Maria Nikolopoulou

Our research focuses on the relationship between man and environment, which in the most of cases man ignores, and how this is realized. We deal with what can be found in squares, such as sculptures and busts as well as modern forms of art, and their significance to their surrounding city space. We focus on people who neither turn their back on their inhospitable environment nor stay at home solely taking care of their private property. Navarinou park constitutes our case study, an excellent example of what citizen activism can achieve locally. Our attention turns to those people who re-created their neighboring Navarino park turning it into a getaway from their closed apartment space to an open public space that enhances their city experience. During our park visit, we explored the paths spontaneously formed in it, the well-known “desire lines.” Following people's desire to re-design their local park, we attempt to promote via our project the return to public space via volunteerism and activism; this marks a conscious transition of passing city's control from public authorities to the hands of active citizens.