Walking around the area the pedestrian struggles through the traffic, and the strong presence of cars which block the way. Noise and pollution levels are high. The high built density has created tight and narrow urban canyons, where  facades are dark  and inner courts  are underutilised and separate from public spaces. The flat roofs absorb heat in summer and leave little space for rain water absorption. 

We propose to wrap the blocks with live green tissue -a layer of skin which will react to different seasons. This will grow on a light, modular structure of metal cables and wood from reforestation, 3.60 meters away from the facades. Vine plants will grow from the ground to the top, creating an efficient shading device, dust filter, and providing visual and acoustic protection. The space in-between, the sidewalk, will become a green arcade and the structure will prevent cars from parking over. From the street the blocks will become green forms. 

Traffic control and parking zoning are crucial elements to the effectiveness of our proposal. The following streets are to be converted into pedestrian ways: Heyden Street (from the Park to Aharnon); Filis Street (from Derigni to Ioulianou). The edges of Filis Street and other local access streets are to become "cul de sacs", with 45 degree parking on one side. A landscaping element will be introduced at these edges; a wall of 1.60 meters high with a small garden on the other side. On each block we propose to take two of the buildings facing the streets and convert their floor slabs into terraces for the adjacent buildings. The terraces will be wider at first floor level becoming narrower further up. One half of these terraces will be open on the sides and the other will be as a solar wall on the south with a window to the north. These cuts in the blocks will provide openings to the inner courtyards.  We propose that they are of two types: 

Public courtyards:   
open to the public at ground level provided with vegetation and water fountains, lined with shops, coffee shops and restaurants; some of these will be covered by a glass canopy, for privacy and protection from the rain.  

Private courtyards:  
closed to the public by cell block walls that allow air flow and partial visual access. The courtyards will have trees and vegetation as well as a water fountain. 

The inner courtyards will be designed as cool areas. Vegetation and water will contribute to the cooling  of these shaded spaces. We propose that the roofs of all the buildings become roof gardens, rain water collectors (gray water) and passive solar water heating systems. The roof gardens will regulate the relative humidity, improve air quality, contribute to thermal stability and help restore the water cycle.