Renovation of the Historical Centre of Athens and Unification of the Archaeological Sites.

Projects of the Ministry of Culture (MC) and the Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works (MEPPPW) and of the "Unification of the Archaeological Site of Athens, S.A." 2002-2004

(a) Renovation of Omonia square
Architects:
Eleni-Maria Katsika, Ariadni Bozani,
Grigoris Desyllas et Theodoros Tsiatas
(Winners of the 1998 open architectural competition)

(b) Renovation of Monastiraki square
Architects:
Nikos Kazeros, Zinovia Kostopoulou,
Vassilia Manidaki, Christina Parakendé
et Eléni Tzirtzilaki (Winners of the 1998 open architectural competition)



The unification of the archaeological sites of Athens and the simultaneous renovation of its historic centre is the largest urban renewal programme in the heart of the Greek capital. The aim of the programme is to realise the old dream of a unified "archaeological park" in the capital from the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympeion) to Keramikos, simultaneously upgrading all regions related to this "park".
Completion of this coordinated effort, which began on the initiative of the MC and MEPPPW, was undertaken by the "Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Athens S.A.".


The unification of the archaeological sites of Athens
This effort began in 1976 with proposals by architects and urban planners, of which the most influential was that of Alexandros D. Fotiadis.
In 1983 MEPPPPW presented the "archaeological park" within the framework of the Plan of Athens and in 1987, the Ministry of Culture drew up its strategic master plan, which defined the scale of urban intervention.
Six large-scale studies by the MC regarding the region from the Olympeion to Keramikos, in conjunction with the study to make Dionysiou Areopagitou and Apostolou Pavlou Streets into pedestrian walkways, the latter of which has already been implemented (see No. 19) define the object and nature of the "archaeological park".
The company "Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Athens S.A." has undertaken to carry out this ambitious programme, and in 2002 it has already finished making Dionysiou Areopagitou St into a pedestrian zone.


The renovation of the historic centre of Athens
In view of the Olympic Games of 2004, the Ministry of Public Works and the "Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Athens S.A." have set in motion a magnificent renewal programme for the historic centre of the capital. The programme includes the following works:
1) renewal of Omonia Square (see below)
2) renovation of Monastiraki Square (see below)
3) landscaping of Syntagma Square, which provides for the restoration of the surfaces of the square and of the streets around it, in order to apply the new traffic regulations;
4) landscaping of Koumoundourou Square
5) landscaping of pedestrian walkways on the streets of the "commercial triangle" that would foster its aesthetic upgrading
6) making Vas. Olgas a pedestrian walk, which would thus be converted into a place for people to pass through, pause and approach the archaeological site of the Olympeion, as well as extending the archaeological site towards the Zappeion Gardens. This project is directly associated with landscaping the walkway between Dion. Areopagitou-Ag. Pavlou and Ermou.
7) landscaping Mitropoleos St which aims at the aesthetic upgrading of the sidewalks, the renewal of Mitropoleos Square, the restructuring of traffic and service to tourist buses
8) upgrading Dourouti square and Akadimou St which are in the region of the old Metaxourgeio, to make it a hub of cultural activities in association, through Akadimou St, with Koumoundourou Square and the Psyrri district. This intervention would include improvement of building façades around the square and those along Akadimou St.
9) landscaping Kolokotroni St, which would include improvement works to resurface the street and sidewalks, to improve the infrastructures, lighting and greenery.
10) making Ermou Street a pedestrian walkway from Aghion Asomaton St up to Pireos and many interventions in the region of the project that would involve landscaping open spaces (e.g. around the little Byzantine church of Aghion Asomaton) and squares (Thisseio square and the square opposite the entrance to the Keramikos Museum), upgrading the ISAP station at Thisseio, etc. These interventions are associated with the works to promote the archaeological site of Keramikos, the proposal to create a cultural park at Keramikos and the works to landscape Vas. Olgas, Dion. Areopagitou and Apostolou Pavlou.
11) renovation of Athinas St, which includes interventions to restore its buildings, to repair the streets and sidewalks and making it a partial pedestrian mall from Omonia Square to Lykourgou St.
12) renovation of Aiolou St from Ermou to Sofokleous to restore the façades of its heritage buildings and to upgrade the region more generally so that, apart from its commercial activities, it can acquire other desirable uses such as residential, and finally
13) landscaping Adrianou St.
The two most significant works in the programme, and those which will be completed first, are the renovations of Omonia and Monastiraki squares.
The study for Omonia Square was assigned in 1999 to the architects Eleni-Maria Katsika, Ariadne Vozani, Grigoris Desyllas, and Theodoros Tsiatas who won the first prize in a competition open to all architects in the European Community (1998). The winning architectural submission retained the character of this central square, which will by its very nature become a busy communications hub. Omonia is not treated as a place of leisure or rest but as a thoroughfare and passage way. The main idea of the proposal is as follows: the square is organised as a single approachable surface. Some parts of it are landscaped with low features, which define areas of rest and movement, reveal interesting views and lend the space a dynamic character. The underground level of the square acquired particular significance after the Metro went into operation and will be even more attractive after the renovation of the interwar ISAP station (architect Emmanuel Lazaridis).
The study for the renovation of Monastiraki square was assigned to the architects Nikos Kazeros, Zinovia Kostopoulou, Vassileia Manidaki, Christina Parakente and Eleni Tzirtzikaki, who won first prize in an open competition held in 1998 on this theme. The main points of the four architects’ proposal were:
a) landscaping of the square as a single open space for pedestrians to pass through and stop with the necessary pedestrian spaces and the creation of sites of interest, such as the long opening or "archaeological cross-section" of repairs to the underground archaeological site of the square and the new fountain on the site of the historic "Lower Fountain", etc.,
b) the paving with multicoloured pebbles and marble in a "fluid" composition appropriate to the nature of the historic square and the two predominant architectural monuments: the Byzantine church of the Pantanassa and the Ottoman mosque,
c) promotion of the church of Pantanassa,
d) the renovation and painting of building façades surrounding the square,
e) the link with the underground Metro station, and
f) the landscaping of the entrance and the emergency exit of the Metro as well as the finials on its air ducts so that they are aesthetically harmonised with the square.

UNIFICATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF ATHENS, S.A.

MINISTRY OF CULTURE

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIROMENT, PHYSICAL PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS

TRANSPORTATION