The once-vibrant ritual of summer evenings on Athenian balconies – a defining feature of postwar urban life – is quietly fading. Once filled with chatter, clinking glasses, and the hum of televisions, balconies now sit largely empty, their absence marking a cultural shift as deep as it is visible. Architects and sociologists point to multiple causes: relentless heat from the climate crisis, changing urban demographics, and the rise of digital life and privacy. People basically no longer want to see or be seen, as strangers replace neighbors and screens replace conversation. For many Athenians, air-conditioned interiors have replaced the once-coveted balcony refuge from the summer heat, especially after the record-hot summer of 2024. Yet demand for spacious balconies remains high in new construction, especially in the city’s southern suburbs. Architect Yiannis Karahalios calls balconies “the only opportunity for a building’s expression,” offering both aesthetic form and shade. “Balconies will continue to matter,” he says, “because they define how Athens breathes.” [Vangelis Poulis]