The market of Ioannina is perhaps the only place nowadays, apart from the core of the castle, which retains the city’s historical identity. Basic «component» of the market has been and remains to this day, most of course as a structural entity and not as a function, the inn. One of the most significant inns, and particularly at a focal point of the market, is Thanopoulos’ inn. The exact date of construction is not known; it was certainly built after the disastrous fire of 1869 that burnt to ashes the center of Ioannina, and before the 20th century. The inn was one of the most famous of its time. Through its arched gateway, travelers entered the internal courtyard with the big plane tree, left their animals in the stables and either walked up to the rooms arranged on the floor on the north and west side of the complex, or visited the cafe-restaurant and the shops located on the ground floor towards the road. The inn has been shut since the mid-1980s, except from the stores, which function until now. It was declared monument in 1981.
The restoration proposed in the context of this study, is primarily based on absolute respect towards the historical, architectural and aesthetic values of the building. A key priority is to preserve the image, the “impression” of the inn. Thus, the main facade accepts the minimum of interventions in order to maintain the image that gradually established Thanopoulos’ inn as a landmark. The internal facades are also treated accordingly. Regarding the part of the floor of the west wing, it is obvious that it has suffered irreparable damage to render its preservation. Thus, despite the fact that it constitutes a scheduled section of the building, its redesign is proposed rather than its reconstruction, which would alter the historical identity of the building. |
Regarding the reuse, the aim is to preserve the purpose the inn was created and used for, adapted to contemporary lifestyle. In this direction, the reuse of the building as a youth hostel is proposed. The new interventions aim at preserving the functional and typological layout of the building. Thus, the rooms of the north wing are retained as dormitories with shared baths. The stores and the cafe - restaurant are also retained, while the large single space located at the ground floor of the west wing, is converted to a library. Finally, the outbuildings on the north wing remain as facility spaces for staff. The floor of the west wing is maintained as volume and as a functional unit, consisting of four rooms and a lounge. The basic principle of design is the schematization of a contemporary architectural form within the existing boundaries, through the exploration of typological and morphological issues of the original space.
In the context of building’s reuse as a youth hostel with cultural - educational connotation, the creation of new buildings in the surrounding area of the complex is proposed: a wing of rooms with a lounge, a restaurant and an underground multipurpose hall. Through the «reading» of the elements which compose the inn and its surroundings, the design intends to form a structurally, functionally and esthetically balanced whole, which coexists and interacts with the old - existing. Under this approach, introversion that characterizes the complex is in principle adopted, and remains as a key element of design. The new “traces” rise from the interaction and the interlinking of the limits of the site. In addition, by analogy to the inn, there is an emphasis on the graduation and alternation of closed, semi-open and open spaces. |