BOOKS’ ARCHWAY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014, 11.30 a.m.

SUBJECT: LAUNCHING OF THE EXHIBITION “RETHINK ATHENS: TOWARDS A NEW CITY CENTRE – THE FINAL STUDIES”,

AT THE ARSAKEION ARCADE

The Arsakeion Arcade comes to life again from February 19 until March 10 2014, hosting the Exhibition “Rethink Athens: Towards a new city centre”. There, the final studies of the Rethink Athens project for the reorganization of the center of Athens on the axis of Panepistimiou St. will be displayed.          

Nineteen specially designed stores of Arsakeion Arcade have been converted into areas of exhibition, study and events. Through 42 special issues, 12 video walls, informative publications, accurate photo-depictions and posted architectural plans, the Rethink Athens “Towards a new city centre” Exhibition will provide visitors a chance to wander around the city’s future. 

Events will take place during the Exhibition, as well as guided tours by specialized scientific personnel. Also, an open workshop of lectures and debates concerning the city will operate in three stores in the Arcade. Visitors can find the detailed schedule in the official web page of Rethink Athens (www.rethinkathens.org), and Facebook page (Facebook.com/RethinkAthens), as well as in relevant postings at the Exhibition’s entrances.

THE PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBITION

The exhibition has a dual aim: on one hand, to elaborate on the innovation and broad scope of the technical studies that were implemented for the project of the reorganization of the center of Athens on the axis of Panepistimiou St., and on the other, to activate a series range of vacant spaces, offering a primary sample of dynamic urban activities that can show the imminent changes about to take place in Athens.

The studies are displayed on specially designed stands and tables, creating the ambience of a library reading room, where visitors will have the opportunity to closely examine the displayed material.

 
THE “RETHINK ATHENS” PROJECT

The State expressed a request to the Onassis Foundation for the organization and funding of the European Architectural Competition and relevant technical studies for the reorganization of the center of Athens, and the Onassis Foundation accepted the challenge. Today, the studies have been completed and delivered to the Greek State and project manager Attiko Metro S.A. is  currently about to make a tender call for the actual implementation of the project.

What is about to change:

·Panepistimiou and Patission Streets (up to the Archaeological Museum) will be converted into green streets for a mixed circulation of pedestrians, bicycles, tram, taxis and public service vehicles.

·Omonia Square is redesigned.

·The Tram line is extended from Syntagma Square up to Aegyptou Square.

·A specially designed bicycle lane is created from Dionyssiou St. up to Omonia Square.

·Underground rainwater reservoirs will be constructed for thorough management of water resources and for the creation of adequate reserves for the irrigation and cleaning of the public area.

·800 new trees will be planted.

Athens’ future lays well into the 21^st century and the city’s history becomes interconnected with the liveliness of every day life. This intervention will bring changes to public spaces, the economy, society and culture. Athens, with its long history, looks ahead, making its past known and designing its future. Athens is designing a new city center and the Onassis Foundation supports this endeavor.

*The Exhibition is presented in 19 spaces of the Arsakeion Arcade, kindly offered by the Society for the Promotion of Education & Learning.

Exhibition - “Rethink Athens: Towards a new city centre”

Details of the Exhibition will be presented in a scheduled press conference on Tuesday, February 18 at 11.30 a.m. in Logos Hall, at Books’ Archway (next to Arsakeion Arcade).

 Speakers:

·Dr. AnthonyPapadimitriou

President of the Onassis Foundation

·Dr. Christos Tsitouras  

President of Attiko Metro S.A.

·Aristide Antonas

Associated Professor, Architectural Engineers Section, University of Thessaly
Architectural Curator of the Exhibition.

·Panagiotis Tournikiotis

Professor of Theory Architecture, National Technical University of Athens,
Scientific Curator of the Exhibition.

PRESS OFFICE

RETHINK ATHENS

Tel. 210 3713019

AISCHINOU ST. 7,

105 58, ATHENS

pressoffice@rethinkathens.org