This diploma project proposes a model of social housing with an ecological and social orientation, situated in the urban landscape of Athens, specifically in the historically charged area of Kountouriotika. The site, which has remained vacant since the demolition of the refugee housing, is not treated as an abandoned void but as an active field of memory and potential for future urban coexistence.
The proposal reintroduces the notion of social housing at the core of architectural thought, developing a building complex that integrates into the urban fabric and maintains a direct relationship with public space. The residential units are organized around shared activity hubs, while a multi-level water recycling system is incorporated to collect, purify, and reuse greywater from the apartments.
The water system unfolds in four stages: first, the water is collected in a storage tank; it then undergoes natural filtration through layers of gravel, sand, and activated carbon. Next, it is directed to an above-ground phytoremediation tank, which extends as an architectural gesture into the city, forming a water and green space where the water flows slowly through carefully selected plants. The final stage includes disinfection using UV-C radiation before the water is reused or returned to the ecosystem.
The design proposes a new relationship between habitation, public space, and the management of natural resources. Social housing is not approached as a solution of necessity, but as a contemporary urban typology that reconnects residents with the land, water, and collectivity. The project explores the feasibility of implementing an ecological model of living within the densely built urban center of Athens.