Messinia Guide > Elias Messinas: What is considered today as alternative, is what was natural and is forgotten
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On the occasion of two houses constructed in Mani and outside Kalamata, Messinia Guide has met architect Elias Messinas, Dr. of Physical Planning and candidate for mechanic of environment, , for a short interview about the relation between traditional architecture and ecological building.

Messinia Guide: Mr. Messina, what inspires you the most in the area of Kalamata and Mani?

Peloponnisos has a historical identity that becomes more tangible the closer we get to Mani. An important sample of medieval architecture has been preserved there, just like the traditional houses of Balkan builders in Macedonia and Thraki. My recent visit to Kardamili was a travel to the past, similar to the experience of a visit to the historical cities of Europe or the old city of Jerusalem.

For me Peloponnisos is special. My maternal grandmother’s family spent a period of approximately 300 years in Mystras (Myzythras). They left when the Revolution of 1821 broke out and settled in the castle of Chalkida. Every time I visit Peloponnisos I feel I am reunited with the history of my family.

Messinia Guide: What is your idea of ‘local architecture’?

First of all, local tradition and popular architecture was formed after many centuries of work of the builders’ “isnaf”, which did not always include only local builders but also groups of ‘koudareon’ (masters, builders) who came from the Balkans. Maybe this explains why so many places that nowadays belong to different countries in the Balkans, Greece and Turkey share the same architectural techniques and style (so called ‘popular’).
However, local tradition started fading out – or, more correctly, changing – at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, with the adoption of neo-classical urban planning and architecture in Athens and others cities with public works and public buildings. The local “traditional “style” of these cities was lost.
After the ‘60s, massive exchange of houses for apartments changed Peloponnisos, as well entire Greece; as a result, impersonal block of flats replaced the local style and the traditional house web gave its place to consecutive partition walls that were built unmethodically.

Messinia Guide: Is there a modern “local architecture”?

Many modern architectural -or building – techniques alter the local architecture and cities’ character. Most of them are dictated by factors that have nothing to do with the area where the building is situated. There are only few exceptions to the rule; few are the exquisite or even worth mentioning samples of architecture that respect the area’s values and take into consideration its cultural and climatological data, proposing a design that is properly orientated, follows the building’s traditional forms and style, materials, geometry, «personality» and, in short, an architectural technique that is perfectly compatible with the particular place and does not imitate the past. This type of modern local architecture is the natural continuation and a worthy evolution of the old one.

Messinia Guide: How do you design a building, e.g. a house?

I focus on three basic factors that guide the designing procedure: first of all, the owner’s needs. I do not apply to the owner’s desire for exhibition with fancy suggestions and waste of money. On the contrary: I am talking about the owner’s and family’s “real” need for a place that protects their peace of mind, balance and health. A place both functional and spiritual. A place untouched by the trends of “showing off” and “luxury” that respects diachronic qualities and values. A “refuge” for soul and body. The owner takes part in the construction and participates personally and actively throughout the entire pre-study procedure.

A second factor is the cultural identity of the area where the house is situated. Every place has a history. There is no place without a past. Even a deserted and distant place has its history of loneliness or memories. It is a big mistake going to a place and saying “this place is empty, there is nothing here!” since it has orientations, is seen from somewhere and gives on to somewhere, has natural elements – water, vegetation, topography – and a local tradition that may have been saved in the surroundings. It is our responsibility to look for all these signs and fill in the puzzle that will allow us to know the place and approach it with more sensitivity – and love, if I may say so without being too romantic. In places like Mani or Kalamata, rich in history and monuments, the architect’s work may be easier from one point of view, but more difficult from another: learning the area’s history is not enough; we have to take our place into it. Picture our own building among the existing ones and see it as a worthwhile continuation of the past – even if our suggestion is not a historical one.

The third point, and maybe the most important one in our days, is the area’s climate. At one time, several actions had to take place before a house was built (some call them ceremonies) assuring that it would be ‘healthy’ and properly integrated into the environment. Orientations, wind, water, vegetation, health of animals and people around the land, etc. Nowadays, the hastiness that characterizes our technique – most owners are in a hurry to get the license, not build the house! – makes us ignore all these preparations, which are essential and necessary. Integration of the building into the area’s climate means less consumption of energy for cooling and heating in the future, more natural and healthy living conditions in the interior of the house, economy and a better mood for the owners.

