Landscapes of Modern Greece: Places, Stories, Architectures

Even in its most international and radical forms, modern Greek architecture sought to connect with its place. The geomorphology, nature, history, myth, and ‘genius’ of each place influenced architecture in a decisive way. Through various revivals, revisions, and reconceptualisations, modern ideals were superimposed on existing cultural forms, adding new layers to those of past times.

The module explores how specific cultural landscapes shaped the identity of modern architecture in Greece, positioning it within the liminal space between myth and history, utopia and reality, modernity and tradition. Through examining specific case studies, the module will explore the cultural and aesthetic identities of places such as Athens, Delphi, Elefsina and Delos, and their influence on architects’ work in Greece and beyond. Students will use texts, sketches, drawings, photographs, and other materials produced by architects, artists and other intellectuals as an open repository of ideas and forms, using them to produce their own narratives in the form of short fiction or visual essays. Ultimately, the critical documentation of places and their histories and the production of contextual archives, will lead to novel interpretations and creative compositions.