The Anchor : Agri-tourism urbanism
I believe that well-designed spaces not only bring happiness to people but also serve as a medium for enhancing social culture, ecology, and the economy. As a student of architecture and urbanism, prior to coming to the UK, I spent four years working across both academic research and professional practice. I served as an urban researcher in a university's graduate institute of landscape architecture and also worked in a landscape architecture firm.
During my professional experience, I realized that improving a single space is often insufficient to drive overall systemic improvement. This insight led me to pursue this master's program, where I aim to deepen my understanding of urban infrastructure and learn how to design more effective systems.
About the project:
The utopian urbanistic concept of an "agri-tourism urbanism" envisions an ideal city that connects the daily life and culture of Karystos with tourists, ensuring that local development is no longer solely tourism-focused. Instead, it links urban development with the local urban image.
Inspired by local olive trees and traditional courtyards, the Anchor's design features a tree-like pavilion roof, which is a modular system capable of adapting to a variety of functions. The building is a lightweight timber structure, complemented by locally sourced marble. It blurs the boundary between interior and exterior, breaking away from the "box-like" form of conventional architecture. Metal joints are used for curvature adjustment, allowing the building to manifest as a physical anchor for the genius loci of Karystos. It is a "Third Place" that can stimulate community interaction and local vitality, enabling local culture to be seen and experienced.
