The Garden of Sound

THE GARDEN OF SOUND IN THESSALONIKI, GREECE

The Garden of Sound is one of the fifteen gardens of the revitalized coastal public city area in Thessaloniki, spanning over 24 ha altogether. It was implemented in 2014. Promoted by local authorities it attracts residents and tourists. Designed by Nikiforidis-Cuomo Architects.

2000

CONTEXT

With a population of over a million people, Thessaloniki is Greece's second biggest city. The city's proximity to the sea has determined its character to a large extent, having developed along the shore of Thermaikos Gulf. In 2000, the Municipality of Thessaloniki sponsored a design competition to design a new public space at the very seaside. The design office Nikiforidis-Cuomo Architects was awarded the opportunity to lead the redevelopment [3].

2006 - 2014

CONSTRUCTION

Thirteen green areas were created as a series of "green rooms - gardens," each with a unique theme feature. Each garden concept is inspired by a particular theme such as the senses, city memories, or botanical features [2]. The Garden of Sound was designed to resemble a forest. High trees are planted along the channel in which the water is constantly murmuring, while the reed planted next to it produces a sound as interacting with the wind. Two pavilions are intended for rest in this acoustic environment.

References

[1] Hadji, A. (2010). The sound Garden in Thessaloniki, Greece. 360cities.net. Retrieved: 5th August 2022, from https://www.360cities.net/image/the-sound-garden-in-thessaloniki-greece.

[2] New Waterfront of Thessaloniki / Nikiforidis-Cuomo Architects. ArchDaily. (2014). Retrieved: 5th August 2022, from https://www.archdaily.com/484899/new-waterfront-of-thessaloniki-nikiforidis-cuomo-architects.

[3] Thessaloniki New Waterfront Creates Spectacular Scenes. Land8. (2015). Retrieved: 5th August 2022, from https://land8.com/thessaloniki-new-waterfront-creates-spectacular-scenes/.

Entry submitted by: Xiaochao Chen