During today’s meeting, the municipal committee approved the implementation of a pan-Hellenic architectural competition with the title: “Creation of cultural routes and a new municipal market in the city of Ioannito” with the aim of designing the new Municipal market and embedding it. the urban landscape.
As explained by the deputy mayor for planning, Tómas Giotitsas, the intention of the municipal authority is the complete renovation of the area from the Spiritual Center to the Kaloutsiana Mosque, with the aim not only of the commercial and economic revival of the area but also of highlighting important cultural and religious monuments, as part of a wider effort to create a wider tourist area that starts from the old military prisons to the Kaloutsiana Mosque and Litharitsia Park.
The boundaries of the area that is the subject of the study of the planned architectural competition of ideas include the following points:
● Area around the Spiritual Center and Ottoman Monuments.
● New Urban Market Building and surrounding area.
● Section of Agia Marina Street.
The buildings and structures currently in the public market will be removed to implement the new design.
Agia Marina Street, where right-of-way and vehicle parking is currently permitted, is expected to be designated as a pedestrian street, with access only for residents of the street and for emergency vehicles.
“The planned architecture competition aims to revitalize the entire area of the center of Ioannina, which is located at a lower height than the city’s Administrative Center. It is a historical area, between the area of Paralimnia and the Central Square of Pyrrhos, with residential, commercial and cultural uses. The existing People’s Agora operates in the area, together with Ottoman monuments, the Spiritual Center of the Municipality of Ioannito, the Holy Church of Agia Marina and nearby the Kaloutsianis Mosque is being restored. The purpose of the proposed architectural competition is to connect the cultural landmarks that are expanding in that area (and the public space around them) with the design of cultural routes, as well as the design of a new building that will house the building . different uses of the City Market and market representatives, to be a renewed landmark”, stressed Mr. Giotitsas.
At the same time, he pointed out that the planned architecture competition of Ideas aims to renew the quality of life of the residents of the specific area, as well as to redefine the identity of the entire historical area, uniting the outdoors , building and topological features of the urban landscape.
Mr. Giotitsas finally clarified that the decision to give permission to the architecture competition was the first of the steps that had to be taken.
The tender conditions of the competition and its announcement will come at a new meeting of the municipal committee in October, and the next step will be the preparation and preparation of the final studies, based on the guidelines provided by the architectural competition.
