FILLING IN THE GAP : redefining the places of abandonment in Athens

Abstract: The economic and the political crisis that Greece experiences has as a consequence a social degradation, which is linked and followed by a spatial one. The humanitarian crisis in the city of Athens visualizes physically-spatially in the abandonment of public and private spaces. Today, there are more than 1,200 abandoned buildings in the city center remaining unused and empty.  On the other side, there are more than 10,000 homeless people experiencing the consequences of the economic crisis. Taking into consideration this contrast, our basic proposal is the redefinement and the reuse of the abandoned buildings in order to  provide homeless people with the means to satisfy their needs. During our investigation we came to the conclusion that  what is  needed is much more than just physical shelter. Thus, land for food production as well as public spaces for social inclusion are also crucial for our proposal. The model that we seek to develop proposes shelter for the homeless people through the reuse of the buildings, supported by urban farming and public spaces. In order to visualize how this model could be implemented in the city of Athens we decided to work with a case study that combines all the parameters mentioned above.The area selected is a complex of three abandoned buildings within Drakopoulou park situated in the area of Ano Patissia. The three structures are in different conditions and each one of them is being treated in a different way. Moreover, Drakopoulou park constitutes a suitable public space for urban farming and social activity.   For the case study area we have developed three basic typologies for the renovation and the reuse of the abandoned buildings, according to their conditions. Additionally, three main typologies have been developed for urban farming proposals, according to the potential use of the land. Following the example of Drakopoulou park our final vision is the implementation of this model and its typologies in multiple neighborhoods of Athens where abandoned buildings and suitable land for urban farming are situated.