Bringing together stakeholders, citizens, and institutional partners: the key to success of two projects in Athens!

Perhaps this comes from the thousands of years of history, philosophy and etymology in Greece and more particularly in Athens, or from the various economic and climatic crises experienced in recent years. The fact is that bringing people together is becoming an undeniable factor of success, at least this is what these two projects in Athens demonstrate.

One was able to bring about fifteen actors to the table to define a single vision, and the other placed the inhabitants at the heart of a project to renovate a building.

Do you know what Sympraxis means?

Sympraxis is a word derived from Ancient Greek meaning “working together in practice”.

Giorgos Sachinis, Director of Strategy and Innovation at EYDAP (the Athens water board) illustrates this concept in few words: “Water problems cannot be solved by a single institution” and “we must turn users into partners”!

With the region’s water resources under severe pressure, the Attica Water Lab was established to bring together diverse stakeholders, including public authorities, industry, associations, water and sewerage services, universities and civil society. This is what Sympraxis means!

The task of the Lab is to deliver practical results in water reuse and the conservation of drinking water in Athens by supporting the drafting of the Water Reuse Master Plan and its roll-out in the complex and challenging environment of the Attica basin.

Main objectives and innovation

The Living Lab aims to support the development and implementation of the Water Reuse Master Plan in the complex Attica basin.
Its main innovation lies in co-design and co-management. The plan for a non-potable water network is not developed by one institution alone; instead, it represents a shared vision created and implemented collaboratively by all stakeholders.

Residents at the heart of the Tavros project!

The Tavros project based in the Moschato-Tavros municipality in Athens aims to renovate a multi-family social housing, by improving thermal comfort, reducing the demand for heating and air conditioning by 90%.

But not only! This project, led by the Hellenic Passive House Institute and volunteers from Passivistas, in partnership with the municipality, has involved residents, businesses, policy-makers and local organisations from the very outset.

Innovative solutions and affordable price

With the renewable energy systems installed, the building’s energy generation will exceed its consumption, and the building will become an energy-positive building, virtually eliminating its carbon footprint.
Innovative solutions have been used, such as bio-based insulation, triple glazing and a heat-recovery ventilation system that provides cooling in summer and heating in winter. All these technologies and materials ensure that vulnerable households have access to high-quality, energy-efficient housing, as well as stable energy prices and virtually zero energy bills for residents.

Door-to-door visits and a mockup

For Ilektra Mancini, architect, one of the key elements at the outset was a mockup and the door-to-door approach. These two factors were essential for explaining the project to residents, the impact of this renovation on their homes and their lives, and their role in bringing this living laboratory to life.

A showcase for the future

The building is not simply being renovated; it is becoming a living laboratory for training and education over the next five years. With residents’ consent, educational tours and demonstrations will be organised for students, engineers, tradespeople and the general public to raise awareness and inspire similar projects across Greece.

Athens intends to implement a replication plan in the neighbourhood, using the building as a model for sustainable urban transition.
Imagine if the 250 buildings in the neighbourhood could benefit from such duplicability? 
Thousands of households could enjoy better living conditions and lower energy costs. 

Both projects demonstrate that the transition towards climate neutrality requires more than technology: it depends on collaboration, citizen participation, shared responsibility and solutions that improve people’s quality of life.

To find out more information on these two projects, visit the EUREKA website to discover other good practices from all the cities and sign up for our newsletter!