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The traditional approach to designing open spaces is to program them with a relatively defined purpose. Once the spaces are redeveloped, the community is expected to to use them in specific ways. Such rigid plans often struggle to meet the diverse needs of a growing population and accommodate evolving preferences.

 

To truly redevelop a park that responds to the needs of the community, new proposals must provide significant flexibility from the outset. Using design practices based on participatory planning, focusing on multi-purpose spaces (activity islands) and new technological developments around mobile infrastructure - the reformed 'multi-purpose' parks could serve a multitude of different users, their spaces could be quickly adapted by day or by season, and they can attract people all year round.

 

But which activities have fallen out of demand, which are the popular trends and technologies emerging today, how do parks designed decades ago respond to today's challenges, today's needs, today's lifestyles? What design process is appropriate in designing Public Spaces for the future? These are all the questions that concern us.

 

3D Arts and Crafts is an exhibition of models and presentation tools with state-of-the-art technologies, as well as a space for micro-investigations through participatory design and co-creation. Projects are shown in a way that demonstrates current spatial problems, but also visions and the main axes that new project should follow.

 

The aim is to encourage participatory processes that bridge, through co-creation, decision-makers and managers with the communities the new projects serve.

 

Co-creation with participation of the communities is a unique tool to achieve universal consultation at horizontal and vertical levels, given that current practices tend to manipulate rather than inspire citizens. The sense of 'belonging' is reflected in the role of the user as co-creator, and ultimately becomes the key design parameter.

 

The case of the Tritsis Metropolitan Park in Athens is a pilot proposal containing the above characteristics. It incorporates and promotes the new European values and operating principles of the NUB as presented below.

 

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Participatory design, inclusiveness, viability, sustainability.

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EXEMPLARY CHARACTERISTICS WITH REGARD TO THE THREE CORE VALUES
(sustainability, inclusiveness and aesthetics) of the NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS
3D Arts and Crafts is the bridge that visually conveys to the community the intention of participatory design at a higher level (Arnstein 1969), by the interactive consulting the main design axes, intentions and values of new initial proposals. Artifacts such as for example the Park model include feedback techniques for the proposals (40 focus light switches with geo-referencing), presentations with international architectural examples, material technologies, VR tours, etc. Participants in the participatory design process ask questions and express concerns, but at the same time make proposals which evolve to a feed-back process from all parties through a highly collaborative approach.

 

Sustainability as well as all the values of the new European Bauhaus are reflected in the main design axes. The participatory planning process in an ecological park with a strong forest and water character focuses primarily on the protection and enhancement of this character, with an emphasis on climate objectives, cyclicality, zero pollution and biodiversity. Tritsis Park is an international landmark of Attica in terms of its environmental sustainability value.

 

The initial design axes regarding sustainability in the Tritsis Park area that were visualised through 3D Arts and Crafts and put to consultation were:

 

•       The installation of soft uses while enhancing the character of the park as a centre for environmental awareness, and the inclusion of islands of new functions.

 

•       Replacing hard floors with ecologically reversible water permeable flooring.

 

•       A new horticultural approach for plantings to accompany the above projects.

 

•       The infusion of greenery and functional park axes (such as for example tree lines and bicycle paths) into the urban axes of the wider area.

 

The project was presented through video, interactive maquette, plates of international examples, international models for the evaluation of public spaces, an initial plan of development axes that reflects the current problems, the initial proposals for solution and the expectations of the Prefecture and the community as well as of the wider area since it is a park of Metropolitan scale.  Our aim was to support in the fullest way a participatory planning process, to identify priorities for interventions, to create the conditions for a meaningful social dialogue and consultation.

