Historic Garden Delasalle

Community Building, Educational & Artistic Workshops, Cultural Communication & Management, Participatory Design, Technical Studies & Construction, Urban Policy Development Consultancy

The project “Historic Garden of De La Salle” aims to shape a holistic framework for the protection and management of the historic green space located in Pefka. It draws on feedback gathered through participatory education and planning processes and is grounded in the philosophy of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). This philosophy focuses on Sustainability, Aesthetics, and Inclusion. The project partners are the Municipality of Neapoli-Sykies and the Ministry of Culture, through the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Thessaloniki Region. The project is coordinated by the environmental organisation Mamagea.

De La Salle is owned by the Municipality of Neapoli-Sykies and has been designated as a “Forest-Park” area. It holds significant environmental, historical, and cultural value of supra-local importance, making the preservation, protection, and promotion of its historical and environmental footprint especially crucial.

The HGDS project explores and implements ways to protect and showcase the grove, seeking, through diverse and participatory actions, to meaningfully reconnect the natural and cultural landscape with the everyday lives of citizens. Within this framework, the project provides for the creation of a comprehensive record of the natural and cultural landscape, the preparation of technical and management studies, and the development of educational materials. At the same time, it includes a biodiversity survey as well as the historical and archaeological documentation of the site.

A central pillar of the project is the activation, awareness-raising, and participation of the local community and school communities. On-site educational, participatory, cultural, experiential, and informational activities are being designed and implemented, with the involvement of students, teachers, and citizens, who take part in processes of environmental awareness and experiential learning, thereby strengthening their relationship with the place.

At the same time, light-touch infrastructure is being developed to highlight the site, biodiversity-support facilities are being created, and walking routes with digital audio place-based narratives are being designed in order to strengthen the long-term protection and sustainability of De La Salle. Experiential and inclusive walks for vulnerable groups are also planned, highlighting the social and therapeutic role of public space.

The project aspires to serve as a good practice example for the enhancement of historic green spaces in urban and peri-urban environments, strengthening people’s relationship with nature, memory, and place. It is being implemented within the framework of the programme “Natural Environment and Innovative Actions 2024”, funded by the Green Fund. Activities involving citizens will begin in February 2026 and are scheduled to be completed by December 2027, together with an extensive set of deliverables that ensures the scientific documentation, social participation, and long-term sustainability of the initiative.

The project entitled “HISTORIC GARDEN OF DE LA SALLE” is included in the Funding Programme “NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE NEUTRALITY 2024, Priority Axis 4: INNOVATIVE ACTIONS WITH CITIZENS”. It has a total budget of €50,000, is funded by the GREEN FUND, and its beneficiary is Mamagea AMKE.