![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-01-876x438.jpg)
Architects for Urbanity propose a radical – yet contextual – redesign of Ioannina’s central square, one that restores its historic identity and opens up a new future perspective for its integration into the public life of the city.
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-02-876x483.jpg)
The proposal for the new Purros Square in Ioannina suggests an open and accessible public space that creates a new identity and captures the imaginary of the city.
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-03-876x407.jpg)
Acting as an ‘urban balcony’ overlooking the lake of Ioannina, the new square presents a unified and flexible space for both everyday leisure time and large events to take place. The open space of the square is subdivided in three main programmatic clusters:
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-04-876x438.jpg)
– The Circle, a sunken and central circular space that involves the element of water, symbolizing the lake and its effects to the culture of the city. The Circle becomes a water mirror in spring, a foggy fountain in the summer, a hangout space in autumn and a frozen skating surface in winter.
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-05-876x438.jpg)
It includes 9 large water jets, 72 smaller water diffuser and more than 140 randomly placed spotlights that simulate the stars in the sky
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-06-876x438.jpg)
– The Urban Garden, a rectangular cluster of tall trees arrayed on a grid with rotating chairs and wooden benches in between them. This area offers shade and a playful green environment for small groups to hung out, while it retains visual and physical connection to the Circle
![Purros Square](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBh3tzB3RIA/WpvTSGlH0xI/AAAAAAAAPUo/lUrinqrMgI4rUbOoEHhnun1AuCYXv-9dQCLcBGAs/s640/Events.gif)
– The Stripes Square in front of Café Oasis, an open space of monolithic benched positioned playfully along an array of travertine stripes, it functions and a generic relax space for users to sit individually or in groups under the sun.
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-08-876x438.jpg)
The overall design refers back to the historic roots of the square, highlighting the qualities of unity, continuity and monumentality, while it corrects the recent design mistakes it received a decade ago when the underground parking was constructed.
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-09-876x454.jpg)
The project can offer Ioannina a modest landmark and a point of reference that blends elements from its culture, landscape and urbanity. Source by Architects for Urbanity.
![Purros Square](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Purros-Square-Ioannina-by-Architects-for-Urbanity-10-876x547.jpg)
- Location: Ioannina, Greece
- Architect: Architects for Urbanity
- Project Team: Marina Kounavi, Irgen Salianji, Karolina Szóstkiewicz, Harris Vamvakas, Tatiana Zoumpoulaki
- Status: Competition project
- Year: 2018
- Images: Courtesy of Architects for Urbanity