An invaluable yet insufficiently respected asset of the Greek capital is the shade provided by its trees. As summer approaches, we should already be making progress in this area compared to the same time last year, and advancing a comprehensive plan to create natural green corridors along the streets of Athens.
These reflections arise from a series of observations. The newly-renovated Vassilissis Olgas Avenue appears to disregard this need, as do most of the capital’s squares, which could, in combination with water features, function as urban oases. The heavily and often improperly pruned trees across the country by untrained municipal crews remind us that we still have a long way to go. This is a cultural dimension that is typically treated as secondary, yet it is of the utmost importance not only for coping with summer heat, but also for the aesthetic development of residents and the protection of the ecosystem.
If one observes the Japanese Garden at Nereidon Park on Michalakopoulou Street, a striking cultural difference becomes immediately apparent. There, each tree is treated as an “individual,” a “deity,” a “companion.” Cities are shaped by their relationship with urban greenery through a foundational cultural understanding, at least in the modern era. In recent years, across the developed world, hard surfaces have been removed, soil has been restored to the surface, and trees have been planted.
Athens could be profoundly transformed if it greened its rooftops and truly embraced its trees
During the interwar period, extensive tree-planting campaigns were carried out in Athens. From that era we have inherited the beautiful avenues formed by false acacias on Akadimias Street, Didotou Street, Michail Voda Street, Spetses Street, and many other parts of the city. The treeless Athens of the 19th century was gradually transformed, a process that continued into the post-war years. Old photographs of barren hills remind us that transformation is always possible.
It is a simple idea in principle, but complex in execution. It requires knowledge, care, and prudence. Athens could be profoundly transformed if it greened its rooftops and truly embraced its trees. When high temperatures arrive in the near future, we will come to understand, without needing explanation, what a microclimate means. And when we see schools with concrete-only courtyards, it becomes clear how long the road still is.
Nevertheless, Athens does have a considerable amount of street-level greenery, but it is often not truly valued, as it is treated as a decorative garnish rather than an equal and fundamental component of urban life. Ultimately, this is a matter of culture and policy.