THE TEMPLE OF MAN
TEAM: Ilias Theodorakis – Greek – National Technical University of Athens
Urban Park & Prototype Industrial Incubator in Keratsini, Athens, Greece
Back in 1929 the nation’s first large scale electricity factory commences operation on a 90.000sqm. plot. No surrounding buildings can be seen for more than 10km away.
After 84 years of operation, continuous spatial and building expansion, the factory is put into cold reserve. Without operating, it will be maintained in order to be able to respond to an emergency. After the addition of a 500m long dock, the 180.000sqm. plot is now encircled by a dense urban housing infill.
Life is driven by logic and emotion.
Logic ensures survival.
Emotion brings pleasure.
Their combination: symbiosis.
If a place hosts these 3 states of life, but at the same time hastes towards evolving them, are we allowed to call it a Temple of Man?
Today, after three years without operation the factory is about to be shut down. Instead of turning this enormous mass of buildings into a banal museum, the proposal suggests renovating the facilities to host industrial innovation. A 1km-long promenade is designed, surrounded by a park, exhibition halls, a makerspace, R&D facilities and production spaces. An industrial incubator ecosystem is created, giving people the chance to meet, explore,pioneer, evolve.
Do we believe in ourselves?