Well, what can we say about "architecture in Athens"? Just from the title of this page, one would perceive the controversity of this issue! Where should somebody start and end when speaking about Athen's architecture. Modern one, ancient one, neoclassical one. In a city that it's history spans through some milleniums, in a city where old and new can meaggle in the most interesting and sudden ways, things are really different when speaking about "architecture". The only thing someone can start with is the acknowledgement that this is a city on which all inhabitants left their traces, back from 1.600 B.C. till nowadays, doing it in all possible ways, kind or rude, easy or hard, good or bad. What in the final point remains is the fact that Athens is a vibrant contemporary city with loads of architecture monuments or buildings to see.
View to Athens downtown from Acropolis pedestrian walk towards Lucabettus Hill
Classical architecture - Roman architecture
With it's history dating back to 1.600 B.C. and even more for some history scholars, the remnants of the past are strong in this magnificent city. Major part of the central areas are covered by ancient ruins from Geometrical period back to 900 B.C., from Classical Period back to 450 B.C. and from Greco - Roman period back to 200 B.C.
Erecthion on Acropolis Hill
Ancient Geek History has drawn its presence with the most distinct way in Athens. The Acropolis Hill is located just in the center of the city. The whole city has spread around it for more than 25 centuries. In fact the Acropolis Hill, is the main reason that contemprary buildings are limited to a height of only 5 floors in all the central areas. Beyond the Acropolis Hill, a whole remnants complex is spread around it, along with the Zeus Temple, the Hadrian's Gate, the ancient theaters on the foot of the hill, the whole Agora area, the Keramikos ancient grave yard and the Panathinaikon Stadium. Major changes to traffic rules and vehicles movement areas have provided through the last decades a pedestrian walk - what is called here as the archaelogical walk - starting down from Gazi area, through the Plaka / Thission / Monastiraki area, round the Acropolis Hill, ending to Panathinaikon Stadium. On this route, which definitely needs some hours to be completed you walk by all the major monuments where all Classical and Roman past of the city comes along your eyes and heart.
Contemporary architecture
Beyond it's "urban chaos" and among the endless 5 - storey residential buildings that reign in the suburbs, Athens has many buildings to be proud of. So, if we are speaking about newly - built architecture, interest rises between all the 2004 Athens Olympics improvements at the one pole of interest and numerous private buildings of high interest.
The Athens Olympic Complex at Maroussi ( OAKA ) is a huge complex of sports facilities and outdoor installations, originally built for European Athletics Championships in 1982, but totally redesigned on 2002 - 2004 to host the major athletic events of 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Centerpiece of this "work of art" set of venues is the Olympic Stadium. Built in 1982 as an open - air athletics stadium was repaired, remodelled with a vast glass - metal roof designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
Roof was designed and constructed in a record time of just 16 months. It's construction was finished just a month before the Games. Due to construction requirements of concurrent opening ceremony works being done in the stadium itself, roof was constructed in 2 distinct symmetrical, crane - supported parts. 2 parts weighing some thousands of tons and sizing over 200 mt each were slided for about 250 metres on special constructed rail lines on a procedure that lasted some weeks. Finally, after sliding was finished, the 2 parts were conjoined in just 4 points and the basic construction was finished. Alpinists consisted construction teams were finally used for glazing distributing. The whole construction was finally a huge success, providing a valuable shade for all Olympic Stadium visitors and an amazing background for the Opening Ceremony as well.
above: the Agora at OAKA Athens Olympic Complex
More info about
Athens contemporary architecture can be found at:
http://www.athens-today.com/e-futuris...
to be continued. . .
