Ramnes Square, Athens - Cooling Havens
Transformation of an overheated city square into a climate-active, social landscape
Ramnes Square in the Kolonos district of Athens is a symbol of urban spaces with great untapped potential: heavily sealed, noisy and overheated. The adjacent main road to the east leads to high levels of particulate pollution, while the lack of visual axes and fenced-in green spaces increase feelings of insecurity and reduce the quality of stay.
At the same time, there are promising starting points: an active first floor in the north-west, a good connection to a lively passageway, several old trees worthy of protection and the proximity to a school. These potentials form the basis for a reorientation of the square as part of Cooling Havens - open, ecological, activating.
Project
European Urban Initiative (EUI) - Cooling Havens
Location
Athens, Greece
Services
Climate resilience, Tiny Forest, sustainable water infrastructure, ecological activation
Partner
Δήμος Αθηναίων, EYDAP, Urban Climate Institute
Tiny Forest, Blue Heart & climate strategies for the urban space
A Tiny Forest on the south-eastern edge creates an ecological buffer zone to the busy street. Supplemented by new green islands and generous planting pits for trees, a microclimatically effective system is created that provides shade, promotes biodiversity and improves air quality.
The extensive unsealing of the surfaces and the use of water-permeable coverings make it possible to store rainwater locally and minimize urban heat islands. In the center of the square, the “Blue Heart” forms the playful and climatic center - a water play area for children, combined with a drinking water point for humans and animals. New, consumer-free seating areas under shady greenery invite people to linger and meet up
Safe, open and intergenerational
The redesign opens up the square and creates spatial permeability - without secluded retreats.
Well thought-out pathways, the integration of the existing trees and the equal involvement of children, young people and older residents result in an inclusive, intergenerational open space with a high quality of stay.
Ramnes Platz will become a lively microclimate model and social anchor point - resilient, activating and in harmony with the needs of a changing urban environment.
Image credits
All images © ensphere