Parks are the green lung of cities. "Liquid green" will spread out and penetrate streets and urban blocks creating a new and powerful reservoir of oxygen, which will enable the city to breathe and return healthier living conditions.  

The elements of 'liquid green' are:  

- ground surfaces,  
- water,  
- green bridges and  
- roof gardens. 

2 Traffic concept 

The regional traffic which invades the centre of Athens every morning will be reduced considerably by the provision of a large underground parking area under Green Park. At the same time public transport will be improved by creating new underground lines and by increasing the number of trains of the existing line.  

We expect Patision Street to remain as the main axis for crossing Athens. We propose that Tritis Septemvriou is designated as public transport only. Aristotelous Street will be used as a low-speed street penetrated by elements of "liquid green".  

We assume the residents around Victoria Square will use the car park underneath "Green Park" or the parking in Elpidos street. No further car parks are suggested. By providing self-sufficiency to each urban block, and a better network of public transportation, the necessity for private cars will decrease for the residents. 

We chose the block limited by Derigny, Tritis Septemvriou, Victoria square and Aristotelous as a pilot project. It is a typical, dense urban block. We propose a strategy which can be applied to other similar blocks in central Athens. This consists of the following: 

> Demolition of residential flats at ground floor and basement levels of inner blocks to provide access to and cross ventilation for the courtyards. 

> Erection of low-rise "glass boxes", on parts of the ground floor areas providing shops for daily needs; these will contribute to the self-sufficiency of the block and their transparency allows daylight penetration to the courtyard. 

> Demolition of the partitions inside the courtyard and conversion of the courtyards to useful semi-private outdoor spaces with plants, trees, water ponds and sitting areas. 

> Revitalisation of voids as public spaces growing with the yards. 

> Conversion of unused roof terraces converted to protected, semi-private roofgardens connected to each other in small units on different levels. 

> Extension of the "liquid green" onto blind facades. 

> Replacing the existing border streets of Victoria square with a natural landscape to reconnect the shops and cafes with the square and reduces the area of covered and non-breathing surfaces. 

A landmark placed at the entrance of the underground will block the noise from the traffic and underline the importance of the new point of interchange.