SPIRAL AGORA
The design addresses Karystos's lack of market and retail space by using the market as the foundation for prototype urbanism. Situated on the waterfront promenade, with farmland to the north and the sea to the south, the market acts as a transition between natural and built environments and serves as a catalyst for urban development.
Inspired by the ancient Greek Agora, the concept of a 'Spiral Agora' is introduced, incorporating four key elements: the open central plaza, the colonnade (Stoa), the plaza stalls, and multi-functionality. The design respects the existing urban fabric, with the four directions—Sea, City, Karystos, and Aetos—converging at the site’s center, forming a central plaza that spirals upwards. Surrounding this plaza, traditional Agora features such as event spaces, colonnades, and market stalls are integrated.
The Spiral Agora merges market activities with everyday life, creating a diverse public space that combines leisure, commerce, culture, and tourism. By connecting the city’s edges with nature and bridging the gap between tourists and locals, this project aims to contribute to Karystos’s sustainable urban development.
