This project explores the complex interplay of utopian and dystopian perceptions within the maritime industrial heritage context, focusing on the former Van Eijk shipyard in Sliedrecht, the Netherlands. Once a symbol of industrial progress and prosperity, the site now embodies a sense of abandonment and spatial decay, reflecting a shift in societal and functional values in the post-industrial era. The central research question is: How were the utopian/dystopian dualities manifested over the course of the former Van Eijk shipyard's lifetime and its epistemological sections, and how can these dualities be employed to re-form its appearance into a heritage-based transformation?

The study examines how industrial spaces, traditionally viewed as utopian, often evolve into dystopian environments, depending on their current state and social perception. Drawing upon historical and theoretical frameworks—such as critiques by Manfredo Tafuri, and Constant Nieuwenhuys’s New Babylon—the research reveals how utopia and dystopia are not fixed categories but subjective experiences shaped by context and use.

A new method of heritage evaluation is introduced, emphasizing spatial experience and user perception over traditional value matrices. Unlike established matrix-based assessments, which often require expert interpretation and singular viewpoints, this approach incorporates multiple user perspectives to recognize the coexistence of contradictory spatial meanings. By focusing on spatial dualities—accessible vs. inaccessible, extrovert vs. introvert—the method allows for a more nuanced, participatory understanding of space.

This user-oriented model not only facilitates adaptive reuse strategies grounded in emotional and experiential spatial qualities but also strengthens the continuity and identity of heritage sites. Ultimately, the architect’s role shifts toward mediating between spatial atmosphere and collective memory, enabling a more inclusive and sustainable transformation of post-industrial environments.
The proposal for a complex combining existing heritage with new construction brings the theory to life. The use of materials and proposed functions create a social hub for the local community, reconnecting them with their forgotten past while creating a prominent future. Similar volumes, semi-transparency and framing create a landmark that aims to be given back to the local community, with the land and water at its epicenter.
Sponsors:
-Foundation for Education and European Culture (IPEP)
-Greek Shipowners’ Social Welfare Company

The Acropolis of Athens is the ultimate symbol of the Greek state and is synonymous with the history of the Greek nation. Despite the lack of information about its early history, it is clear that the transformation of the site and its buildings played a significant role in the socio-political actions that took place during each period. The aim of this research was to shed light on the changes that have occurred to the site and its buildings, and to assess their impact. Through an analysis of some of the extensive literature and archival research, it was possible to discover the changes that took place and their significance or reflection on society. What emerged was a cultural osmosis that happened to the site and a massive rehabilitation of the site. History is constantly being transformed along with the ambitions of the victors. This is reflected in the buildings that are chosen to represent the change, and this leads to many distortions that, after some time, seem almost natural. When these changes are taking place, a clear dichotomy emerges: that of cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. In the chosen case study, we saw both present, in different percentages at different times. However, the most interesting part was understanding the reasons that shaped the percentages.