Spatial Redesign Examples on Boosting the Identity of a Region Through Tourism Practices

Abstract

Since the dawn of twenty-first century, a growing interest in rethinking and reconfiguring heritage has spread among architects, theorists and residents as well. Lately, the health crisis has also destabilized the semantic content, and planning of mobility. The pressure exerted by these multiple a complex entanglement of climatological, social, technological and economic conditions seems to rapidly transform the up to then self-evident interrelationship between mobility, culture and sustainability rendering the boundaries between mobility and identity volatile. Such conceptual transformations are reflected in tourism, revealing the relocation of associations between region, community and environment. At the same time, the urgency of these multiple crises resulted in a new ‘tourism question’, accelerating transformations both in terms of theory and design. The overarching goal of this paper is to investigate in a systematic manner the new reconceptualization of cultural heritage, tourism practices and its architectural—spatial interaction. Moreover, the project aims to problematize the notion of ‘tourism crisis’ and examines its interconnection to identity and to region through a study of specific designed examples from the Department of Interior Architecture, University of West Attica, Greece. The paper’s outcomes are expected to enhance knowledge that is relevant to this new problematic on changing tourism practices and mobility modalities problematic as it is being imposed by multiple crises.

1 “New” Heritage Industry

The need to redefine how tourist facilities and accommodation spaces are perceived and planned is not a recent observation [1, 2]. The different approaches to leisure time management and the changing requirements for quality and alternative lifestyles during holidays as well, force those participating in this process to invent new ways and methods in designing spaces of temporary accommodation. In this procedure hoteliers, tourist agents, administrators, event organizers and space designers need to cooperate.

Within this context, education in the design of hospitality spaces plays an important role. Participating in a multi-layered, comprehensive procedure, that is being revised and repositioned, ultimately leads to the further progress of leisure and bliss, since people engage themselves in the process of discovering both culture and lifestyles of inhabitants of the areas they visit.

The characteristic features of each place, the respect for cultural values and awareness of the environmental effects of tourism, become issues to be negotiated when it comes to research and educational processes, integrating thus the anticipated image of the tourist product. Notions such as cultural heritage, re-use, authenticity, over tourism, ecological footprint, sustainability, creativity, innovation and uniqueness become central points of reference of the above-mentioned negotiation, but also the background of metacognitive processes, that—in any case—may follow future developments. Thus, concepts such as space, cultural inheritance and authenticity are systematically analyzed. With respect towards the environment, the sustainability and the energy reserves of each area, new tourist models are suggested based on innovation, creativity and uniqueness.

1.1 Sustainable Tourism

“We only have one planet. And this planet is our only home”. That was the message of the general secretary of the United Nations António Guterres for the World Environment Day. “We are asking too much from our planet in order to keep a lifestyle that is not sustainable” he warned, emphasizing that our choices do not just harm the Earth. They harm ourselves too [3]. As it was proved by research undertaken by athiNEA Research with the support of the hotel group Sani/Ikos entitled “Eco-friendly Greece: Best Practices of Sustainable Tourism from 21 Resorts Around the World”, the tourist sector can play a defining role in the attempt to adopt a more sustainable way of life [4].

Usually, when we hear the term “sustainable tourism” we concentrate on what needs to be done by the industry. Still, the effort towards change requires group initiatives and cooperation. Each one of us becomes a valuable piece of the puzzle so that the wished-for transition to a sustainable, “green” future may be successful.

In this context, resorts can be found all over the world that also adopt the role of ecosystem custodians. Hotels adjacent to places of rich natural beauty do not only operate in ways that protect the environment in which they belong, but also advocate for environmental rebirth programs that highlight the value of biodiversity. In the same research of athiNEA, examples are been mentioned that illustrate such actions of the tourist hospitality sector, being able not only to enforce a new vision in the tourist industry, but also in common consciousness of us all.

Habitas Namibia, for instance, contributes to this effort by offering safe refuge to more than 30 rhinoceros and 200 giraffes. By studying their adaptation to the estate environment, it is seeking ways to resolve conflicts between human livelihoods and the need for wildlife protection in the area. In Fiji Islands, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, in addition to its coral farm, also implements oceanic habitats conservation and mangrove reforestation programs. In Greece, Sani Resort in Halkidiki that extends over the wider area of Sani Wetlands—host to more than 230 species of birds—cooperates with the Hellenic Ornithological Society for the protection of this unique ecosystem and the implementation of a birdwatching program in the wetlands of the area, in which all hotel visitors can participate. Still, smaller units can be integrated within the practices of sustainable tourism and not just the big hotels. Hospitality spaces, as organized units operating in spaces of rare environmental and cultural value, increasingly realize that their most valuable asset are their surrounding environments [4].

1.2 Memory and Place

Space remains an abstract notion until it acquires identity as the result of human presence. Cities and by extension culture, become constantly mutating morphologies. Centered on the presence of humans and the plurality of emotions, images, expectations and dreams, abstract space is being transformed into place.

Hence, architectural works act as historical evidence. As such, they reinforce collective memory. One could argue that what we describe as architectural cultural inheritance acts as a form of materialized presence of the past. Architectural works however, do not only serve an established value system, but also partake in a continuous process of self-criticism and self-definition. Thus, community acts through history in the past, becomes self-aware and evolves. Also, buildings as references of the past become a characteristic of the ideological and historical identity of a place. Through their preservation, the continuation of tradition and the distinctiveness of a particular community within the world is being secured. More than that, they contribute to the sha** of education for the next generations, but also are being used as consumerist objects, playing thus, a big role in the development of visitation and tourism in a place [5].