Messinia Guide: Could you tell us some things about the two houses you have been designing in Avia and Kerezenia, outside Kalamata?

They are two buildings for different clients in completely different landscapes. The landscape in Avia of Messinian Mani calls for buildings attached to the land, that grow roots and become one with the area’s history. The house I suggest functions mostly vertically (parallel to “axis mundi”) and follows the land’s topography, situated also vertically in terms of topography (just like the old traditional houses). In the area Kerezenia outside Kalamata, there is a force coming from the city, a city that changes face every few years, making the building more dynamic and up-to-date. Here the building had to be horizontal, parallel to the level of the land. It follows the topography and geometry of the ‘lachides’ (stones), but has its own internal topography and organization. However, it is connected with the landscape and nature in a more fresh and modern way. In Mani the building feels the burden of history and needs to communicate and open a dialogue with history. The “tower” in the living room and the “small tower” in the guests’ house are not anachronistic touches in a modern building. It is the memory of the past, the remnants of history that continue to live through the new. There were no remnants in the land; therefore the dialogue with the old takes place through memory. Land in Peloponnisos and particularly in Mani has layers of history, some visible and some not. I believe that the “tower” and the “small tower” simply give shape to the non-visible layers of history that exist also in the area of Avia.

However these buildings are not romantic or anachronistic. They are modern buildings that learn from the past. With the sensitivity and responsibility taught by the architectural past in the areas they are situated, these two houses also learn from the area’s climate. They are bioclimatic. They make the best of orientations (they provide shade in the summer and open towards the south in the winter, protected from the north (winter) and the west (summer). Air provides a natural air conditioning system, water is heated by the sun, rainwater is accumulated, clear electric power is produced and the house is heated naturally by the sun and energy fireplaces (e.g. biomass - pellets). We have chosen local or ecological materials and studied the geomagnetic fields in order to find the best location for building these houses and avoid geopathogenic knots and underground water that could have a negative effect on health. Energy consumption in these houses will be less, even half, in comparison to a conventional house.This guarantees a huge profit, not only for the owners’ health and family budget, but also for national economy and environment in general.

Messinia Guide: Could you tell us some things about ecological building?

Ecological building and bioclimatic architecture are an effort to revive, in a way, responsible architectural techniques. What we call “alternative” in the past was natural and now is forgotten! Even ecological food or natural birth are considered “alternative” in our days (!) while in fact they are the natural ones! We have reached a point where artificial is accepted as natural and vice versa! It is like Aldus Huxley’s prophecy being realized! In our days ecological buildings are considered an “alternative” architectural method, but in fact it is the “real” one, described even by Roman architect Vitruvio. It is the responsible conception of architecture that takes into consideration a building’s characteristics. This does not mean that it takes up more time or is more expensive. It just means that it is done in an appropriate and responsible way.

Messinia Guide: In a few words, what is ecological building?

Ecological building is the construction technique that views building in its whole, so that as many factors as possible are taken into consideration, and creates buildings friendly to the environment and man. Meaning that they are functional and aesthetic, but also interact with their surroundings, both the direct ones, such as orientation, lightning, shade, air, land quality, view, architectural tradition, and also the indirect ones. This is done by selecting materials that do not overburden environment during their production and demolition, do not pollute internal air and do not consume energy.

Ecological building is, in part, the wisdom of architecture that comes from the past but does not require living in it. On the contrary. Applying ecological building principles is a return to the initial conception of building, which is not just about cost and square metres, but sees buildings as living organisms that communicate and interact with climate, area and man.

My opinion about the application of ecological building is, quoting the architect Alexandros Tompazis, that we must “solve” the building itself before turning to technological solutions. This means that buildings should have a good relation with the surroundings and he proposes simple solutions, such as orientation, insulation, natural light and heating from the sun, but also shade during the summer, natural air conditioning with windows and Aeolian chimneys, thermic mass and creation of bioclimate with natural vegetation and water. Furthermore, selection of the materials used should be done according to the Life Cycle Analysis in order to make them compatible to man and the environment.

