runs along the waterfront, with designated parking spaces and a parallel green zone for cycling and pedestrian movement. The low-traffic road does not hinder mobility, as green zones, seating areas, and access points to the two separate levels of movement and stopping continue to develop alongside it.

The waterfront is enriched with a new landmark, as it interconnects and meets a public space of the city, where sports facilities and open green space are developed. The open space for residents and visitors extends towards the waterfront, with areas for play, outdoor gym, and organized sports courts. Some movements, such as cycling and pedestrian paths, enter this open space, creating routes that interact with the natural elements and planting.

The expansion of this space towards the sea is achieved through the western pier, which features seating areas, a surface in contact with the water, and also serves as a docking area for small boats.

The terminal section of the waterfront, towards the western entrance of the city, is characterized by the development of the natural element both on the beachside and on the purely land-based section. The green zone planned in the city plan encourages pedestrian movement and the rerouting of traffic to a parallel road, for example, the "Paleimonos" street, if it is opened, or the "Patras" street, which leads to the western exit of the city. Pedestrian movement is developed within the natural element and at the level of the shoreline on an elevated platform that leaves the beach below unchanged, while also allowing pedestrians to move freely without obstacles to the end of the waterfront.

Materiality of the proposal

The materials used in the proposal particularly reflect the function of the two levels. The level at the height of the urban fabric is formed by harder materials such as different types of cobblestones, perforated and solid concrete products that are laid out in characteristic curved patterns – lines that run longitudinally through key points of the frontage. The fluid patterns encourage the pedestrian to cross the seaside frontage and enhance the movement. Additionally, terracotta rectangular tiles are used as cladding on retaining walls and in some seating areas.

At the lower level, the materiality becomes softer, utilizing wooden decking for the floors, movement ramps, as well as urban furniture such as loungers and seating. The materiality of the planting pergolas is characterized by light, white, metallic elements that can statically support the loads of large cantilevers for shading, with relatively thin cross-sections. The white color ensures that the metallic structure is reflective and does not absorb solar radiation during the summer months.

In the area of the sports facilities, an extensive surface of compressed soil is proposed, as well as colored tartan.

Plantings

The green zones run along almost the entire coastal front in defined sections with both low and tall plantings. In the more urbanized sections, these zones are occasionally surrounded by seating areas and railings. The areas with perforated slabs are planted, but also accessible. The proposed planting includes evergreen and deciduous trees with high resistance to salt and seawater spray. Specifically, the existing Tamarix parviflora (Tamarisk trees) in the area are preserved and transplanted.

In specific sections of the coastal front, the natural beauty is preserved and extended through coordinated tree planting. The ability of the following tree species to be planted even near the sea led to their selection for various sections of the coastline: Ornamental Plum – Prunus cerasifera, Black Locust – Robinia pseudoacacia, Canada Plane Tree – Platanus acerifolia, and Aleppo Pine – Pinus halepensis.