The renovation project of its lower part is in its final stages. Syntagma Square by the municipality of Athens, most of which has been completed and the point is now accessible to residents and visitors to the city.

According to APE-MBE, the new look of the lower square retains its historical features and at the same time connects with the modern way of life.

It should be noted that on the original area of ​​2300 sq.m. the lower area added an additional 1300 sq.m. public place.

Briefly, the project includes:

• Extension of sidewalks in front of Ermou pedestrian street.
• One dedicated bus lane and 5 bus stops that enhance sustainable mobility.
• Planting a total of 24 new trees (Kutsoupi and Grevillea) that will improve the microclimate and shading of the area.
• Combining lanes to four (out of six) resulting in reduced air and noise pollution and a smarter, safer and more visible pedestrian crossing.
• Creation of a more convenient pedestrian crossing on the historical axis of Ermou, thanks to which additional conditions for road safety are created.
• Modern infrastructure for the safe and unhindered movement of people with disabilities.
• Large recreation areas, next to new trees, for a comfortable stay.
• New urban equipment (litter bins, two public fountains, rain grates, tree grates, etc.)
• 50 lighting fixtures using the latest materials in LED technology, adapted to the needs of the modern city, providing energy savings and low light pollution.

Also, within the framework of the project, two longitudinal gazebos were built between the trees, with a total area of ​​262 sq.m., for additional shading and organization of seats at tables.

Cold materials were used to cover the lower plaza, allowing for lower surface temperatures and counteracting the urban heat island effect.

In August, the completion of the construction of two small fountains on both sides of the Ermou will improve the microclimate of the square, giving passers-by a breath of fresh air, especially during the summer months. Each fountain will have four glowing jets.

Ancient artifacts have also been found.

Work on the lower Syntagma Square began in September last year, and throughout this time the project has progressed in stages to minimize inconvenience to professionals and visitors to the area.

It is noted that the discovery of antiquities during excavations (at the point between Mitropolis and Ermou), as well as the need to implement infrastructure projects of engineering networks that “passed” under the pavement (sewer networks and power supply networks), led to a forced modification of the original study, which led to a delay in the initial graphic arts.

The project implemented an updated architectural study of the 1st Prize of the 1999 EAXA SA Architectural Competition by architects Dimitris Manikas, Doras Papadimitriou and Leonidas Georgiadis. Together with study director D. Papadimitriou and her team, consultant D. Manikas, in cooperation with the services of the municipality of Athens, the study was updated without deviating from the original plan.

Source: RES-IPE