What’s land recycling? Read about this German example
The city of Flensburg got a grant from the regional government of Schleswig-Holstein so that it would avoid building on new land
Most of the buildings in the city were built before the 1970s and have been left to chip away and collect soot on their unique facades
Yesterday, local authorities in Athens launched what they deemed a ‘mammoth’ programme to renovate the city’s architectural heritage. More than half of the buildings in the Greek capital were built before the 1970s, while six out of ten in the city centre were built before the 1960s.
Many of these historic structures have been neglected over the years, with their paint faded, facades chipping away or collecting layers of soot from car traffic. Furthermore, the last time city officials instituted a similar programme was 19 years ago, just before the Greek capital hosted the 2004 Olympic Games.
After the market crash of 2008, the Greek economy started shrinking, while consecutive governments have had to balance different flavours of austerity for around 15 years, preventing many public projects. Interestingly, according to the World Bank, the current Greek GDP is lower than it was in 2003.
Nevertheless, local authorities have decided to allocate 1.5 million euros to the programme, incentivising private owners to take the initiative.
According to a statement by the city, the funds are supposed to help restore, maintain and aesthetically upgrade building facades, as well as fund greening projects for facades, gardens and roofs. Furthermore, they should also go towards projects that aim to ‘liberate’ buildings from added elements that alter their architectural style, giving colour, light and life back to the Athenian urban environment.
The programme will cover applications from homeowners from all private buildings in the municipality, including detached houses, duplexes, apartment buildings and listed cultural heritage sites.
The maximum amount of a subsidy for repairs, repainting and etc. is capped at 6,000 euros. At the same time, in cases where buildings need restoration work on plastic ornaments and the like, the subsidy could be as high as 7,200 per building.
Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis was quoted in a press release, saying: "The old and worn buildings of Athens, including many of unique architectural beauty and history, which for years had been left to their fate and were covered by the grey of pollution, will be able to gain new life on the canvas of the city.”
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
His name is Adrian-Dragoș Benea from Romania
Find out her vision for the next five years and what’s in store for the European Union
Gotland wants to be at the forefront of this emerging mobility technology
It’s all about preventing the habit of slowing down just for the radar
Landkreis Heilbronn will also enlist the help of sensors to identify incorrectly filled organic trash bins
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
The Old Continent gets ready for the largest festival of sports
Apparently, that makes it the most progressive city in that respect in all of Finland
The goal is to preserve these traditional features in the urban landscape while finding new purpose for their existence
Residents couldn’t handle the noise pollution anymore
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital