The Concert Hall in Athens buzzed with excitement on Friday, June 28, as architects, scientists, and prominent figures gathered for the Official Opening Ceremony of ArXellence 3. This international, interdisciplinary architecture competition focuses on “Preserving Historical Memory, Promoting, and Protecting the Unique Environmental Characteristics of Gyaros Island.” The competition is organized by ALUMIL and the Non-Profit Association AEGEAS with the approval and co-organization of the Technical Chamber of Greece.
A Symphony of vision and discourse
The inaugural event of ArXellence 3 unfolded as a symphony of in-depth presentations and dynamic panel discussions, focusing primarily on historical memory and sustainability.
Mr. George Milonas, President and CEO of ALUMIL, delivered a presentation highlighting the importance of the Arxellence initiative for society.
Mr. Athanasios Martinos, founder of the Non-Profit Civil Society AEGEAS, expressed his unwavering support for the competition, emphasizing its potential to catalyze positive changes.
The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Nikolaos Tachiaos, conveyed the Prime Minister’s and Government’s commendations, appreciating the organizers’ commitment to this transformative initiative.
Mr. Georgios Stasinos, President of the Technical Chamber of Greece, confirmed the Chamber’s steadfast commitment to the success of the competition. Following this, the baton was passed to Mr. Nikos Salpingidis, Director of Innovation at ALUMIL Group, who presented a brief history of the Arxellence competitions and revealed the inspiring vision supporting the interdisciplinary architecture ideas competition ArXellence 3. The esteemed Rector of the National Technical University of Athens and Professor at the School of Marine, Architecture, and Engineering of NTUA, Mr., emphasized the profound importance of initiatives like ArXellence 3 in shaping a brighter future.
Attention then shifted to the competition, focusing on the island of Gyaros, through poignant narratives shared by journalist and founder of Istorima.org, Ms. Sophia Papaioannou. Her interviews with exiles from the harsh seven-year dictatorship shed a somber yet illuminating light on the historical significance of the island.
Speeches and Panel discussions
At the start of the scientific program of the conference, the academic and former President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos, delivered a speech on “The European Union Facing the Climate Crisis,” emphasizing Europe’s responsibility to take initiatives and lead in this area.
Following Mr. Pavlopoulos’ speech, two panel discussions were held. The first panel, titled “Building Tomorrow’s Societies: European and International Perspectives,” discussed European and international practices related to sustainability and sustainable construction. Dr. Maria Papadopoulou (Professor, NTUA, President of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency) moderated this panel. The panelists included:
- Dr. Elena Lopez Gunn, Founder & CEO of ICATALIST / Royal Elcano Institute
- Sanjay Puri, Principal Architect at Sanjay Puri Architects
- Dr. Panagiotis Balabanis, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation’s “Oceans, Seas, and Waters” Unit, European Commission
The second panel of the day, titled “Greek Practices,” focused on how Greece addresses sustainability issues and what changes can be made in this field. The discussions were moderated by Dr. Stella Kyvelou (Architectural Engineer, Professor at Panteion University). The presentations in this panel were given by:
- Dr. Amalia Androulidaki, Architect Engineer, General Director for Restoration, Museums, and Technical Works at the Greek Ministry of Culture
- Emmanuel Votsis, Architect Engineer, KCOM37 Architects
- Pantelis Levantis, Founder & Managing Director of Ecoveritas, Member of BD SBC Greece
The program of speeches and presentations for the Opening Ceremony of ArXellence 3 concluded with a brief statement from Dr. Evangelos Lyroudias, architect, engineer, and consultant at ALUMIL Group, who highlighted the competition’s requirements and what participants should keep in mind.
What ArXellence 3 represents
At the heart of ArXellence 3 lies Gyaros Island. Chosen as the venue for this architectural endeavor, Gyaros is an island with a dark history, having been a place of political exile for thousands of Greek citizens imprisoned there during the civil war and after the civil war, as well as during the Junta, experiencing repression and living under extremely adverse conditions. Nevertheless, under the weight of this legacy, Gyaros represents a significant natural asset for Greece. Designated as a Marine Protected Area in 2019 and embraced by the “Natura 2000” network in 2011, the island boasts a rich tapestry of biodiversity. It is home to 12% of the world’s Mediterranean monk seal population, Monachus monachus, while unique coral formations and Posidonia meadows cover more than 30% of the seabed.
ArXellence 3 offers a dual invitation to architects and visionaries. The competition has two main requirements that must be seriously considered by those submitting their proposals. The first is the creation of a museum to honor the people who were imprisoned, tortured, and suffered on the island, as well as those who endured these hardships and perished in Gyaros. The second involves developing a Research Center to promote strategies for environmental protection and sustainability in the broader Mediterranean region. You are invited to delve deeper into the heart of ArXellence 3 through the official website: ArXellence 3.
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