 

AESTHETICS AND QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE (THROUGH DESIGN AND CULTURAL BENEFITS)

In terms of the value of aesthetics and quality of experience for people, the following initial intentions emerged from the consultation:

 

•       The enhancement of existing usages and integration of new ones

 

•       The promotion and use of existing buildings

 

•       The development and use of the existing park areas and the exploitation of the existing park areas

 

•       The activation of a small abandoned train and the extension of its tracks throughout the park for the movement of visitors with mobility difficulties

 

•       The integration of bicycle lanes

 

•        Installation of technologically 'smart' equipment

 

•       Moving the current gates as welcome plazas on the outer boundaries of the park, which are currently occupied by parking spaces, with the ultimate aim of unifying them into the public spaces of the city.

 

The proposal, which included a simultaneous trade exhibition of ecological materials and high-value aesthetic urban equipment, which would cover the costs of the workshops through a focused sponsorship programme, was not approved by the authorities.

 

KEY OBJECTIVES REGARDING INCLUSION (FROM ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL UP TO INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS), DESIGN FOR ALL PRINCIPLES OR NEW SOCIAL MODELS

Similarly, 3D Arts and Crafts focused on issues related to inclusion (from accessibility and affordability for all, to inclusive governance systems, design for all the authorities and new social models).

 

As an artworks project to support participatory design, 3D Arts and Crafts visually addresses the whole community. Visual communication creates the possibility of understanding the issues regardless of the language of communication, age, or even the different cognitive levels of the people in the community. Visualisation, even more so when co-creation is achieved, becomes a universal and inclusive communication tool that consequently enhances the feeling of belonging collectively and at the highest level. Young and old, experts and non-experts alike, communicate in a language understood by all, a condition that can lead to a commitment to solving problems. At the same time this process can also lead to shared collective visions.

 

A prerequisite for visual communication is, of course, the separation of visual perception from memory perception. Eyes that see (Les Courmisie). It is a natural function of the brain that alters, removes or adds to an image other elements of the memory of each of us. To collectively align the image requires support, dialogue, examples and even training.

 

Our team believes that it is in the different ways of looking at things that most often lies the source of conflict between groups opposed to public benefit projects. In this context it is imperative to search and develop techniques, tools and models of co-creation that assist as far as possible people to see. Such projects - or research work in the form of projects - have been successfully included in the last 10-years in Secondary General and Vocational Education in Greece, at the same time as in the rest of Europe, and one can derive valuable material of participatory activities and techniques to communicate through schools to the whole community issues of consultation on Public Domain.

 

As far as Tritsis Park is concerned, the quality of experience for the people and the sense of belonging, is included in all the design axes, since the a principle design criterion refers to a Free Public Space accessible to everyone. Particular attention is given to people with mobility difficulties, see for example the proposal for the train, but they participate and co-design the programme!

 

It is also worth mentioning the accessibility of the experience of nature, which is provided by the creation of tree houses - ecological observatories and aerial woodland routes for walking and cycling in carefully selected natural areas and habitats. Protecting these sites from pressures is of course a matter for scientific study and this aspect is emphasised for the next planning stages.

 

Key movement axes improve orientation in the park, serve the need for passive recreation and walking for both park visitors and the wider urban unit, and are highlighted accordingly.

 

EXEMPLARY CHARACTER REGARDING THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION OF THE NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS (Combination of global and local dimensions - Participation - Interdisciplinarity)

The three key principles guiding the new European Bauhaus are the combination of global and local dimensions, Participation and Interdisciplinarity.

 

Our team has sought expertise globally and in particular through our participation in international conferences we have contributed our own expertise (See LandArch 2023, NEB 2023 etc.).

 

To assist citizens in evaluating Tritsis Park and understanding our proposals, with the permission of PPS from New York, we used their models that have previously been successfully tested in other cities around the world. Based on these models we formed our questionnaires which, with the care of the Attica Prefecture, were promoted on social networks.

 

The examples we have presented in the participatory design events come from the global arena. The adaptation to the local dimension is done by paralleling these projects to our own proposals (see Project Plates). The proposed uses, the scale of the projects and the construction technology must adapt and respect the existing 'spirit of place' which, in addition to its biodiversity, is characterised by a strong historical identity. In addition to the abandoned buildings, there are architectural monuments in the area that need restoration and other natural resources that need protection and conservation, such as water sources, natural lakes, rare species of parrots and other birds whose conservation value transcends the local dimension.

