The Journey of a Metic and the Observing Athenian

Since ancient history, Athenians believed in their "right of blood". They lived a monocultural society all their life, rejecting contributions from the Metics (resident aliens, slaves, immigrant). MAGNETIZED SPACE is inserted into the centre of Athens as a multicultural strip in a monocultural society where the past and present routes overlapped . The impact is not just social but also holds the potential to transform the multicultural polis from a possibly confused state to one of understanding and new awareness.

This is a story of the journey of a Metic and the observing Athenian. Spanning over a period of 10 years (naturalization), the Metic acquires the qualities needed to be a true Athenian in Magnetized Space within the city fabric both physically and figuratively; skills, fluency in Greek language, understanding of culture and history, and lastly, a Greek name. 

ON THEIR FIRST ARRIVAL, 

The Metic arrives at The Mountain of Refused. A temple where the Metics are represented in Athens, the architecture is monumentally symbolic, a pure prism plunged into the existing abandoned ATHEX (Athens Stock Exchange) right through the underground where the tip meets the buried ancient routes. This is a place of depository where the Metic deposits an evidence of the skill they came with, in exchange of a silver plate to be used in their next stop.

The Metic continues their journey to The Forest. Countless number of Greek columns rise out of a rectangular plinth where the Great Philosophers of Athenians and Metics stand above them. Feeling completely dwarfed, the Metic etches his aspiration and dream of coming to Athens on his silver plate, then finds a column to nail the silver plate. 

After crossing The Forest, the Metic is received by wardens in the Reception Area in The Cave. This is the one and only formal place where the Metic will be briefed on their indoctrination process for the next 10 years to live in Athens, thenafter either be accepted as an Athenian or moving on to other countries.

From here, the Metic is led to The Marketplace. Consists of 2 main zones; arts and industrial, the Marketplace is assimilated in the existing city fabric. There are two existing warehouses identified as part of The Marketplace, each accommodate one activity. Here, is their home away from home where they discover and sharpens their skills to contribute to Athens. 

The Square is the existing Monastraki Square, a large open space frequented by ordinary people, the Athenians, the Metics and other Strangers to Athens. The open space becomes a platform for a rich cultural tapestry; a multicultural society of tolerance, diversity and continuity in the making. Publicly and privately the Metics speak their own dialects, but officially use Greek language as their medium of communication. The Metic contributes and in return, find himself and his social responsibility in this new place.

10 YEARS THEN...

10 years of naturalization sees if the Metic is ready to embrace Athens as their new home or to move on to another place. He follows the same route he went through 10 years ago. This time, he bypasses the Mountain of refused, head directly to The Forest. In this same disorientation place, the Metic looks for his silver plate which he nailed to the column. 

He brings it down and head to the Reception Area at The Cave. In addition to the Reception Area in The Cave, there are 2 other underground chambers in which they houses the Ceremony of Acceptance and the Ceremony of Departure. Reflecting upon his silver plate and his 10 years in Athens, he will decide if he wishes to stay or to leave. 

If he wishes to stay, he will undergo the Ceremony of Acceptance where he will be accepted as a true Athenian where he will be given a Greek name at the end of the ceremony. Otherwise, he will undergo the Ceremony of Departure where he will leave Athens to continue contributing somewhere else. The new Athenian will continue to The Marketplace and then, to the Square. At the Marketplace, it is no longer a case of a self discovery, but to look upon the same journey which a Metic undergo as well as a reflection of his own journey. He exits at The Square, were the celebration continues with feast, plays and dances at the open area with the Acropolis as the backdrop. 

The Metic who decides to leave Athens will undergo the Ceremony of Departure where his stay in Athens will be celebrated. He exits at The Cave to Athinas, the main boulevard towards the Acropolis where he will make his last glimpse at the Acropolis before he leaves Athens.