New Municipal Market of Agia Marina and Its Integration into the Urban Fabric

Different historical periods coexist through monuments and building imprints across the wider study area. The monumental ensemble, including the Madrasa and the Veli Mosque, the Cultural Center, the Church of Agia Marina, the Kalousiani Mosque, the Iroon Garden, and the Oasis Cafe building, among others, creates a dynamic field of coexistence between elements from various eras and cultural backgrounds.

Key Design Principles

The new Municipal Market of Agia Marina is conceived to integrate into this historical spatial palimpsest while simultaneously establishing a unifying condition that defines a new identity for this historic district of Ioannina. Starting from the concept of the palimpsest, the design aims to strengthen the character of this historically charged site through a cohesive and integrative logic.

The Palimpsest

The central design idea emerges from the notion of the palimpsest. Spatially, it is expressed through a structural system comprising stone elements and metal roof components. In the market’s structural palimpsest, stone acts as a revival of the past, while the metal roof elements reference contemporary architectural language. Together, they create a structural dialogue between old and new. The strong differentiation between the stone and metal components in terms of mass and volume, inherent to their material properties, reinforces their connection.

The Canopy and the Urban Forest

The market building interprets the palimpsest concept and manifests as a man-made urban forest. The design establishes a structural system anchored in robust stone elements while developing a roofing system that allows light to enter rhythmically, reminiscent of tree branches. The repetitive elements of the roof, combined with deliberate interruptions via atrium-like structures acting as clearings, enable the continuous integration of natural elements into the heart of the building.

The Street

In the urban understanding, the traditional market is spatially identified with the linear condition of an urban street. The market building borrows from this urban typology, composing continuous linear volumes interconnected by transverse links, unified under a common roofing element.
The two linear adjoining volumes housing the market feature a linear system of stalls, combining straight and semicircular arrangements. This preserves the linear continuity while creating alcoves and recesses along the volumes to facilitate pause and circulation for visitors.

The Square

The rotation of the building axes at the eastern section of the plot generates a void that contrasts with the monumental ensemble of the Madrasa and the Veli Mosque. The public square created here welcomes the neighboring historic buildings, establishing a unifying condition. New and historic buildings interact through the square, collectively forming a coherent field where contemporary and existing architectural elements coexist.

Integration into the Urban Fabric

Various strategies ensure the building and proposed public space are well-integrated into the urban structure.

Axis Rotation   
The building axes follow the city grid at the southwestern boundary of the site, then pivot to create a new square embracing the market and the monumental ensemble. In this way, the new public space operates as a unifying element, registering both the new market building and the historic structures into a single spatial unit.

Integration into the Terrain      
The building engages with the urban terrain, leveraging its natural slope. The building and the ground form a continuous surface along the contact with the Heroes’ Park, descending together on a single level. This approach avoids spatial and visual barriers, allowing the building to flow seamlessly with the urban ground.

Continuity
The market significantly steps back at its southeastern boundary, providing a public area that integrates the building, the square, and the proposed pedestrian pathway. The main entrance is located here, where the overlap of building and public space is achieved through the sliding extensions of the roof structures.

Planting

Plant species adapted to the local landscape are selected, including:
Acer platanoides, Acer platanoides ‘Rubrum’, Acer platanoides variegata, Acer platanoides globosum, Acer pseudoplatanus, Aesculus hippocastanum, Acacia Constantinopoleos, Catalpa, Catalpa nana, Melicoccus, Cercis siliquastrum, Fraxinus, Hibiscus, Kerria japonica, Lagerstroemia, Ligustrum, Liquidambar, Liriodendron, Magnolia, Ornamental apple, Morus platanoides horizontalis, Prunus, Ornamental cherry, Quercus ilex, Quercus rubra, Tilia, Photinia.

Bioclimatic Character of the Market Building

The bioclimatic performance is achieved through careful material selection, the integration of photovoltaic panels in the roof, and volumetric design strategies, including atriums, a covered arcade, and partial building embedding into the terrain.

Material Selection         
The building seeks to minimize its energy footprint by employing local stone and integrated photovoltaic systems in the roof. Roof and connection elements between vertical stone supports and beams are constructed from metal and white reinforced concrete, respectively.

Integrated Photovoltaic Potential         
The roof accommodates integrated photovoltaic panels rather than separate systems, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. This allows natural light to enter the interior, producing rhythmic shading through repeated metallic roof elements. The combination of cross-beams and photovoltaic panels is carefully arranged to maximize interior shading without reducing rooftop energy efficiency, employing a triangular cross-sectional arrangement.