 

An inclusive city is built on Participation:

 

•       The shared strategic visions of all citizens, through participatory planning and decision-making processes that include universal planning, integrated urban planning, transparency and accountability mechanisms regarding public assets.

 

•       Public exchange of knowledge and information.

 

•       Social protection and gender balance. Mechanisms to ensure an adequate standard of living for most people, especially the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.

 

•       Geographical and social mobility.

 

•       A pro-poor business environment and financing services that attract capital investment and enable all to undertake economic activities.

 

•       Resilience to global-scale environmental and socio-economic disruptions and threats.

 

•       Mechanisms to ensure the sustainable use of resources

 

In the case of Tritsis Park, participation was attempted through an incremental scaling of events with invitations and social media. The number of views of our original video exceeded 14,000, just a few hours after the opening of the project by the Attica Prefecture's governor.

 

Finally, a pilot workshop was organized with the assistance of the students of the University of West Attica.  Interdisciplinarity is documented below.

 

ROLE AND LEVEL OF STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT

Based on the most well-known typology of graded levels of public participation (Arnstein 1969) and the degree of influence of citizens in decision making (Sherry Arnstein 1969, article "A Ladder of Citizen Participation"), our group through its suggestions and craftworks tried to create the conditions for a higher level of consultation. At least a "level of cooperation", as there were already studies for this park, but also groups active in conflict relations.

 

Representatives of the Park Management Body, the Prefecture of Attica, the Municipalities of Ilion and Ag. Anargyroi-Kamateros, the Agricultural University of Athens, the University of West Attica, the KEPEA, the Association of Friends of the Park and the Hellenic Ornithological Society participated in the work on Tritsis Park, while there was no lack of political statements both in the official proceedings and in the media and social networks.

SECTORS AND/OR KNOWLEDGE AREAS REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.

3D Arts and Crafts is an initiative of Giamakos Architects & Associates, coordinated by Sotiris Yiamakos, an architect with postgraduate studies in Urban Development and Real Estate.

 

The project for Tritsis Park involved:

Fotini Yamakou, Architect TU Graz.

Stelina Tsiantou, Landscape Architect,

Katerina Karagiannakidou, Architect,

Meropi Yamakou, Designer,

Christos Ioannou, Electrical Engineer.

Alkis Marougas, applied arts,

Haris Amanatidis, MSc, Spatial Engineer

 

Giamakos Architects also drafted the main design principles, the initial proposals and recommended the participatory design process at the preliminary review stage in case of architectural tenders,

 

The qualities of the team members reflect the project's field of expertise.

INNOVATIVE DIMENSION IN COMPARISON WITH PREVAILING PRACTICES

In Greece, the concept of participatory process in decision making is generally following the European path, with some delay. Based on the current case law, there is an approach to participation that does not reach the point of its effective institutionalisation. In essence, the application of the participatory decision-making process is a potential practice that is left to the intentions and will of the elected executive. The dissemination of information, despite the introduction of e-government and transparency, is fragmented and not at all practical for the average citizen. The lack of a legal basis and the lack of protection for participatory procedures cannot ensure their smooth implementation. The NEB proposal makes a decisive contribution to the above problem since, through co-creation and the bottom-up approach, it essentially raises the level of consultation to the level of effective feedback.

 

It should be noted that in the case of Tritsis Park, the Region of Attica, while it could have proceeded with the usual institutional procedure of direct commissioning of studies, responded to the challenge of participatory planning at the highest level scientifically proposed. It is no coincidence that the Region has focused on the main axes of the New European Bauhaus, as announced for example for the Falirikos Bay.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

The aim of developing participatory processes is to increase the active involvement of citizens by strengthening new forms of collective action. 3D Arts and Crafts is a series of artifacts that provide the basis for inducing co-creation and thus building trust and fostering the concept of co-creation in the everyday perception of citizens. This can be achieved initially through meetings, small-scale workshops (seminars and workshops) in the planning phase, larger-scale public events thereafter, and finally by establishing dialogue through monthly thematic working groups, small thematic workshops (mini-labs) as functional modules of the park with the corresponding infrastructure, activation of networks, etc. Participatory planning should be a true feedback process for the direction of the design choices of spaces and systems so that community engagement serves a meaningful purpose.

