MASTER 1 - S8

Reconnecting the city: Landscaping as a tool for bridging culture and nature

This semester, our focus was on Athens, examining the transformation of its river landscape—where the river is now seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric, leaving minimal open and underutilized space.
I selected a representative site: an aging sports complex whose current condition reflects neglect and structural deterioration.

Objective: Rehabilitate the entire site through landscape interventions (paving designs) that reflect the city’s identity and historical roots.

The Challenge

The primary challenge of this intervention was the physical separation between the sports complex and the rest of the city, marked by a major highway. My role was to design an innovative infrastructure solution: the construction of a tunnel connecting both banks. This tunnel will be embedded within a sophisticated system of retention basins, featuring ramps that link this transformed public space to the city.

Project

On the upper level, facing the hill, I designed a museum dedicated to the ruins of the Temple of Artemis—currently in a state of decay—to highlight its rich historical significance.
Finally, a central structure connects the levels: a building housing an elevator leading to a bridge spanning the entire retention basin, providing a direct connection to the city’s heart.

This project aims to enhance the visibility of surrounding archaeological sites and introduce the city to new, multifunctional public spaces for diverse activities.