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ATHENS X4-Athens in a happy chaotic situation
ATHENS X4-Athens in a happy chaotic situation
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ATHENS X4-Athens in a happy chaotic situation
The
competition
The
main topic of the contest was the formulation of propositions for the
city block, which is concerned as the basic “module” of a city.
Small blocks and dense network of streets are the basic
characteristics of a Greek city. Thus the main aim was the creation
of a large block that is going to affect in a positive way the
microclimate and the image of the area, the quality of life, and the
way the public spaces are used.
The
competitors were asked to choose 4 blocks that are cited in/at a
rather degraded neighborhood in the city of Athens. The proposals
should emphasize on the improvement of the “cross section” -which
is formed by the intermediate streets – and the enhancement of the
urban system through the incorporation of urban voids and unused
spaces on the general plan. The
proposal should have taken advantage of the existing public spaces
and the existing building stock, without extensive expropriation, but
with a pilot character (ie the idea must be easily applicable in
other degraded neighbourhoods of Athens as well, or in other Greek
regions with similar disqualifies)The
proposal
Metaxourghio
was chosen as the area of our study. Cited in the centre of Athens,
Metaksourghio is a transitional place, and a vital part of the urban
fabric, subjected to spatial transformations and social changes. This
area is constituted by a variety of nationalities and cultures. The
main land uses are housing and trade. Other characteristics of
Metaksourghio are the segmented green spaces, the old building stock,
the lack of utilities and the dense network of roads.
The
project is focusing on the creation of an interactive place that
encourages the participation of the residents. The presence or the
absence of stimuli is necessary in order to create a game – a game
where every player (citizen) can set his own rules. The aim
of the game would be to ‘live your own city’. The users are
considered as nomads and their environment
is perceived as temporary and mutable. Everything
changes
around them, but they
have the opportunity to participatein
the way changes
are taking place
by
walking around,
touching,
moving and transforming their neighborhood in their own way.
Another
basic aim of the project is to create a successful sustainable design
in the aspect of sociability, environment, economy and a fourth
element, that of culture. The intervention and the constant
interaction of these four factors is the key of the creation of a
functional design. Thus,
our
proposalaimstocreatea
larger,
singleblock,
whichwill
hostuses
and usersrelatedwiththe4dimensions
ofsustainability.
Lines
of action1) Energy
playground
This
playground produces energy that is savedandgivento
theelectrificationof
roadsand
community buildings.
Whensomeoneis
playingon
the playgroundenergy
is generatedandenergy
light indicator,
which is at
the cross
of theblock,
is
on while on the other hand, the light indicator turns off when nobody
plays there.2) Water
square
Therainwater
are collectedinan
urban lake whichhasinternalconfigurations.
Dependingon
the rainfall,the
water levelgoes
up and downand
the public space is respectively appeared
or hidden. At the cross of the block there are cracks-indicators that
show the
water level in the square. The water collected is used to irrigate
communal flower beds and trees in the neighborhood.3) Community
foodgrowing
At
the unused open space within the city blocks, a communal garden is
proposed, using a grid created with recycling palettes that could be
removed in order to create spaces for people to grow their local food
but also for sidewalks and sitting facilities as well. The communal
garden is situated at south orientation and among low buildings in
order to minimize shading.4) Waste
Management square
An
empty and abandoned building was chosen to facilitate the waste
management infrastructure. The waste is used to produce energy for
heating the building around the 4 city blocks, while on the ‘cross
section’ several line indicators on the streets could illuminate
how much energy is being produced every moment. Some more abandoned
buildings are reused to facilitate several workshops where the
residents will create their art crafts with recyclable materials from
the waste management centre.5) Community
centre
A
community centre was also proposed that will be used as a meeting
point for the residents for the management of the community issues
increasing the community feeling, and at the same it will work as a
‘sustainability indicator’ as well, providing the residents with
information regarding all the environmental and social issues related
with the integrated block.6) Amelioration
of the elevations surrounding the rare communal open spaces within
the city blocks
The
balconies of the buildings facing the rare communal open spaces
within the city blocks are usually used by the residents as storage
spaces rather than as liveable open spaces. Instead, a metal grid was
proposed for these rare elevations which will facilitate some
integrated design storage spaces, composting and recycling bins, rain
water collectors and storage, together with an emergency elevator for
the handicapped people (which is usually missing from typical
multi-store buildings in Greece).
The
future sustainability of the proposal
In
order for a successful integration of the 4 blocks, not only the
presence of the 4 basic constitutional aspects of sustainability, but
also their mix and a great interaction between them. Since the
proposal has a pilot character, it is rather easily re-applicable in
a wider area, creating a holistic sustainable city.
This
proposal is worthy a second chance due
to its prototype solution, the possibility for wider re-applicability
and its general sustainability approach of the solution. Since the
notion of the ‘neighbourhoud’ has lost its meaning and their
nowadays residents have lost their community feeling, this proposal
tried to enhanced this lost feeling by creating a more ‘inner’
-but open to community- sustainable city neighbourhood.
competition
The
main topic of the contest was the formulation of propositions for the
city block, which is concerned as the basic “module” of a city.
