The young architects and Athens
More and more high-rise buildings in Athens, built between 1950 and 1990, are being renovated in their entirety. It is a crucial issue, with many economic, social and aesthetic ramifications, which will become more intense in the coming years. A phenomenon that came late in Greece, the reuse of post-war buildings with new demands on the utilization of the existing building stock for the sake of the new needs of the city.
In the main streets, such as in Stadiou, in the period of Omonoia, in Syngrou and in many other places, aging and dysfunctional office buildings, for the most part, are completely occupied by workshops with the aim of connecting them to the 21st century. It is the absolutely opposite movement of the post-war era which chose to rebuild with the demolition of the old form of the city making use of the advantages of the general building regulations.
A number of issues arise. One of them is the involvement or not of a new generation of architects. It is a key issue for the historical path of the city and the shaping of its character over time. It has been many years now that, apart from isolated exceptions, Athens has not been enriched with good modern architecture at its core, although many indifferent buildings burden the city’s form. The exclusion of architectural thinking after many years of economic hardship has primarily a new economic basis. But there is also a perception that ignores the many, good architectural offices and deprives the city of their creative contribution.
Historians who study the city have difficulty in its history to locate the imprint of the generation of 2010 and 2020 on the shape of central Athens. As Athens is a city that does not have a pure historical center, it has the potential to be expanded by the new forces of each era. The city is becoming more diverse, more interesting and more open. The many buildings that will be renovated in the future could change the city if the participation of good architecture becomes an immediate priority. The combination of the historical physiognomy of Athens with the new architecture that was particularly attractive. And it would benefit the city manifold.