“Placemaking” οur way to a livable Athens Riviera
Zoi Patsioli, Editor-in-Chief of noupou.gr, explains why investing in active, familiar and open public spaces is a prerequisite for a sustainable future.
- 15/07/2025, 11:41
The southern suburbs of Athens are undergoing a phase of redefinition. New projects, new rhythms, new needs. The Athenian Riviera is being introduced as the future of a city that, for the first time, is turning its gaze toward the sea. But how does one preserve the character of an area that is changing? How is quality of life ensured in a neighborhood that is investing in tomorrow? A small reminder: the cities that thrive are those that invest in public spaces as living organisms. Those that, by applying the principles of placemaking, support projects where public space is not a lofty ideal, but an experience.
Perhaps the most successful such example in Greece is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. A public space that is participatory, welcoming, and tireless. A landmark that, instead of resting on its symbolism or prestige, is packed with everyday moments where life unfolds naturally, in a way that is both inclusive and meaningful.
As the redevelopment of the former Hellinikon airport site promises the largest coastal park in Europe, the challenge is not about size. It is about the need for the new Metropolitan Park to function as an organic part of urban life. The Experience Park is an encouraging first step. While we wait for the next ones, let us shift our gaze not only toward the beautiful sea, but also toward the distant horizon. And let us agree that if we do not want the southern suburbs to become merely the summer resort of a new, tourist Athens, we must invest in something far more difficult than aesthetics: coexistence.
Published in “White Paper: The Big Business of the South”, NouPou Media’s special edition spotlighting the current landscape and future prospects of the Athens Riviera.