This thesis explores the adaptive reuse of an abandoned building in the historic city center of Thessaloniki, investigating the potential of utilizing the city’s existing buildings as a response to contemporary social and housing needs.

 Thessaloniki possesses a significant number of historic and listed buildings, many of which currently remain vacant and underutilized. Due to prolonged abandonment and lack of maintenance, a considerable number of these buildings are deteriorating and gradually being lost. At the same time, the city of Thessaloniki, constitutes one of the largest university centresin Greece, attracting thousands of students each year who relocate for their studies and seek accommodation. The limited availability of public student housing facilities, combined with the continuously increasing pressure on the housing market, has rendered student accommodation a particularly pressing social issue.

 Within this context, the thesis proposes the adaptive reuse of a listed building that formerly operated as a private clinic, transforming it into a contemporary student residence and collective activities center. The design proposal does not treat the building as an isolated structure intended exclusively for student residents, but rather as a vibrant hub of social interaction that is actively integrated into the urban fabric and the everyday life of the neighborhood.

 The selection of this specific building was intentional, due to it’sprivileged location in the city center and the close proximity to the university campus -only a fifteen-minute walk- make it an ideal site for the development of a hybrid model that combines housing with public and community-oriented functions. Through this proposal, the thesis seeks to highlight the importance of adaptive reuse of the existing building stock as a tool for urban development, social cohesion, and the preservation of Thessaloniki’s architectural heritage. Furthermore, it aims to demonstrate a possible strategy for rescuing the city’s abandoned listed buildings by proposing a model that combines the preservation of historical memory with the fulfillment of contemporary social needs and the revitalization of the urban environment.

Keywords: Building Stock, Student Housing, Collectivity, Inclusivity, Architectural Heritage