Vrachasi Old School restoration Project

reek Island of Crete. Sissi is part of a single community with Vrachasi and since the Kallikratès reform in 2011, both depend on the municipality of Ayios Nikolaos, about 20 km east. During the previous campaigns we were graciously allowed to process our finds and to restore some of the objects at the dighouse of the French School at Malia. Some of our finds are also stored at Malia (fig. 1) whereas the best ones are or will be on display in the Ayios Nikolaos museum. Most material, however, is deposited in a storeroom in Ayios Nikolaos which we share with the Prinitiatikos Pyrgos project of the Irish School at Athens. This situation is rather difficult: there is no room at Ayios Nikolaos to process and study our finds and we cannot store our material at Malia, nor can we use the French dighouse according to our own scientific needs and calendar. After discussion with the Greek Archaeological Service as well as the local community and after having explored other possibilities, we have taken the initiative during the Summer of 2011 to propose to the local council of Vrachasi as well as to the municipal council of Ayios Nikolaos that the municipality cede to us the Old School at Vrachasi for a long period to be transformed into a study and research centre, primarily for the Belgian excavations at Sissi but also for potential other projects within the region (e.g. The Old School at Vrachasi

The village of Vrachasi was one of the more important centres in the western Mirabello area in the province of Lassithi. During most of the 19th and 20th century, it had more than a 1,000 inhabitants but this number dropped after WW II. Originally located on the only road between Central and East Crete, the village lost some of its importance since the 1970s when a new national road was built, down in the valley above which the village towers. This has led to a partial desertion of the village which is now a favourite for expatriates. Whereas banks, post office and schools were originally present, these functions have now been taken over by nearby centres such as Sissi and Neapolis. The ‘Old School’ at Vrachasi is located in the higher part of the north side of the village, immediately above the Platanos, a square with spring and tavern, in one of the oldest quarters of the community. It was the ‘Arranogogeio’ or boys’ school of the village during most of the 19th and 20th century and many of the locals remember it with great fondness. It can be seen on an early postcard (dated to 1902) (Fig. 3). The reconstruction was part of a general trend to build and rebuild dimotika scholeia in the province of Lassithi between 1899 and 1913 – between the independence and the union with Greece. Its pseudo-Venetian style, illustrated by a stone mould which decorates the west, south and part of the east façades, and the splaying krepidoma, can also be seen at nearby Limnes, Elounta and Kritsa. It was, at the time, one of the largest buildings in the village and its court was used for festivities. It was operational till about 1970 and gradually deteriorated. Nowadays, shrubs and trees are growing both inside and outside (Fig. 7), the original roof is entirely gone and a wooden floor which covered the basement has rotten away. The outside structure of the building is, however, solid.

3. Detailed Description of the Existing Building

The building measures 25 by 7 m, with walls 0.80 m thick. It has a basement room, approx. 5 by 3 to 6 m on the west side, with an entrance from the south via a small staircase leading down, and two ground floor rooms. The basement is of irregular shape because its east wall follows the bedrock behind, which is visible. At present the height of the basement is not visible since it has partly been filled in with deposit and rubbish, with only 1.50 m height left. A low window (1.60 by 0.53 m) in the west wall provides light. The ground floor of the building consists of a large east room, about 18 by 5 m, and a smaller west room, about 6 by 5 m, which is basically the area above the basement but extending somewhat more to the northeast. One door leads up into the west room and two doors lead up into the east room. All three are located in the south facade and are accessible via steps, between seven (to the west) to two (to the east), following the raise of the land from west to east. Flower beds (now entirely overgrown) are located between the doors but not at the east and west extremes of the facade. The west room has four windows: one in the west and north wall and two in the south wall. At present, the east wall of the room consists of an open bay, about 2.50 m wide. It may be assumed that this was originally taken up by a wooden partition which could be opened if needed. The east room has seven windows of which the one located in the east wall (originally 0.80 by 1.00 m) has been blocked on the inside with large stones. The iron cross bar system (3 verticals, 4 horizontals) is well preserved – the only place where this is the case. An area of about 3 m by 5 m in the east part of the east room has a floor which is approx. 0.80 m higher than in its west part. Whereas this higher platform-like area was used, according to local sources for performances of theatre and poetry, it probably also hides an outcropping bedrock. The rear of the building (its north side) looks out over an area of c. 22 to 25 m by 4.40 to 5.40 m (Fig. 11). This area is now also heavy overgrown but behind the large tamarisk tree a makeshift toilet shed (made of bricks) still exists. The north wall of this court is a terrace wall for a village road which is situated about 4 m higher up. In the back wall of the school are three windows which open out to this court: one from the west room (c. 1.80 by 1.20 m) and two from the east room (similar dimensions).