2 Cultural Tourism

In an era of an ever-increasing globalization, the protection, conservation, interpretation and promotion of the cultural heritage of each area constitutes an important challenge. One of the primary targets of cultural inheritance management consists of the need to transmit the importance of its conservation to the members of the reception community and visitors. The natural, as well as the cultural environments are both included in the wider sense of the term “inheritance”. This also incorporates landscapes, historic sites, built environment, as well as biodiversity, collections, old and continued cultural practices, knowledge and experiences. The International Charter for Cultural Tourism supports broader initiatives of ΙCOMOS and other international organisations and through its fundamental principles establishes the relationship between Cultural Sites and Tourism. A dynamic relationship which may entail conflicting values. Still, ensuring the authenticity of cultural sites is important and constitutes an essential element of their cultural significance [6].

2.1 The Experience of Accommodation and the Natural Wealth

The challenge of the future is experience, an opinion shared by all those who shape tourist politics. But what does experience mean and how can it be shaped? New architectural suggestions standing out, serve the idea for a ‘(re)turn’ to nature. They also connect the visitor’s experience with the local culture. They focus on the locals, on local products and trust local businesses. Furthermore, hotels themselves become cultural hubs. This way, architects delve into the principles of traditional architecture, redefining thus the notion of tourist accommodation in the sense of an offered cultural product. Design balances between two complementary experiences: the prominence of local idiom and the adoption of an architectural language looking forward into the future. This current suggestion for tourist accommodation focuses on the experience of place and its history. The revival of a forgotten way of life may become a source of emotions, experiences and memories. The discovery of a different way of subsistence and living may offer to humans a new visual perception of life. The revival of deserted places and their reconstruction with natural materials constitutes an approach that is environmentally friendly.

3 Examples from the Educational Context

All the above considerations and interpretations were updated through the transformations following the Covid era [3, 6]. Now that the world seems to be gradually “opening up”—after the introversion characterizing much of the Covid era—tourism seems to be redefining its role by giving an emphasis on the multiplicity of its identity. By kee** our eyes on this direction, we will be transferred in the academic environment. We chose design projects of students from the Department of Interior Architecture of the University of Western Attica in Athens who are processing new directions in design. The project focuses on the redesign of building shells of the recent history of the Lavrion mines in Attica, Greece. In the pine-covered landscape of Lavrion students were requested to redesign the deserted housing shells of the miners (Fig. 1), while kee** in mind the current value of tourism, the historicity of building shells and the importance of the landscape. In the context of this educational procedure taking place in the Department of Interior Architecture of the University of Western Attica in Greece, what was attempted was the transformation of such historical shells to accommodation spaces. The basic question posed here was the correlation between historicity and the current needs of the tourism landscape.

Fig. 1

Images and plan of the current state of building infrastructure to be redesigned by students

At the first figure, the student E. Mastrokosta, (Fig. 2), redesigned buildings by kee** the existing historical shell untouched, while adding to the interior of the “ruins” new shells. Connections—architectural routes were created between the buildings, reminding us the mine galleries in the area.

Fig. 2

Illustrations and facades from E. Mastrokosta

Students E. Boumi, D. Makrakis, M. Ouzouni and K. Nomikou, (Fig. 3), restored the geometry of mine galleries in order to create an extroverted landscape that connected historical buildings with the wider area, while simultaneously extending into the latter. In this case, new accommodation spaces were diversified geometrically from the initial building forms.

Fig. 3

Illustrations from E. Mpoumi, D. Makrakis, M. Ouzouni

The element of relief was central in the redesign of students A. Nikolaou, K. Kakava and E. Koumanidou. New tourist uses merged with the landscape of the area, moving the project away from its previous historical identity (Fig. 4),

Fig. 4

Sketches and facades by A. Nikolaou, K. Kakava and E. Koumanidou

Contrary to this logic, students P. Klitsa, I. Marassioni and E. Tranou, (Fig. 5), chose to differentiate themselves completely from the historical identity of the area and its buildings, by designing a modern hosting complex, along the logic of “non-places”, where the multipolicy of uses does not include locality or the historicity of past uses.

Fig. 5

Illustrations from P. Klitsa. E. Marasioni and A. Tranou

4 Conclusion

The multiplicity and complexity with which new hospitality spaces are approached by the academic environment is seen. Being able to recognize existing conditions and to utilize facts introduced by the landscape itself, these cases allowed the emergence of a spatial combination, as well as the introduction of primary architectural issues, sha** thus, a self-referring architecture. The subtractive process of decay was translated into the decomposition of spatial systems, while the geometry and the dynamic process of transmutation of space demanded elementary geometrical shapes, which would allow its emergence. The intense presence of the soil, the preexisting structures and the grandeur of the landscape scale forced us to work with non-standard analogies, following a rustic aesthetic that resulted to the enhanced monumental presence of the landscape. Seasonality did not just constitute a phenomenon changing the image and atmosphere of landscape, but was further adopted as a design parameter that shaped functions and uses, such as the number of available beds, access, internal circulation and activities. Experience was transformed, sha** interest for different areas. With the upgrade and subsequent utilization of marginalized landscapes, a sense of activity was created which affected seasonality.