KOEXISTIERENDES QUARTIER
Thessaloniki, Greece | Urban Design
Reconnecting the City with its Waterfront
01 Introduction
Koexistierendes Quartier reimagines Thessaloniki’s western harbour as a vibrant mixed-use district. The masterplan reconnects the historic city with its waterfront through integrated public spaces, sustainable mobility, and adaptable urban development.Koexistierendes Quartier reimagines Thessaloniki’s western harbour as a vibrant mixed-use district. The masterplan reconnects the historic city with its waterfront through integrated public spaces, sustainable mobility, and adaptable urban development.
02 Analysis
Existing Conditions & Key Challenges
Thessaloniki’s western harbour presents significant opportunities for urban regeneration. However, industrial land use, fragmented urban structures, and limited public access have weakened its connection to the surrounding city.
Urban Fragmentation
Large industrial plots and disconnected urban blocks interrupt the continuity of the existing city.
Waterfront Disconnection
Industrial infrastructure limits public access and interaction with the harbour.
Lack of Green Spaces
Extensive paved surfaces and fragmented greenery reduce environmental quality and recreational opportunities.
Limited Accessibility
Traffic-dominated infrastructure and insufficient pedestrian and cycling connections restrict movement across the district.
Development Potential
Underutilized waterfront land offers opportunities for new urban functions, public spaces, and stronger connections to the existing city.
03 URBAN DESIGN CONCEPT
03.1 — Concept Development
Six Principles of Urban Transformation
The proposal is guided by six complementary strategies:
Canal Extension
Introducing water as a defining element of the new district.
Urban Axes
Connecting the historic city, existing neighbourhoods, and waterfront.
Green Network
Linking existing parks through continuous ecological corridors.
Mixed-Use Development
Combining residential, commercial, cultural, and public functions.
Urban Density
Balancing compact development with varied building heights.
Community Courtyards
Encouraging social interaction through shared green spaces.
03.2 — Spatial Integration
Reconnecting the City and the Waterfront
New urban axes, green corridors, and pedestrian routes reconnect the harbour with Thessaloniki’s existing urban fabric, improving accessibility and spatial continuity.
03.3 — Urban Form & Masterplan
Translating Strategy into Urban Form
Compact urban blocks, varied building heights, and interconnected public spaces establish a coherent urban structure that balances density, accessibility, and neighbourhood identity.
04 URBAN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
The urban development strategies are translated into a detailed spatial framework, integrating mixed-use buildings, public spaces, sustainable infrastructure, and community-oriented environments. Each design element contributes to creating a connected, adaptable, and environmentally responsive urban quarter along Thessaloniki's western waterfront.
Urban Axes & Connectivity
Two primary urban axes structure the development, connecting the existing city with the waterfront. Public squares, pedestrian routes, and bridges establish a continuous and accessible urban network.
Community Courtyards (GH)
Shared courtyards within residential blocks encourage social interaction, provide semi-private green spaces, and strengthen neighborhood identity.
Urban Farming (UF)
Productive green spaces are integrated into residential blocks, allowing residents to participate in urban agriculture and promoting local food production and community engagement.
Renewable Energy (SA + KW)
Rooftop solar panels and small-scale wind turbines are incorporated into the building design to support decentralized renewable energy generation.
Public Spaces & Urban Mobility
Public squares, pedestrian bridges, bicycle connections, new bus stops, and strategically located parking structures promote accessibility while reducing car dependency within the neighborhood.
Mixed-Use Urban Blocks
Residential buildings are combined with cultural, commercial, and public facilities, including museums, a concert hall, and community-oriented spaces, creating an active and diverse urban environment.
05 Urban Life & Public Spaces
Three Urban Nodes — Three Different Experiences
The masterplan introduces three distinctive urban meeting points that transform existing spaces into vibrant public destinations. Each intervention responds to its historical and spatial context, combining adaptive reuse, social interaction, and waterfront connectivity.
Treffpunkt 1
Treffpunkt 2
Treffpunkt 3
Treffpunkt 4
Treffpunkt 1 — Block 33
The first meeting point is located in front of the existing Block 33 concert hall. The building is preserved and renovated, while its surroundings are transformed into a vibrant public square.
A new café, greenery, seating areas, and pedestrian-friendly spaces encourage social interaction. Barrier-free pathways and gentle ramps ensure accessibility while connecting the historic building with the new neighbourhood.
Treffpunkt 2 — Schlachthof
The second meeting point connects the historic Thessaloniki Laboratory and Slaughterhouse buildings with the new waterfront development.
Both buildings are preserved as cultural landmarks and integrated into a mixed-use district. The surrounding public space introduces pedestrian and cycling connections, water transport access, and commercial activities, creating a lively cultural destination along the canal.
Treffpunkt 3 — Kommerzielle Achse
The third meeting point transforms an existing corridor between buildings behind the former harbour warehouses into an inviting public courtyard.
Parts of the historic façades are preserved, while cafés, restaurants, and small businesses activate the ground floors. Outdoor seating and a shallow reflecting pool enhance the public space, encouraging social interaction and strengthening the connection between heritage and contemporary urban life.
Treffpunkt 4 — Reviving Thessaloniki's Historical Identity Through Contemporary Public Space
06 Sustainable Urban Framework
07 Building Phases
The masterplan is implemented through five coordinated phases, allowing gradual development while responding to infrastructure needs, ecological priorities, and urban growth.
