New Metro System as a Catalyst for Successful Planning Interventions in Athens

Abstract

The city of Athens is transforming into a multicenter model that is directly affected by the development of the new metro system. An entire network of integrated/correlated factors affecting the urban form has contributed to the development of such a model. This new situation generated the need for town planning interventions in the vicinity of the metro stations. However, the opportunity for a rational development may have been lost. A postproject solution, if there is one, could be quite expensive, because the situation is not reversible. At the same time, the metro system continues expanding, which means there is hope—hope that the knowledge and experience gained from mistakes will find a wide application to the new extension program and that timely interventions-related studies [land use, environmental impact assessment (EIA), traffic impact studies, etc.] for the immediate special arrangements will allow the smooth integration of all design areas (urban and architectural) into the urban web and minimize the risk for uncontrolled or undesirable development. The knowledge and experience gained from mistakes will prove to be useful and benefit the work of future architects, engineers, planners of metro works, as well as city politicians and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).