Volos
The spread of the city out of proportion to the city’s population of 130,000 inhabitants is the main problem that besets Volos. «The city does not suffer so much from a high building coefficient, although it has been reduced. The problem is that it occupies a large area to the detriment of the environment on the outskirts and farming activities,» architect and urban planner Rania Kloutsinioti pointed out. In 2004, 239 new buildings were constructed inside the boundaries of the municipality, occupying a surface area of 127,820 square meters. The growth of the city has also contributed to the general problem of identity that Volos faces today. «After the factories in the area closed down, a need to find a new image for the city arose. Should it be a tourist destination? Should it promote diverse cultural interests? The sea, the mountains and the plain make Volos unique, these features should be highlighted,» Kloutsinioti commented. A positive element is that there are wide roads, she explained: «The road network covers 33 percent of the city’s total area. If more parks were added to this and pedestrian zones were built, open areas in Volos would occupy half of the city’s surface area. But car use needs to be clamped down on a little more.»
