The Picnic Project regenerates an industrial mining site into a bucolic mixed-use space

This pastoral vision of the northwest lignite mining area of Ptolemaida in Greece transforms the former industrial site into a sustainable, mixed-use development that combines agriculture, recreation and tourism.

Architects Leonidas Papalampropoulos and Georgia Syriopoulou designed and presented the regeneration project in the style reminiscent of the early 20th century Garden City movement, pioneered by Ebenezer Howard, which is based on a radial network of patterns with open spaces, public parks and agricultural estates.The project aims to deal with the industrial heritage of the site by introducing new management procedures and “re-instating [a] romantic” vision in order to create a new relationship between the user and the landscape. The team proposes the formation of a new archaeological site with exhibitions of industrial artifacts inside the former quarry. Three dams would be constructed along the stream in order to control its flow, form three water reservoirs for swimming during summer, and facilitate the development of a hydro-biotope.

In attempting to re-appropriate the natural environment, three techniques would be used along the water path. The first would focus on exploiting the existing remote heating infrastructure to create a greenhouse-swimming pool. The second focuses of establishing botanical rooms, while the third would introduce urban residential environments.