Kypseli is one of the most densely populated areas of Athens, presenting great diversity in social strata, nationalities and residential practices. The conventional neighbourhood of Kypseli is an ode to the post-war apartment building, with it dominating aesthetically neglected, overshadowing the few detached houses, fragments of an earlier era. The courtyard is articulated in the centre of each building block, acting as a channel of communication and sound dispersion between the residents of the blocks of flats, turning them into passive listeners. The older residents of the higher floors prefer the security and privacy of their apartment as opposed to the migrant residents of the ground floors and basements, who practice more extroverted habitation practices by making use of the few common spaces of the structure, sitting on the steps of the front door and leaving the doors of their apartments open.

 This thesis, inspired by the absence of common spaces within the block, attempts to propose a solution for the activation of the courtyard and the formation of a micro-community of residents surrounding it, emphasizing structures of community character that come to replace ground floor and underground residences. The galleries opened at street level act as through-openings in the solid structure of the apartment building and ensure a smooth connection between the newly created communal space and the public sphere, negating the imposed boundaries of the courtyard .To sum up, the research group 'Pliaka' attempts through this work to redefine the spatial substance of the courtyard and to integrate it into the sphere of utilitarian spaces, offering the inhabitants a ground for coexistence, experimentation and freedom.