Design workshop at documenta 14

Prof. Sophie Wolfrum and Sofia Dona from the Chair of Urban Design and Regional Planning organized a Master Design Project that takes the city of Athens as a case study and research on new urban scenarios. This week, the workshop and public presentation of the students takes place at the ‘Victoria Square’ project of the artist Rick Lowe at the documenta 14 in Athens.

© Chair of Urban Design and Regional Planning

Through the understanding of the complexity of multi-ownership and dispersed empty properties, the course "Athens: New Urban Scenarios" looks at potential scenarios for the revitalization of Athenian neighbourhoods. The project firstly focuses on understanding the economic models and legal frames that formed the city of Athens, such as ‘antiparochi-exchange’ or the law of ‘individual horizontal properties’ and ‘undivided shares/ tenancy in common’. Part of the first phase will be the analyzing of various models of neighbourhood regenerations in different cases and cities.

The second part is now taking place in Athens. In collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens and the Department of Architecture the course is hosted by ‘Victoria Square’ project of the artist Rick Lowe for the documenta 14 at the space of Elpidos 13 street in Victoria area.
On May 27, 2017 the students will show their result of the the workshop that took place in Athens with the topic of "Polykatoikia" and vacancy in a public presentation.
Taking into consideration both the history of the construction in Athens and the complex multi-ownership condition that in a way protects the city from large speculation and big real estate funds, the Master Design Project will reconsider ways of revitalizing the neighbourhood by using the fragmented empty properties in connection with the inhabitants and the various communities active there.