The city is shaped not only by its dense built structures, but also by its voids. Urban voids often emerge as remnants of incomplete development processes or as sites awaiting redefinition. At the same time, however, they contain possibilities for reinterpretation and collective reactivation. As intermediate and transitional places, they may serve as fields for exploring alternative forms of dwelling and communal life.

 This diploma thesis investigates the potential use of such a void as a temporary place of dwelling and urban solidarity. The research is situated within the context of the contemporary housing crisis and approaches homelessness as a complex condition that extends beyond the absence of shelter to include various forms of insecure, inadequate or unsuitable housing. Through the study of institutional structures and self-organized initiatives in Athens, the thesis examines different models of care, as well as the relationships between stability and autonomy, organized support and collective participation.

 The architectural proposal, entitled “Keram-oikoume,” is situated at the intersection of Leonidou and Plataion Streets, between the neighbourhoods of Kerameikos and Metaxourgeio. The site, owned by the Municipality of Athens, remains partially inactive, as it is associated with archaeological findings and awaits future investigation. This particular temporality determines the temporary and reversible character of the intervention.

 The proposal introduces the concept of “public dwelling” as an intermediate condition between the private and the collective. It develops a transportable system of temporary accommodation and shared functions, intended to provide protection and a sense of familiarity while maintaining an open relationship with the surrounding neighbourhood. The lightweight structures are inserted discreetly into the site and can be dismantled, transported and reinstalled in other inactive urban plots without imposing a permanent transformation on the ground.

 Rather than presenting a definitive solution to homelessness, the project develops a transitional design protocol. It examines how a site in a state of waiting may temporarily acquire social and inhabitable content, while reconsidering the boundaries between housing, public life and collective care. Transportability, therefore, refers not only to the physical capacity for relocation, but also to an architectural logic that remains open to change, time and the evolving needs of the city.

Keywords: urban voids, housing precarity, public dwelling, temporariness, transportability, reversibility, urban solidarity.

Supervisor: Kotionis Zissis

Reference Number: 1267

 This diploma thesis explores the activation of urban voids through processes of transforming material residues, proposing a redefinition of the relationship between human beings, nature, and the city. Through a process-based methodology, the relationship between body and matter is examined, through which compost emerges as both medium and mode of application. The research follows a trajectory from the familiar to the collective, from the private to the public, from the small scale of the room to the scale of the neighborhood and the urban void. In the first part, the room is defined as an initial field of investigation, where an attempt is made to initiate a dialogue and to search for a shared language and conceptual framework. This stage functions as a preparatory phase, during which the tools of thought and the terms with which we subsequently operate are produced. In the second part, the investigation shifts from the interior field of the room to the urban landscape of Athens. Specifically, it focuses on an empty lot in Neapoli, Exarchia, at the intersection of Laskareos and Hippokratous streets, which is approached as a “third landscape” according to the formulation of Gilles Clément - that is, as a residual space. The analysis of existing materials, the ecosystem, the temporal layers of the site, and the residues of the neighborhood leads to the selection of compost as a process for activating the ground. Operating as a machine both literally and conceptually, it connects the vacant lot with the neighborhood, attempting to redefine the relationship between human and nature within the urban fabric.

Keywords: room, the third landscape, the third room, matter, compost, engagement

Supervisors: Gavrilou Evelyn, Kosma Anthi

Reference Number: 1224

 The modern post-industrial city is constantly evolving, influenced by social, economic, and cultural conditions. Urbanization and gentrification have brought significant changes, affecting housing and the social composition of cities. The increasing demand for housing due to internal and external migration, combined with tourism-driven transformations, has made access to affordable homes more difficult. Short-term rentals remove properties from the long-term housing market, driving up prices and making it harder for students, (young) workers, and low-income individuals to find accommodation.

 The lack of available housing and the rising cost of living force many residents to leave their homes. At the same time, changes in land use and available services disrupt the social fabric. Although city centers contain a significant number of vacant and underutilized properties, high prices and new commercial uses make them inaccessible to many.

 This thesis focuses on the refugee housing complexes in the Kaisariani district of Athens. The aim is to analyze and assess their role within the urban fabric and explore ways to maintain their connection to the evolving city. Without altering the existing way of life of residents, interventions in open and underutilized spaces, such as vacant rooftops and public areas, are proposed to provide additional services and facilitate the coexistence of both new and long-term inhabitants.