As my colleague and friend Kostas Tsipiras mentions in his books, land should be examined according to geo-biology, in order to make sure that there are not any geopathogenic knots under the place we sleep.

Finally, and after having completed the basic steps, the owner, according to their financial condition, could then apply other – more expensive –solutions, such as systems for renewable energy sources (photovoltaics, wind generators, geothermy, etc), mobile shades, mobile mirrors, computer programmes for a “clever” house that would save and produce energy, etc.

Messinia Guide: How can local architecture of Mani or Kalamata be combined with bioclimatic architecture and ecological building?

By suggesting architectural solutions that, first, respect and/ or protect the owner, second, respect and/ or promote the area and its history and, third, respect and/ or are environmentally friendly.

Messinia Guide: Since when have you been working in ecological building?

My first contact with bioclimatic architecture was during the ‘80s, while I was working at the architectural office of Lachav-Ring in Jerusalem, specialized in bioclimatic buildings of offices and houses. In 1995 I took a scholarship for research into adding passive bioclimatic appliances to existing working houses. In 1999 I made the pre-study for an ecological settlement in the desert. But the works were called off due to financing problems. This year I started designing the first ecovillage in Middle East for 100 families in the desert, in cooperation with an architectural office in Jerusalem. It is a big and very promising project. Ever since I settled in Aegina I have designed several bioclimatic houses that also follow the principles of ecological building, in Aegina and other places.

Messinia Guide: What is the response to the application of ecological building?

Ecological building is, in my opinion, an one-way road. This is obvious from the E.U. Directives regarding the sector of ecological materials and energy performance of buildings that are applied also in our country and will be applied to a bigger extent, even though Greece has delayed its harmonization with Europe (e.g.: application of the Communal Directive 2002/91 about energy certification of buildings is already 11 months late!) I emphasize this because buildings are responsible for the 40% of international energy consumption, more than transports and industry! A few days ago in Lachti, Finland, European partners made suggestions about reducing energy consumption in transports and buildings by 20% until 2020. Energy saving and application of legislation requires sensitized and educated citizens and professionals. Therefore it is, in my opinion, a matter of informing and sensitizing public opinion.

To this direction aims also the creation of the Holistic Architecture and Ecological Building Association (S.OL.AR. www.s-ol-ar.gr), created this year by mechanics and architects from all over Greece. One of the Association’s main activities is spreading knowledge, not only inside the Association, where the “older” members teach the younger ones principles and techniques of ecological building, but also seminars, meetings and exhibitions open to the broad public. The Association’s objective is to turn the country as much as possible towards ecological building and renewable mild sources of energy in the building sector.

Also, with my initiative and the participation and support of organizations and Associations, the Ecoweek has been inaugurated (www.ecoweek.gr). Its aim is also to inform and educate people about saving energy. It begun in 2005 in Aegina on the occasion of the World Day of Environment. For 2007 we have scheduled events all around Greece. I really believe that, in order to preserve life on this planet, we have to change at least one everyday practice. Ecological building is among the most important ones!

Elias Messinas, architect

Elias Messinas is an architect, graduate of the Athens College, EMP Dr. of Physical Planning ΕMP 1999) and the Yale University (M.Arch. 1992). This year, among other things, he is completing his studies in the Inter-Scientific Program “Environment and Development” in the EMP School of Topographers (M.Sc. Environment EMP). He has been working in the sector of bioclimatic architecture and ecological building in theory and practice since 1995. He is specialized in traditional architecture and in particular synagogues and Jewish district in Greece, that were also the theme of his master thesis. He is married and has three daughters. He has been living and working in Aegina since 2003. In 2005 he inaugurated the “Ecoweek», an event that takes place every year, initially in Aegina and starting from 2007 all over Greece. He is a founder member and a member of the BC of the Holistic Architecture and Ecological Building Association (S.OL.AR.). He is the President of the non-profitable society “Helios” for Viable Development.