Greek Financial Crisis Inspires Inexpensive Urbanism

"Greek cities have been suffering from poor public-led urban planning strategies, even before the economic downfall," says Doumpa. "However, there seems to be a vivid call for bottom-up initiatives that are able to directly improve urban conditions. NGOs, citizens, private agencies and also institutions start to engage themselves in new-style urbanism initiatives — step by step, place by place." 

A public, interactive mosaic at a primary school on the island of Crete, a "luminous, colorful" lighting installation in Athens, and pop-up interventions all over Greece inspired by "an open community of Athens’ citizens," show that bottom-up urbanism can conquer the negative mood and stimulate public dialogue throughout the country, argues Doumpa.