...PhotoRomance

TRACES OF COMMERCE:AN URBAN INITIATIVE FOR THE

VACANT STOREFRONTS OF ATHENS

Traces of

C O M M E R C E

While most of the cities in the world lack space, the city of Athens, an urban context severely hit by the financial crisis,

has 30% of its building reserve empty.

The city’s ground-floor network, once the steaming engine of its urban welfare, has now become a redundant landscape

of empty pocket spaces.

UN-EXPLOITED BUILDING

STOCK

EXISTING BUILDINGS CRISIS+ =

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COMMERCE

MULTIPLICITY OF CREATIVE INITIATIVES

OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW

TYPOLOGY OF URBAN SPACE

INACTIVE GROUND FLOOR

INACTIVE GROUND FLOOR

CRISIS+

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Within this pragmatic context of emerging decay, «TRACES OF COMMERCE» was organized as an initiative aiming

to bring back to a state of activity a vacant public space of Athens, «Stoa Emporon» (Arcade of Merchants).

in the center of Athens, next to

Syntagma Square

at the ground level of the Social Security Fund for the Merchants

a public building empty like

a ghost

a public gallery consigned to oblivion

that links to the heart of Athens

commercial triangle

12 inactive shops

with traces from different users

©popaganda.gr

accumulated bureaucracy

PHASE  AINHABITATION  OF  THE  ARCHADE

we opened them step by step

collecting and archiving

re-using disposable

raw material

we created a central space

for support (info point)

an open call addressing young creative collaborations

new creative initiatives occupied

the gallery

discovering new uses for old materials

with open collaborative

workshops for the city

for young and old generations

Εργαστήριο “Το EMPORIKON”, Architecture for Humanity Athens© Μπάμπης Γιαννικάκης

exploring old techniques with

new citizens

Εργαστήριο “Εμπορικές Τοπικότητες”, Ομάδα ΑΣΤΥ© Ομάδα ΑΣΤΥ

discovering new urban specificities

with a large lunch table for the neighborhood

open screenings and presentations

public talks

until midnight

© Beforelight

we brought light into the gallery

re-manufacturing old lighting signages

we re-designed the old empty shops

..one by one

and on the 5th of June we presented the

outcomes with a big party!

PHASE  B  • OPEN  CALL  TO  YOUNG  CREATIVE  COLLABORATIONS  

• EACH  SHOP  IS  GIVEN  FOR  FREE  INC.  AMENITIES  TO  EACH  CREATIVE  GROUP  TO  TEST  THEIR  IDEAS  AND  PRODUCTS• IN  EXCHANGE  2  WORKSHOPS  FOR  FREE  PER  MONTH

TRACES OF COMMERCE2

NEWCREATIVE

CELLSOF EXCHANGE

PALISANDROS / FIXERS / #ADDNOISE MEDIA LAB / THE ATHENS ZINE BIBLIOTHEQUE / COLLABORATORIUM / DEBOP / ATHENS DISAPPEARING FUTURES / THE DOLL HOUSE PHASE! & ORILA / CRAFTWORK IN PROGRESS (C.I.P.) / FLOWER GIRLS «THE SHOP»

ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2014 - ΙΟΥΝΙΟΣ 2015 | ΣΤΟΑ ΕΜΠΟΡΩΝ, ΣΥΝΤΑΓΜΑWWW.TRACESOFCOMMERCE.COM

PALISANDROSFIXERS#ADD NOISE MEDIA LABTHE ATHENS ZINE BIBLIOTHEQUECOLLABORATORIUMDEBOPATHENS DISAPPEARING FUTURESTHE DOLL HOUSEPHASE! & ORILAFLOWER GIRLS "THE SHOP"CRAFTWORK IN PROGRESS (C.I.P.)

TRACES OF COMMERCE 2NEW CREATIVE CELLS OF EXCHANGE

DECEMBER 2014 - JUNE 2015 | ARCADE OF MERCHANTS, SYNTAGMA-ATHENSWWW.TRACESOFCOMMERCE.COM

Voulis Street

CRAFTWORK IN PROGRESS (CΪP)MILLINERY & SILVERSMITH WORKSHOPPHASE! & ORILA

DIY MUSIC PRODUCTION

DEBOPSOCIAL NETWORKING

PALISANDROSCARPENTRY & MUSIC INSTRUMENTS

#ADDNOISEMEDIA LABORATORY

THE ATHENS ZINE BIBLIOTHEQUEFUNZINE LIBRARY

COLLABORATORIUMTYPOGRAPHY & SILKSCREEN

FIXERS3D PRINTING

TRACES OF COMMERCESTREET VIEW INFO POINT

DISAPPEARING FUTURES (ATHENS)URBAN RESEARCH & INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

DOLLHOUSEPUPPET THEATER WORKSHOP

FLOWER GIRLS «THE SHOP»ECOLOGY & PERFORMANCE

to Lekka Street

TRACES OF COMMERCE | NEW CREATIVE CELLS OF EXCHANGE2

EXCHANGE  RULEA  TOTAL  OF22  WORKSHOPS  

FOR  FREE  PER  MONTH

thank you!

Traces of

C O M M E R C E