 

The participatory processes on the one hand and the way in which they are carried out on the other, indicate whan an inclusive city is about.

 

We want a park modernized with participatory processes to strengthen the Social Capital and the Normal Cohesion of the community.

 

If the participatory processes define the design, then subsequently the design with the selected collective actions based on common interests in spatial units of the park, returns to the community Social Capital. Social capital is described as the interpersonal networks of people (often based on common interests) living in a society. It describes the existence and strength of relationships between people. Social capital can be interpreted as 'bridging' or 'bonding' (the strength of relationships between individuals) or 'connecting' (trust between individuals and governments or other institutions). Collective action for better outcomes for all is the most positive version of social capital.

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But what is the design characteristic of these spatial units?

 

It is those elements and design choices that are conducive to the creation of human relationships. Human relations are an essential element of the quality of life of citizens. When relationships are based on trust between individuals, the strength of social solidarity networks, mutual benefit and cooperation, they are considered social capital. The design and structure of a Park's spaces towards the goal of creating Social Capital is a challenge for the whole participatory planning process.

 

As a result of the above, social cohesion can ultimately be achieved through planning. Social cohesion is a broader concept that includes social capital. It includes not only the presence of interpersonal relationships, but also the positive quality of relationships based on equal and fair treatment, respect and care for each other. This requires an inherently fair distribution of resources and opportunities. It is measured by the strength in people's relationships, participation, identity, and the creation of networks of common interest. Social cohesion describes the sense of being and connectedness felt by individuals. This depends on the inclusion of all groups in society - within formal governance processes, informal networks and everyday social interactions. Social cohesion ensures that all community members are connected to each other and to the wider institutions that make up society. It is inherently based on the existence of equitable access to opportunities and resources resulting in the strengthening of social life.

HIGH POTENTIAL FOR TRANSFERABILITY AND REPRODUCIBILITY
In order to approach the requested Park redevelopment in line with current realities and needs, and to support the participatory planning and the Workshop (10.3. 2023), our team used video, photorealism, VR, 3D printing and animation techniques to complement the architectural practice, with the aim of highlighting the main axes with international examples of good practice and of course the Park maquette with the main axes and geo-referencing of the focal points. Questionnaires and PPS models were also used to collect data and evaluate the site.

 

The overall methodology and technology of the process can easily be replicated on a case-by-case basis in similar public space projects, and we find the work of New European Bauhaus in this direction to be a great inspiration.

 

Already our team has proposed to the Attica Prefecture and the respective development agencies a similar enhanced process, for the intervention in the Falirikos Ormos (Eik), but also a more comprehensive participatory planning event / Workschop for the integration of Athens' green spaces. (See video). Similarly, we are planning a similar submission for the shaping of the Marine Front, the challenge of Climate Change and the evolution of the city of Volos towards 2025 in collaboration with the Department of Spatial Planning of the University of Thessaly.

 

GLOBAL CHALLENGES

The global challenges that the project addresses in relation to Tritsis Park by providing local solutions are:

 

Α) Addressing climate change

 

B) Water conservation

 

C) Reducing global warming and CO2 emissions

 

D) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

 

E) Citizens' well-being

 

F) Integration of green into the urban environment

 

G) Innovation in spatial design

 

Inclusiveness starts with Public Spaces

 

PROVEN RESULTS, OUTPUTS OR IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT

A participatory public space planning process must be continuous as life conditions and challenges are constantly changing; a public space project can never be considered complete!

 

The entire 3D Arts and Crafts work featured in this entry has currently been exclusively funded by Giamakos Architects, and the Park's management body has provided 6,000 Euros for the production of the original video.