S C H O O L • O F • A R C H I T E C T U R E • M C G I L L • U N I V E R S I T Y
S U M M E R • C O U R S E • I N • GR E E C E • 2003

Professor Ricardo L. Castro, MRAIC

Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, 1996, RLC
BASIC ASSIGNMENT

ARCHITECTURE, MYTH, AND TOPOGRAPHY

Go to the Greek Mythology Link and choose three characters. You will use one of these characters as your research lead-in as well as an inspiration source. Study the character attentively. Draw conclusions. Re-study and interpret him/her/it. Draw him/her/it. Relate him/her/it to a site....From now on you will be responsable for this character. You will tell, at a given time and when requested, his/her/its (hi)story to the other members of the class.

Think of the fascinating (hi)story of Arachne, or that of Daedalus for instance. There are many possible connections to be made with the idea of architecture, landscape, and the making of artifacts....You have over one hundred and fifty thousand possibilities!!!!

ASSIGNMENT 2

Enigmatic topographies: the Jetty Project


enigma - 1449, from L. ænigma "riddle," from Gk. ainigma, from ainissesthai "speak obscurely, speak in riddles," from ainos "fable, riddle."
jetty - 1418, from O.Fr. jetee "a jetty," from fem. pp. of jeter "to throw" (see jet (v.)). Notion is of a structure "thrown out" past what surrounds it.

Unlike the previous summer courses in Greece, this year we will concentrate on a series of final group projects that will entail topographical interventions. Their geographical context will be the bay located North to the ancient site of Kolona, Aegina.

Consult this link.

Preparation for the project will take place during the first half of the course. The first phase of the project will include exploration of the site, surveying and recording of an enigmatic structure, partially submerged in the neighboring area. Immediately upon return from the Peloponessus and Santorini tour, groups of 3 to 4 individuals will begin implementing the second phase of the project, which will consist of building the “Enigmatic Jetty”.

The jetty, as defined etimologically, results usually from throwing out of a structure in the liminal area between sea and land, although conceptually jetties in other liminal areas may exist, say for instance between clearing and forest. The jetty will be conceived as a gesture marking, a trace in the landscape, which will be related to some of the mythical aspects explored by each one of the members of the various groups as well as to the surrounding topographical events.

The conceptual discourse coupled with the understanding of the topography and historical landscape will help determining the scale of the structure, it tectonic qualities, its permanence, planned erosion or desintegration, and ultimately its purpose.