Keywords: affordable housing, urban regeneration, rooftop housing, restructuring of urban space, new scenarios for housing

Supervisor: Mitroulias Giorgos

Reference Number: 1260

 This diploma thesis, titled “Memory and Youth in Dialogue: Student Residences in the Old Corfu Nursing Home” was completed during the 2025–2026 academic year by student Marianna Pandi, under the supervision of Professor Kostis Panigyris.

 The subject of the thesis is the redesign of the residential experience for students of the Department of Music Studies in Corfu, through a comprehensive proposal on Avrami Hill that fully addresses their housing, social, and academic needs. The new building is situated at the base of the hill, with its form drawing inspiration from Corfu’s historic fortifications, such as the one that previously stood on the hill itself, thereby keeping the historical memory of the site alive. Compositionally, the complex is structured into three distinct units. The common areas (kitchens and dining rooms) are located on the ground floor, while the upper floors house the private bedrooms and scattered living rooms. The central axis of the design is the incorporation of interior courtyards, around which communal life unfolds, while ensuring οptimal natural lighting and enhanced privacy.

 At the top of the hill stands the complex of the old Corfu nursing home, which today remains abandoned. The proposal calls for the restoration and repurposing of the two existing buildings, integrating them into the student residence program. These buildings will be converted into specialized facilities to support music studies, including rehearsal rooms, recording studios, an instrument repair workshop, as well as a café/reading room.

Keywords: student residence, adaptive reuse, historical memory, music studies, communal living

Supervisor: Paniyiris Costis

Reference Number: 1240

 This thesis concerns the design of a new Music School in Volos, with the aim of creating a modern educational and cultural core that goes beyond the limits of the conventional school unit. The proposal treats music education not as a complementary activity, but as a key factor that influences the organization, operation and architecture of the complex.

 The design process begins with the study of the institution of Music Schools, the investigation of the specific requirements of music education and the analysis of the relationship of the school with the city. The choice of the location in Volos is linked to accessibility, proximity to the KTEL station and urban transport lines, as well as the relationship of the area with the University of Thessaly and important cultural and public spaces.

 The synthetic idea is based on the division of the program into distinct but interconnected functional zones: the school learning zone, the music education zone, the theater and cultural center zone, the restaurant and multivenue event zone, as well as the interconnection areas with the local community and the University. The individual volumes are organized around a common outdoor system of courtyards, paths and meeting spaces, which constitutes the connective tissue of the complex.

 Particular emphasis is placed on the gradation from the more controlled and educational space to the open and public space. Thus, the school can simultaneously function as a space for daily education, musical creation, collective expression and cultural activity. The possibility of independent operation of the music education zone and the cultural spaces outside school hours further enhances the public character of the proposal.

 As a whole, the architectural proposal attempts to transform the Music School into an open network of education, music and culture, where the building, the outdoor space and the city are connected through movement, encounter and collective creation. Architecture therefore does not function only as an enclosure for individual uses, but as a tool that organizes the relationships between students, teachers, music, culture and the wider society.

Supervisors: Symeonidou Ioanna, Remy Nicolas

Reference Number: 1256

 This study explores the evolving relationship between the city of Volos and its waterfront, focusing on the area of Anavros as a site where historical, social, urban, and environmental processes intersect. Although the sea has long been a defining element of Volos’s identity, recent environmental pressures and extreme natural events have rendered it increasingly inaccessible for everyday use. The loss of the possibility of swimming within the urban fabric highlights proximity to clean and safe waters as a critical concern of contemporary urban and coastal planning.  The research situates the emergence of sea bathing in Greece from the late nineteenth century onward, approaching the bath not merely as a recreational or hygienic practice but as a socially constructed ritual embedded in regulations, gender norms, and spatial control. The transition from strictly segregated bathing facilities to mixed beaches (bains mixtes) reflects broader transformations in public space, social interaction, and the visibility of the body. Architecture plays a central role in this process, as bathing infrastructures organize movement, access, and sightlines, shaping both bodily practices and social relations.  Anavros is examined as a representative case of these dynamics. In the early twentieth century, its wooden bathing installations, piers, and cabins formed a regulated and enclosed coastal landscape. Over time, structural decay, post-earthquake reconstruction, and urban expansion dissolved this controlled system, leading to the formation of an open public park and beach integrated into the city. Yet contemporary environmental degradation, intensified by flooding and water pollution, has once again disrupted the everyday relationship between the city and the sea.  The study concludes with a design-oriented proposition that reconsiders water as an active spatial and social agent rather than a passive backdrop. Through the introduction of public bathing infrastructures, water-based spatial interventions, and ecological strategies, the proposal seeks to restore an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable relationship between the urban environment of Volos and its coastal landscape, reframing the shoreline as a shared civic space shaped by both memory and contemporary ecological challenges.

