The proposal envisions a contemporary, sustainable market that integrates seamlessly into the urban fabric of Agia Marina in Ioannina. Conceived as a civic landmark and a vibrant social hub, the project reinterprets the typology of the ancient Greek agora—where commerce and public life coexisted—into a multifunctional, accessible, and community-centered public space.

The design is guided by principles of openness, transparency, and permeability, allowing fluid movement between indoor and outdoor areas. A central open-air plaza functions as the heart of the complex, hosting daily interactions, cultural events, and public gatherings. Surrounding shaded arcades, extensive tree planting, and a combination of wood and stone materials create a warm, natural character while enhancing bioclimatic performance.

The market’s internal layout promotes flexibility, accommodating small producer stalls, fixed retail units, food-related uses, and temporary installations. Clear circulation axes ensure smooth visitor flow and visibility across all commercial spaces. A two-level structure along the park edge houses temporary producers and can adapt for exhibitions or community activities..

Materiality and planting are approached as agents of atmosphere. Stone and timber root the project in local memory, while generous vegetation establishes a microclimate that operates as an extension of the surrounding landscape. Natural light, shadow, and air shape the daily life of the market as much as its built form.

Ultimately, the market becomes a social catalyst: an open, porous field that reconnects the neighbourhood, restores continuity in the urban fabric, and celebrates the simple act of people coming together.