A city center for people:
Visions and Targets for  the city of Athens 2015

The Onassis Foundation is organizing and funding a European Architectural Competition for the reconstruction of the center of Athens,centered around Panepistimiou Street.

On Wednesday, March 21, 2012,the “Re-think Athens”project was presented at the Onassis Cultural Centre in Athens. This project refers to the redesign of the center of Athens around Panepistimiou Street and the relevant European Architectural Competition that the Onassis Foundation is funding for this purpose. In the presence of political leaders and the absolute consensus of all political parties, the Onassis Foundation has announced the axes on which the project will be materialized as well as the details of its implementation.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister, Mr Loukas Papademos, the President of Nea Dimokratia, Mr. Antonis Samaras, ministers, members of the Hellenic Parliament and representatives from all political parties, the Mayor of Athens Mr. George Kaminis, members of the Board  of Directors of the Onassis Foundation, and representatives of cultural organizations, architects, journalists and active citizens of Athens operating in the city center.

Dr. Anthony S. Papadimitriou, President of the Onassis Foundation, presented this ambitious project that will boost the economy of the city and improve the daily life of citizens, noting the need for cooperation between the private and the public sector.
Dr. Papadimitriou specifically referred to the public character of the project and the political importance of the intervention, also stressing the need for public debate and the participation of all citizens, offering his assurance that “all voices will be heard and the participating firms will have to come in consultation with all ".

Professor of Architecture, NTUA  Panagiotis Tournikiotis, explained the facts and the details of this initiative,focusing on the prospects opened to the public through the “Rethink Athens”Project, offering specific facts about the scope of the project and the potential of the relevant study, that will emerge from this competition.
This important initiative was hailed by the Prime Minister Mr. Loukas Papademos, expressing his support and optimism for abetter future for the city and stating that "the rescue of the center is urgent and a top priority”.

The commitment to support this initiative was also expressed by the President of the Nea Dimokratiapolitical party Mr. Antonis Samaras ,the Ministers of the two collaborating Ministries Mr. George Papaconstantinou from the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change and Mr. Makis Voridis from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, as well as the Mayor of Athens Mr. George Kaminis.
Everyone openly declared their desire to support this intervention and were happy to acknowledge that such a project will improve the urban landscape and the everyday life of the citizens of Athens.

On the same day at 14.00, the President of the Onassis Foundation, Dr. Anthony Papadimitriou, the Vice President Mr. Ioannis Ioannidis and the Secretary of the Board Mrs. Marianna Moschou, met with the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias, whom they extensively briefed on the “Re-think Athens” Project.
For more information, please visit www.rethinkathens.org and the Rethink Athens pages on Facebook and twitter.