Lakonia Square, Athens - Cooling Havens
Transformation of a neighborhood square into a climate-resilient, social oasis
In the Ampelokipoi district of Athens, Lakonia Square is already a lively meeting place - quietly located, with cafés, a pleasant atmosphere and good public transport connections.
However, despite its popularity, the square shows untapped potential: a lack of shade, damaged green spaces, low biodiversity and infrastructural deficiencies impair the quality of the area - especially in view of the increasing heat and extreme weather events.
The historic Hadrian's Aqueduct runs directly beneath the square - a hidden cultural heritage that is still neither visible nor tangible. As part of the “Cooling Havens” project, the square is being reimagined as a climate-resilient, social and cultural oasis for all generations.
Project
European Urban Initiative (EUI) - Cooling Havens
Location
Athens, Greece
Services
Climate adaptation, blue-green infrastructure, participatory open space concept
Partner
Δήμος Αθηναίων, EYDAP, Urban Climate Institute
Climate resilience through blue-green infrastructure
The core of the design is the integration of an efficient blue-green infrastructure: bioswales and networked rainwater gardens ensure the retention, infiltration and evaporation of rainwater. Walkable exploration paths make rainwater management a spatial experience and promote environmental education in everyday life.
The historic Hadrian's aqueduct will be staged as an open water element - an identity-forming design element that combines the past and present. The surrounding green spaces will be planted with biodiverse plants, existing trees will be preserved and supplemented with new plantings. This creates a cool, lively microclimate with a high quality of stay.
A place for people, animals and the community
The design concept places particular emphasis on social integration: cat houses and feeding stations for the many stray cats are integrated into the design of the square. Shaft tables with flexible seating create space for intergenerational encounters. Shaded seating invites people to linger - without any pressure to consume.
In this way, Lakonia Platz will become a sustainable, ecologically balanced urban space that also integrates social participation and cultural identity in a natural way.
Image credits
All images © ensphere