thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network

linked by a neutral urban skin, apostolopoulos tasoulis’ masterplan establishes an expandable urban network designed to unify over seventy monuments and archaeological sites across thessaloniki, greece.

AT edited by christina vergopoulou October 16, 2026 3 min

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EXPANDABLE city NETWORK UNIFIES THESSALONIKI’S HISTORICAL layers

The Armosi (Άρμοση) masterplan, designed by Apostolopoulos Tasoulis, establishes an expandable urban network to unify over seventy monuments and archaeological sites across Thessaloniki, Greece. Structured along the historic Egnatia Street axis and its intersection with Aristotelous Street, the design framework integrates Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Jewish, and modern historical layers into a cohesive public landscape informed by UNESCO’s Historic Urban Landscape approach.

thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network - 1 — Arch of Galerius and Rotunda, restoring the continuity of the historic imperial axis | all images ©Apostolopoulos Tasoulis

NEUTRAL MATERIAL TOOLKIT REDEFINES SITE BOUNDARIES AND URBAN AXES

To improve urban legibility without adding visual complexity, the proposal by Apostolopoulos Tasoulis architectural studio applies a unified design toolkit. A continuous, light-colored paved surface creates a neutral backdrop, supported by standardized lighting, signage, and discreet street furniture. Site boundaries are reconfigured through subterranean facilities, new public access points, and light enclosures, with targeted interventions restoring the historic imperial axis at the Rotunda and Galerian Complex and introducing a new axial entry at the Roman Forum.

thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network - 2 — Alatza Imaret, a renewed public setting, enhances the presence of the Ottoman monument

GREEN PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS LINK ARCHAEOLOGY WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT

Pedestrian movement and climate resilience dictate the ground plane. Existing vegetation is expanded into continuous green corridors connected to the city’s metro network and public transport system, establishing traffic-calmed routes that allow Thessaloniki’s historical stratification to operate as an active part of daily urban mobility.

thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network - 3 — Egnatia, the historic east–west artery as a continuous public landscape, integrating archaeological remains, greenery, and mobility

thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network - 4 — Rotunda, a new public square formed around the monument

thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network - 5 — Galerian Complex, a sequence of interconnected archaeological sites, re-establishes the historic imperial axis

thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network - 6 — Dikastirion Square, new access of the Roman Forum

thessaloniki’s layered historic center weaves into expandable pedestrian network - 7 — Roman Forum, reconnecting the archaeological remains with the contemporary city

masterplan 1.2000 masterplan 1.1000 green axes

project info:

name: Unification of Archaeological Sites and Monuments, Thessaloniki
architect: Apostolopoulos Tasoulis | @apostolopoulostasoulis

location: Thessaloniki, Greece

award: 1st prize, Public competition

competition organizer: Anaplasi consulting engineers SA
partnering organizations: Ministry of Culture & Municipality of Thessaloniki

lead architect: Apostolopoulos Tasoulis
core architectural documentation team: Dimitra Koutroumba, Giorgos Mertzanidis, Lefteris Stergiou
architectural team: Natalia Boura, Vasiliki Papargyri, Evi Mimikou, Fotis Sagonas, Eleanna Roussou
urban planning: Bethlehem Hastaoglou-Martinidis, Katerina Christoforaki, Polina Prentou
landscape architecture: Studio Soma, Alana Espacio
traffic planning and road safety: VM Consulting
structural engineering: PPA Structure
mechanical engineering: Melcon Engineering
climate and environmental design: Transsolar – Christian Frenzel, Dimitris Tremos
archaeology and cultural heritage: Dimitra Sikalidou, Eleftheria Kyriakopoulou
agronomy and forestry: Eleni-Antigoni Folina, Archontoula Sakellariou
graphic material and images: Apostolopoulos Tasoulis

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