The square is one of the main components of the European urban space. Its historical trajectory endows it with changing characteristics, as by definition it is an open public space. It can accommodate a variety of uses that pertain to the collective life of civil society.
In today's urban landscape marked by rapid transformations, the role of the square as the city's collective sitting area is being questioned and must be protected from increasing trends of privatization. A prerequisite for any action is the careful exploration and understanding of the unique characteristics of the European square, as well as educating the broader public on these issues.
The contribution of the professors from the Department of Architects of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mairi Ananiadou-Tzimopoulou, Aleka Karadimou-Gerolympou, and the research team that worked with them in this field is invaluable. They participated in an important European research program titled 'The Square, European Cultural Heritage,' coordinated by the first on behalf of the Aristotle University.
The program included detailed approaches, formulation of proposals, and efforts to raise awareness among the broader public. In this context, four significant related publications have already been completed and the exhibition 'Squares of Europe. Squares for Europe' was organized, presenting the results of the research in major European cities starting from Venice (September 2007).
Of particular importance is the part of the research that specifically refers to the squares of Greek settlements. Here, an academic reading of the typology is attempted, covering everything from traditional 'plane tree' squares, to the modern Greek and rational squares of the 19th and 20th centuries, to contemporary approaches and reflections on the future of these spaces in the modern Greek city.
This may be the first systematic comparative study of squares in Greece and it is the core of the Greek contribution to the broader European research on squares. The presentation of the exhibition at the Benaki Museum and the publication of this catalog were supported by the Department of Architects of the School of Architecture of the Aristotle University within the framework of its broader cultural presence and the expanded educational role aimed at raising public awareness on architectural and urban issues.
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