Athens Acts

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Athens Acts

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The key to rethinking, and ultimately reviving, Athens is to be found from within. At a time when Athensis undergoing a severe test a close look at the city’s existing and inherited qualities reveals strong conditionsfor rejuvenation and self-belief. ‘Athens Acts’ does not advocate a radical revamp, but instead proposesa clear framework, a scenography if you like, that creates the conditions to enable the people of Athensthemselves to take centre stage and determine their own city.The pedestrianisation of Panepistimiou Boulevard will finally make the completion of a pedestrian triangletogether with Aiolou and Ermou Street possible. Each side of the triangle will carry its own identity withPanepistimiou becoming Athens’ premiere creative and cultural axis with dozens of historic buildings,theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries. Furthermore Panepistimou and Patission will be perceived as anew, unified boulevard that starts at the University and National Archaeological Museum, ends at Syntagmaand links all the iconic squares in between. The atmospheres of the surrounding neighbourhoods will bereflected in the squares and boulevard to create distinct local identities. Reciprocally the axis will be anenormous boost to the revitalization of these local areas. This is particularly valid for Omonia that, whenclosed to car traffic and opened to pedestrians, will at last fulfill its potential as a vibrant metropolitan plazaand become a catalyst to regenerate the areas to its Northwest.The design of the public space is refined, elegant and enhances the specific qualities of the found spatialconfigurations, programme and locations. The Omonia Square will, for example, be opened out to becomea grand performance and gathering square, whereas Dikaiosynis will be a quiet retreat from the cascade ofcity life. Trees and water are used throughout as natural elements to provide green, shade and cooling. Cleardesign principles focused on visibility, climatic comfort, self-sustainability and aesthetics encourage thecreative activation of the public space and revive a sense of belonging in the city centre. The public realmcan be conceived as a stage set that the people and visitors of Athens themselves will appropriate and bringto life. Open podiums, covered plazas, tree-lined boulevards all encourage and evoke particular forms ofpublic life; the scene will be set for each inhabitant to make their own personal story.The public space ties together the city fabric but the buildings themselves are often found in a neglected or evenabandoned state. By promoting reuse via small to medium cultural and business initiatives and organizinghousing, for both young and old, Athens’ centre will be enriched with caretakers and entrepreneurs whowill provide social harmony and create active communities. On the upper building level we find a huge,predominantly flat, roof-scape that can play host to a citywide rooftop-garden sustainability initiative.The city of Athens now has the opportunity to flourish by embracing its inherent potential and providingthe setting for the people themselves to create their own living, breathing, cultural urban environment.