LOUTROTOPOS

The research project “LOUTROTOPOS: Critical mapping and visual narration of thermal springs in the Hellenic Territory” investigates a network of places with thermal resources, which were selected according to the official map of thermal springs issued by the Greek Ministries of Tourism and Health. Following typical regional planning developmental strategies for remote and inaccessible places in the Hellenic periphery, the project focuses on the potential of enhancing endogenous local resources, highlighting the fact that thermal springs are geographical places with a unique physiognomy, reinforcing thereby their fundamental linkage with the concept of healing, as a cross-cultural holistic practice of well-being with uninterrupted historical continuity.

The primary objective of the research project is to promote the network of Hellenic thermal springs, so-called “Loutrotopos”, i.e., places with a certified thermal resource. The concomitant research study explores crucial aspects of Loutrotopos, using architectural/landscape, historical, socio-economic, cultural/folklore documentation and personal testimonies. The objective aligns within the regional planning policies for remote places in the Hellenic periphery, based on the preservation of the cultural identity and the promotion of endogenous local resources, highlighting the fact that thermal springs are geographical places with a unique physiognomy and developmental potentialities, reinforcing thereby their fundamental linkage with the concept of healing, as a body-centered cross-cultural holistic practice with uninterrupted historical continuity in Greek History. The project team will identify specific “Loutrotopos” in the Hellenic territory as unique subject matters, yet, as nodes of the thermalism network in our country. Critical cartography and deep mapping practices will be combined with material and digital visual media, spatially presented in a form of Video installation that will organize in multiple layers different types of information about Loutrotopos via texts, images, technical data, graphs, 3D simulation, etc. penetrated to the research process and outcome. Archival information and constructed 3D objects, shall make palpable the multi-dimensional significance of thermal springs to the viewer. Since the goal of the project is to promote the unique identity of the “Loutrotopos” to a national and international level, workshops, public events, art shows and scientific publications will be planed. All processes of the research project, applied to a case study, will ultimately formulate an exemplary method, which will be modeled to constitute a research navigator for the research and promotion of any other “Loutrotopos”.