4. Restoration and Transformation Program

In September 2011, the Belgian School at Athens or EBSA has proposed the local council of Vrachasi and the municipal council of Ayios Nikolaos that the Old School should be ceded to the EBSA for a period of at least 50 years with the specific aim to transform the building into an archaeological research centre for the excavation project at Sissi. This would allow us not only to store our finds locally but also would create the possibility to restore them and study them in optimal conditions. Permission was granted first by the local council and, on February 1st 2012, by the municipal council of Ayios Nikolaos under several conditions (see http://vrachassi.blogspot.com/2012/02/blog-post_3958.html): the EBSA has three years to find the finances, a permit from the Ministry of Culture is needed and the building is ceded for a period of 30 years. Basically our program implies the following:
1. Consolidate and repair the existing building. This entails especially the installation of new ceilings, a roof, windows and doors.
2. Transform the entire complex into a secure area with alarm system.
3. Transform basement and small room upstairs into storage areas. Combined this gives about 50 m², sufficient for 200 crates in the basement area and 400 crates in the west room.
4. Transform large upstairs hall into a multifunctional area: storage, conservation and study of archaeological material are priorities but the possibility would exist for easy transformation into an exhibition and lecture hall with seating for approx. 50 people. Along the walls, tables of 1 m high and 1 m wide would be fixed which again would create storage space for crates (c. 250). Against the walls at higher level, storage space or cupboards for lighter materials (shell, bone, small finds etc.) All the latter storage cupboards would be secured and easily closed off so that there is no risk during public events. Moreover, the cupboards would serve to attach photographs, paintings etc. during exhibitions. The tables would allow different study by all the specialists involved (ceramologists, architects, draughtspersons, zoologists, anthropologists, environmentalists, photographers). Moreover, part of the room would be specifically fitted for conservation of archaeological material.
5. Transform the outside area to the north into an enclosed secure working space for the processing of archaeological material, especially ceramics. This involves construction of a battery of basins for washing pottery and the construction of stone platforms for drying sherds. The area beneath the stone platforms would be used for storing equipment. This area would also be fitted with a lavatory.
6. Embellish the south and west area in front of the Old School. A renovated building will upgrade this quarter of the village which now counts several abandoned houses. This and the recently renovated playground above the Ayios Ioannis church in combination with the pleasant fountain and tavern square of the Platanos would attract visitors and hence an entire part of the village would be enhanced. The west area in front of the School is now used as a parking area for the higher part of the village. Cleaning, consolidating and a safer access from the west would enable more cars to be parked. The renovation of the flower beds with herbs etc. in front of the School would turn this side into a pleasant throughway for people passing.


5. Detailed Program

The first step will be a proper architectural and transformation study for the Ministry of Culture – Department of Recent Monuments. They will have to give approval for the transformation and use of the building. Our intention is to keep the outside identical to the original building but to adapt the inside to our needs, again, however, through minimum modification. Estimate of Costs involved

Structural assessment, architect fees, permits, taxes 48,000
Initial clearing, cleaning of the building, its surroundings and the excavation of the basement 19,000

Major construction (consolidation, re pointing, reinforcement, new roof, floor, windows, doors) 106,000
Restoration laboratory equipment 30,000
Security, fencing and alarm system 21,000
Plumbing and electricity 25,000
Landscaping 11,000
Taxes etc
Total 300,000 €


Fund raising

All gifts over 40 € to the Belgian School at Athens or the Sissi Archaeological Project are tax deductible and at the end of each fiscal year an attestation from the University or the Belgian School at Athens will be sent. Gifts from Belgian taxpayers should be addressed to the account:
271-0366366-29 (Fortis)
IBAN: BE26.2710.3663.6629
BIC (Swift): GEBABEBB6,
Place de l’Université – B 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Mentioning: ARKE 1351 Mécénat Arke - dighouse
For US donors, please send a check in US$ made out to INSTAP (the Institute for Aegean Prehistory, 2133 Arch St., Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA) to the attention of Karen B. Vellucci, Director of Grant Programs, accompanied by a letter indicating that this is a gift for the Sissi dighouse project. You will receive a letter acknowledging the gift which can be used for tax purposes.