Small blocks and dense network of streets are the basic
characteristics of a Greek city. Thus the main aim was the creation
of a large block that is going to affect in a positive way the
microclimate and the image of the area, the quality of life, and the
way the public spaces are used.
The
competitors were asked to choose 4 blocks that are cited in/at a
rather degraded neighborhood in the city of Athens. The proposals
should emphasize on the improvement of the “cross section” -which
is formed by the intermediate streets – and the enhancement of the
urban system through the incorporation of urban voids and unused
spaces on the general plan. The
proposal should have taken advantage of the existing public spaces
and the existing building stock, without extensive expropriation, but
with a pilot character (ie the idea must be easily applicable in
other degraded neighbourhoods of Athens as well, or in other Greek
regions with similar disqualifies)The
proposal
Metaxourghio
was chosen as the area of our study. Cited in the centre of Athens,
Metaksourghio is a transitional place, and a vital part of the urban
fabric, subjected to spatial transformations and social changes. This
area is constituted by a variety of nationalities and cultures. The
main land uses are housing and trade. Other characteristics of
Metaksourghio are the segmented green spaces, the old building stock,
the lack of utilities and the dense network of roads.
The
project is focusing on the creation of an interactive place that
encourages the participation of the residents. The presence or the
absence of stimuli is necessary in order to create a game – a game
where every player (citizen) can set his own rules. The aim
of the game would be to ‘live your own city’. The users are
considered as nomads and their environment
is perceived as temporary and mutable. Everything
changes
around them, but they
have the opportunity to participatein
the way changes
are taking place
by
walking around,
touching,
moving and transforming their neighborhood in their own way.
Another
basic aim of the project is to create a successful sustainable design
in the aspect of sociability, environment, economy and a fourth
element, that of culture. The intervention and the constant
interaction of these four factors is the key of the creation of a
functional design. Thus,
our
proposalaimstocreatea
larger,
singleblock,
whichwill
hostuses
and usersrelatedwiththe4dimensions
ofsustainability.
Lines
of action1) Energy
playground
This
playground produces energy that is savedandgivento
theelectrificationof
roadsand
community buildings.
Whensomeoneis
playingon
the playgroundenergy
is generatedandenergy
light indicator,
which is at
the cross
of theblock,
is
on while on the other hand, the light indicator turns off when nobody
plays there.2) Water
square
Therainwater
are collectedinan
urban lake whichhasinternalconfigurations.
Dependingon
the rainfall,the
water levelgoes
up and downand
the public space is respectively appeared
or hidden. At the cross of the block there are cracks-indicators that
show the
water level in the square. The water collected is used to irrigate
communal flower beds and trees in the neighborhood.3) Community
foodgrowing
At
the unused open space within the city blocks, a communal garden is
proposed, using a grid created with recycling palettes that could be
removed in order to create spaces for people to grow their local food
but also for sidewalks and sitting facilities as well. The communal
garden is situated at south orientation and among low buildings in
order to minimize shading.4) Waste
Management square
An
empty and abandoned building was chosen to facilitate the waste
management infrastructure. The waste is used to produce energy for
heating the building around the 4 city blocks, while on the ‘cross
section’ several line indicators on the streets could illuminate
how much energy is being produced every moment. Some more abandoned
buildings are reused to facilitate several workshops where the
residents will create their art crafts with recyclable materials from
the waste management centre.5) Community
centre
A
community centre was also proposed that will be used as a meeting
point for the residents for the management of the community issues
increasing the community feeling, and at the same it will work as a
‘sustainability indicator’ as well, providing the residents with
information regarding all the environmental and social issues related
with the integrated block.6) Amelioration
of the elevations surrounding the rare communal open spaces within
the city blocks
The
balconies of the buildings facing the rare communal open spaces
within the city blocks are usually used by the residents as storage
spaces rather than as liveable open spaces. Instead, a metal grid was
proposed for these rare elevations which will facilitate some
integrated design storage spaces, composting and recycling bins, rain
water collectors and storage, together with an emergency elevator for
the handicapped people (which is usually missing from typical
multi-store buildings in Greece).
The
future sustainability of the proposal
In
order for a successful integration of the 4 blocks, not only the
presence of the 4 basic constitutional aspects of sustainability, but
also their mix and a great interaction between them. Since the
proposal has a pilot character, it is rather easily re-applicable in
a wider area, creating a holistic sustainable city.
This
proposal is worthy a second chance due
to its prototype solution, the possibility for wider re-applicability
and its general sustainability approach of the solution. Since the
notion of the ‘neighbourhoud’ has lost its meaning and their
nowadays residents have lost their community feeling, this proposal
tried to enhanced this lost feeling by creating a more ‘inner’
-but open to community- sustainable city neighbourhood.
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