Envisioning Future PLEX
In September, PLEX in Athens welcomed Paolo, Agata, and Alessandro, architecture students from the University of Milan, as part of a Twinning exchange connecting academic research with the evolving reality of cultural space-making.
Their visit coincided with PLEX OPEN PILOT, the very first public forum and an important milestone in the PLEX’ development. For the first time, the BIOS team in Athens opened the doors of PLEX to collective reflection and public conversation, inviting neighbors, cultural workers, artists, and architects to share thoughts on the role of PLEX within the Metaxourgeio neighborhood.
Throughout the day, talks, presentations, and open discussions unfolded in an atmosphere of curiosity and exchange. Among the highlights was the students’ presentation of their work on PLEX developed within their studies at the University of Milan, exploring architecture as a tool for community engagement and the transformation of spaces into cultural infrastructures.
Their contribution brought fresh insights, critical reflections, and new questions. Seeing PLEX through the lens of emerging architects helped spark dialogue around how the project can continue to grow as a space for experimentation, openness, and collaboration.
For the students, the visit offered a first-hand encounter with participatory cultural planning and the realities of developing a cultural initiative within a specific urban and social context. For the BIOS team, it was an opportunity to receive valuable feedback and alternative perspectives from an international point of view.
This exchange became a starting point for an ongoing dialogue between academia and cultural practice, and a shared commitment to learning through collaboration.
PLEX continues to evolve as a place where experimentation meets community, and where the shaping of space becomes a collective process.
