For years, the Children’s Play Garden of Filothei in northern Athens, one of influential architect and painter Dimitris Pikionis’ (1887-1968) most poetic works, languished in neglect. A place designed not just for play, but for adventure – where winding paths led to waterfalls, wooden boats, and ancient symbols – became overgrown, buried under time and bureaucracy. In 2023, the long-awaited restoration began, only to grind to a halt when the contractor abandoned the project, citing unforeseen complexities. Now, after months of uncertainty, a new team is stepping in, promising to resurrect the space with the reverence it deserves. “We are talking about an entirely handcrafted work by Dimitris Pikionis, with no underlying study to rely on,” says Mayor Charalampos Bonatsos. “The intervention we are called to undertake resembles an archaeological excavation rather than the restoration of a conventional playground.” Unlike conventional playgrounds, Pikionis’ creation defies blueprints. Each stone was placed by intuition, each path woven into the landscape. Restoration, then, is an act of archaeology – unearthing hidden terraces, lost waterways, and the very spirit of a bygone era. But there’s a catch: The reborn garden will be more museum than playground. A space to behold, not to touch – an exquisite paradox in the ever-evolving balance between preservation and play. [Nikos Kokkalias]