Type: cultural l Client: Big Directory Committee of the catacombs of Milos I Size: 125m2 I Location: Tripiti, Milos I Status: design development
Collaborations: Karanikolaou Aristidis (civil engineer), Alexandros Arapantonis (graphic designer)
We were commissioned to design an orthodox outdoor temple, at the area of the catacombs (built at the end of 2nd century BC) in Milos island, in order to host the annual feast of the catacombs. By taking advantage of the morphological characteristics of the area and the astonishing view to the sea we placed the temple on an existing artificial plateau, at the edge of a cliff, 25m higher from the official entrance of the catacombs.
For the creation of this project, we took under consideration the architectural, morphological and climatological characteristics of the broader Milos area. With respect to the sacred space of the catacombs, we draw the following design conditions:
A mild spatial intervention with the construction of a small-scale space that integrates harmoniously into the landscape.
The creation of a light, modular construction that does not intervene with the morphology or the structure of the subsoil.
The utilization of current manufacturing techniques and materials combined with the use of regional natural materials, textures and colors.
The utilization of the temple’s yard in accordance with the operational needs of the temple and securing its connection to the surrounding area.
The creation of a water tank in the interior of the metal structure, to be used for irrigation purposes, and for fire fighting.
The Catacombs Temple is characterized by prominent circular geometries and plasticity, which are core to the Cycladic architectural aesthetics. It has a semicircular floor plan that emphasizes the vertical axis, around which the space is organized. This element is highly influenced by the circumcenter architecture that was widely used during the early Christian years.
Throughout the temple’s frames and detailing, teak wood was used, as well as stucco finishing for its external shell. Finally the flooring was shaped by the local natural stone.
