This project was realised through a collaboration between Stephen Burke, Jack Flannery and Richard Stokes while undertaking their masters in Architecture (MArch). The main focus of their masters was the Greek city of Athens under the theme of 'endless [city]. During the initial fieldwork undertaken in Athens the trio identified ritual as a principle interest. As ritual formed the focal point of their individual research, they thought it would be beneficial to work together: sharing their findings, discussing their implications and developing the research towards establishing a new understanding of the city.

As the year progressed, this process of exchanging, dissecting and expanding upon each other’s thoughts became central to how they approached the project. The group dynamic encouraged continuous critical reflection on the work put forward, ideas were challenged, frames of view were recast, drawings and models were reworked; all in an attempt to best align them with the core themes of the thesis project. Debate – in which a conflictual consesus (Mouffe & Miessen, 2012) might be reached - was stimulated by three oftentimes contrasting views on architecture, politics and civic engagement.

They found this way of working led to productive scrutiny of ideas put forth, healthy divergence from initial thought patterns and often resulted in unexpected propositions. The practice of exchanging ideas, challenging assumptions and identifying alternatives within each other’s work became an allegory for the project, which seeks to create an arena in which Athenians are brought together to share ideas, challenge accepted norms and identify possible alternative modes of operation.

The project aims to question the production and nature of public space in contemporary Athens and its relationship to the political processes at work in the city. It is an investigation into the city’s relationship with democracy, governance and sovereignty and how architecture may intervene in questioning and remaking established orders.

The thesis proposes to formulate a new form of institution, one which may be in conflict with the people and itself, encapsulating the multiple ideologies of the Athenian citizen. The project manifests as an entangled matrix of institutions - University, Government and Metro - in a bid to create a heterotopic environment that reveals and subverts the existing political and power relations of Athens.

The proposal involves relocating the Political Science Faculty of the University of Athens from the periphery of the city to the pre-emptive sites of the new proposed metro line 4. New governmental functions such as a proposed second chamber are located at these same sites, enabling the possibility of real world interaction in which thought can become action. The scheme seeks to encourage engagement with difference as a productive force at the scale of the body, building, city and state.