Key Words: Bath, Swimming, Plage, Park, Water

Supervisors: Gavrilou Evelyn, Bourdakis Vassilis

Reference Number: 1204

 This thesis attempts to address one of the most urgent and complex issues of modern society: the hosting of refugees and migrants not as a temporary crisis management, but as an act of responsibility, care, and long-term planning. At the heart of this proposal lies the human being and their need for safety, dignity, and participation, through an architecture that is not imposed, but rather converses with the place, the environment, and society. The choice of the Ammoudara area in Heraklion, Crete, is based on geographical, social, and symbolic criteria. Its proximity to the city center, the port, and the airport, as well as its adjacency to Nea Alikarnassos - a historic refugee settlement - bestows a character of continuity and memory upon the project. In a location that daily receives moving populations yet lacks organized reception structures, this proposal fills an essential void by offering a spatial response that integrates rather than isolates.The design of the proposal is built upon three fundamental pillars: sustainability, ease and speed of implementation, and long-term structural durability, always in conjunction with social inclusion.Environmental Sustainability: The primary objective is eco-friendly design. The residences are constructed from wood - a renewable, natural, and environmentally friendly material with excellent thermal insulation properties. Its use significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the buildings, contributing to energy savings during both construction and operation. Simultaneously, the integration of passive bioclimatic strategies, such as cross-ventilation, natural lighting, solar collectors, and rainwater harvesting systems, enhances the energy autonomy and self-sufficiency of the complex. Furthermore, the structures are elevated and follow the natural terrain, preserving the existing vegetation, thus acting as an extension of the Mediterranean landscape. Ease and Speed of Construction: The wooden residences are designed as simple, flexible, and repetitive systems that can be assembled quickly with minimal specialized equipment or labor. The structural elements can be disassembled and reused without significant wear, allowing the structures to adapt to changing needs. The potential for the refugees themselves to participate in the construction process fosters autonomy, a sense of ownership, and collectivity, transforming architecture from a static product into a dynamic social process. Durability and Long-term Functionality: Despite their lightweight and flexible nature, the structures are resilient, cost-effective to maintain, and adapted to the climatic conditions of Crete. At the same time, the design is based on the principles of Universal Design, ensuring full accessibility for people with mobility difficulties and disabilities through a continuous network of ramps. The vision is completed with the integration of a school-skill center, which promotes social inclusion, empowerment, education, and creative expression. Architecture serves here as a means of "restarting," offering not just shelter, but a space for life, coexistence, and future prospects. This thesis does not merely propose a solution; it articulates a position: that hospitality can be sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and, above all, human.

Keywords: Inclusion, Sustainability, Resilience ,Social empowerment, Hospitality 

Supervisor: Kosma Anthi

Reference Number: 1222

 This thesis presents the design and development of a parametric system for generating digital cities, intended to serve as a dynamic foundation for video game environments. The theoretical framework of the study is rooted in the theory of Mental Maps and Kevin Lynch’s five structural elements of urban perception -Paths, Edges, Landmarks, Nodes, and Districts- as analyzed in his book The Image of the City. The main objective is the translation of these abstract urban design concepts into parametric programming functions.

 The practical implementation of the system was developed within the Blender software, utilizing the visual programming language of Geometry Nodes. The resulting tool is structured into three sequential and interdependent functions. This architecture provides developers with an ideal balance between precise parameter control and procedural generation (systematic randomness), eliminating the need for monotonous and repetitive manual labor. The system is accessible to users without advanced expertise in the software, although an understanding of controlled geometry principles optimizes the final outcome. In conclusion, the tool harnesses the parameters of urban legibility, transforming them into directly customizable elements for the creation of functional digital worlds.

Supervisor: Bourdakis Vassilis

Reference Number: 1226