euPoLIs
We focus on creating healthier, greener urban spaces in Piraeus through Nature-Based Solutions that improve public health, enhance biodiversity, and foster community well-being.
euPOLIS Piraeus is part of a Horizon 2020 international project, applying innovative Nature-Based Solutions at Akti Dilaveri – Mikrolimano and Ralleia Schools, showcasing how urban design can directly improve citizens’ quality of life.
euPOLIS GOALS
The euPOLIS aims to improve Public Health in cities by introducing nature-based solutions into urban planning practices.
That means that our experts are taking the best from nature’s ways to regulate and improve biodiversity by incorporating various BLUE (water) and GREEN (plant life) aspects of nature into urban open spaces where it can intensify people’s wellbeing in terms of climate, ecological and socio-economic conditions. Our methodology introduces several analytical procedures making the process more transparent and open to stronger IT support. One of the specialties is the planning of urban spaces populated with vegetation with a proven beneficial impact on cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases. The philosophy is deeply grounded in the extensive and permanent citizens’ participation in urban-planning processes.WHY NBS
Unlike the "gray" infrastructural solutions that rely on finite, unrecyclable, and more often than not, harmful materials, the NBS includes restoring and conserving natural biodiversity in the endeavor to harness rising environmental issues in urban cores.
And while the traditional approach may appear quicker to solve many of the issues, it has to be maintained and restored, again causing more damage, waste, and vast interventions. NBS has to be kept up as well, but its maintenance is way less costly in money and finite natural resources, and it’s self-sustainable to the most extent. As a plus, it is proven that staying surrounded by natural elements improves our physical and mental health, thus magnifying all our capabilities.
CITIZENS EXPERTS
We believe citizens are the ultimate experts on matters of the quality of their lives.
With participation being one of the crucial pillars of the euPOLIS philosophy, the Front-Runner cities are in a constant co-creative process that puts together a team of professionals with the genuine, grounded experience and needs of local citizens. That means collecting their insights, emotions, hopes, and even psycho-physical state (through wearing special biometrical devices) and including them in the designing processes of implementing the NBS. All these steps aim to help cities embrace the transition to bottom-up decision-making methods and empower citizens to participate in inventing their public environment.
TECHNOLOGY
Alongside nature’s solutions being reinaugurated into urban cores, the euPOLIS uses innovative technologies to support this process:
- The myFeel application - Existing and New Functions tailored to the euPOLIS project (Sentio Labs)
- The euPOLIS BioAssist application (BioAssist)
- The Urban Water simulation tools (NTUA - UWMH Lab)
- The network of permanent sensors (Plegma)
- The euPOLIS 4D Visualisation module (GSH)
- The euPOLIS Master Planning Methodology, the GDPM (EnPlus)
- Innovative Model of Cultural - Social Community Hub (Mikser)
MEET THE CITY
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MEET THE CITY
Piraeus, Greece
Piraeus is a port city within the Athens urban area in the Attica region of Greece. The port of Piraeus is the chief port in Greece, and among five biggest passanger port in Europe, serving about 20 million passengers annually. Piraeus is among the busiest ten ports in Europe in terms of container traffic, and is the busiest container port in the Eastern Mediterranean. The University of Piraeus is one of the largest universities in Greece, and includes the country's second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department dedicated to the study of finance.
- Has approx. 135,861 m2 of green area
- Unemployment rate 19,62%
- Households with children: 88%
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euPOLIS
Local Impact and Quality of Life
Through targeted Nature-Based Solutions, euPOLIS Piraeus enhances public health, revitalizes coastal and school environments, and delivers measurable improvements in citizens’ everyday lives.
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EUPOLIS
Holistic Urban Solutions
From coastal regeneration at Akti Dilaveri – Mikrolimano to greener, healthier schoolyards at Ralleia Schools, the project integrates environmental, social, and health benefits under one vision.
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EUPOLIS
Resilience and Innovation
By combining scientific expertise with community participation, euPOLIS Piraeus introduces innovative, nature-based urban planning methods that strengthen resilience and long-term sustainability.
Our vision
We believe in transforming cities through Nature-Based Solutions that create healthier, greener, and more resilient urban environments.
Our vision is to set new standards for public health, well-being, and sustainable urban living, ensuring that every citizen of Piraeus enjoys a better quality of life.
Demo area location
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Demo area location
euPOLIS Piraeus showcases its pilot interventions in two key locations: the coastal front of Akti Dilaveri – Mikrolimano and the Ralleia Primary Schools. These sites serve as living laboratories where Nature-Based Solutions are tested to improve public health, urban biodiversity, and everyday well-being.
Coastal regeneration with Nature-Based Solutions for improved water quality, shading, and biodiversity.
a small urban green area near Akti Dilaveri, redesigned as a living lab for urban cooling, social interaction, and ecological awareness.
greener and healthier schoolyards that improve children’s well-being and provide inclusive educational spaces.
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