Driven by climate change and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, the city of Athens is experiencing increasing heat stress due to its dense urban fabric and limited green space. This project responds to this challenge by exploring how architectural and landscape design can use natural elements, wind, shade, water, and thermal mass, to create passive cooling environments that also function as public and educational spaces. The project focuses on the redevelopment of the former industrial “Pyrkal” site in Ymittos. An iterative design approach was used, combining 3D modelling with CFD wind simulations and solar analysis. The final design proposes a resilient public park with clusters of circular green spaces with drought-resistant vegetation to reduce water loss, combined with an urban ecology pavilion.
The pavilion incorporates thick concrete walls to increase thermal mass and improve thermal lag. With the help of these walls cool are is steere through the building to create cool spaces and cool its visitors down. Two reservoirs, one acting as a stormwater overflow, and one as a rainwater collector, support evaporative cooling. The collection of these system stabilize temperatures in and around the building. Overall, the project shifts the idea of urban comfort from energy-intensive mechanical cooling toward passive, climate-responsive design, offering a scalable approach for improving microclimates in hot, dense urban areas. ... Read more