Flat rooftops and balconies are two characteristics of the Athenian cityscape that could go a long way towards improving our quality of life with a bit of TLC and creativity. Just imagine that instead of eyesores with bare concrete, higgledy-piggledy TV antennas and solar boilers, rusting iron railings and plastic patio furniture cracking in the sun, every balcony and rooftop were to be filled with flowers, bushes and small trees. It’s not just that the city would be a whole lot prettier; even more importantly, such an abundance of greenery would act as a shield against the heat and pollution.
In the absence of some initiative to make that happen on a mass scale, Kathimerini reached out to three experts and asked them how every city dweller can “green up” their lives – and those of the people around them – with a few simple moves. Concrete absorbs heat, which means that it becomes trapped in our walls. What’s more, this heat tends to be “expelled” at night, pushing up the temperature.
One solution is to cover outer walls with natural materials like wood by installing, for example, frames for climbing plants, or even roman blinds. You can also paint your walls in light colors, which deflect the sun. Balcony floors also tend to give off heat, so laying down a few cotton or ratan rugs can help.
As far as creating shade goes, apart from awnings, you can also plant trees in big pots or install wooden blinds across the length of your balcony, or use gauze curtains i.
