The World Forum on Urban Forests took place from the 28th of November to the first of December. More than 400 experts from 50 countries conversed with politicians, journalists and citizens to design the green cities of the future.
Architecture & Cities
Sophocles-inspired parks pave the way for a more sustainable Athens
Sustainable cities are a rather ambitious idea. Challenges such as little space, few green areas and pollution seem difficult to deal with. Even more so for a city like Athens, Greece’s capital, in a state of economic crisis. However, challenges aren’t insurmountable: even small-scale interventions such as pocket parks can create significant local impact, inspiring
Sustainable cities are a rather ambitious idea. Challenges such as little space, few green areas and pollution seem difficult to deal with. Even more so for a city like Athens, Greece’s capital, in a state of economic crisis. However, challenges aren’t insurmountable: even small-scale interventions such as pocket parks can create significant local impact, inspiring a sense of community and, eventually, the development of social capital by showing that change is possible.
Atenistas: citizens take charge of sustainable change
Atenistas is an open community of citizens who love Athens. Its philosophy is guided by the intuition that through innovative ideas and active participation in cultural, social and green small-scale interventions the city can improve, becoming a better place to live. The organisation was founded by Tasos Chalkiopoulos and a group of friends in 2010, all of whom believe that Athens is not a finished story but a vast field with potential for inventive and effective actions that can help people make the most of it. Being a citizen means being active seven days a week, every day of the year.
Sophocles-inspired pocket parks
Atenistas has transformed two pocket parks in the neighbourhood of Kolonos. The idea behind one of them was inspired by Sophocles, the dramatic poet born in the area in 496 BC. The park is designed to look like an ancient theatre, the plants and trees used are Mediterranean and the main wall is dedicated to the great ancient writer: a mural was painted to remind visitors of his presence there. In the second park the volunteers asked residents to recall the one and only value that can heal everything, even in difficult times: love. A small installation was created with driving cones spelling “love” in Greek to complete the famous saying by Sophocles, “one word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is love”.
These two parks have had great success because since the intervention the whole neighborhood has been engaged in and embraced the change. All its citizens have been committed to maintaining the parks, watering the vegetation and planting more of it. This has created a sense of community and collectiveness.
Community level interventions by both individuals and groups are especially important in big cities because they can create a multiplier effect, inspiring creativity and a feeling of connectedness in whole neighbourhoods. Urban sustainability is possible when innovation and creativity are combined with love to provide a better place to live in. And small-scale is a good place to start.
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