Seminar Week Autumn Semester 2024

Abstract

The interdisciplinary team of Boulouki in collaboration with the Cyclades Ephorate of Antiquities and the French School of Athens is restoring one of the surviving vernacular farmhouses of Delos, the the so-called “House” or “Village of Markos”. The restoration will make use of traditional materials and practices, launching the project with a hands-on workshop during seminar week.

Objective

The goal of this hands-on involvement will be to uncover and map the unexpected entanglements of ancient, vernacular, and modern forms of knowledge embedded in this rural complex. Through this study, the workshop will seek to draw lessons on the sustainable coexistence with the landscape and propose solutions for the management of water, energy, and waste of the restored farmhouse.

Content

The workshop will take place in Delos and will include a wide range of activities: During the mornings we will work in situ in the house of Markos, doing preliminary restoration and maintenance works. These will include cleaning of the buildings, stabilization and reinforcement of their masonry, documentation and classification of the different material elements and architectural components incorporated into this agricultural complex. The second half of the day will include tours of the island, discussions with local residents and experts, lectures on various themes (architecture and construction, archaeology, history, anthropology, as well as experiential narratives), and design sessions focused on the future of the house of Markos. Through these different activities, we will uncover aspects of the implicit (adelos) knowledge that is embedded in the landscape and we will use it to think about scenarios for the sustainable future of the restored farmhouse. Preparatory works: Through the preliminary work that will precede the restoration, the workshop will undertake a thorough examination of the ruined buildings, with the aim of uncovering the knowledge embedded within: We will retrieve information about the building practices of local farmers and reconstruct their guiding principles. We will investigate the materials, techniques, and building standards used in construction, while also exploring how these are connected to the management of the island landscape of Delos. Finally, we will examine the 'symbiotic' relationship between vernacular architecture and ancient ruins in terms of material, formal, and technical continuity. Visits, walks, presentations: This hands-on exploration will be complemented by visits and tours of the landscape surrounding the farmhouse and the neighboring "House of the Fourni”, the archaeological site and museum of Delos, as well as other ruined farmhouses on the island and nearby Rineia. These tours will be led by former and present residents of Delos, local craftspeople, as well as researchers with expertise in the field of Delos. Combined with outdoor lectures and discussions, these tours will help us understand the complex relationships developed by the rural populations of these islands with the remnants of the ancient urban civilizations, and will encourage the development of new understandings of the Cycladic island landscape and the heritage of the Mykonos-Rineia-Delos island complex. Afternoon design sessions: Through drawings, sketches, diagrams, texts, and photographs and all kinds of recording and representation media, the workshop will address the question of infrastructure and facilities of the restored farmhouse in innovative ways. By approaching the knowledge systems of these local cultures—both ancient urban and vernacular—we will trace contemporary solutions for managing water, energy, and waste in the restored agricultural complex. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing an approach that goes beyond strictly technical considerations. Following lessons from vernacular knowledge systems, we will examine “the village of Markos” in a holistic manner, integrating technical functions, practical uses, and artistic or symbolic engagements with the landscape.

Resources