Athens Skyscrapers and Highrises: The Definitive thread - Reloaded!!!

[gm2263]

SIGNIFICANT UPDATES


IMPORTANT UPDATE #1 (originally posted in SSC on Sunday 18 October 2006)

Athens Greece - Twin Towers 200m and 150m Vision for the West of the City!!!

BREAKING NEWS!!! - THIS IS NO DRILL

Καλά απόψε πως γλύτωσα το εγκεφαλικό δε λέγεται...

I put in in English so that everybody can read
AFTER 30 YEARS ATHENS MAY BE BACK WITH A BANG!!!

SEE IT AND BELIEVE IT!!! 200m and 150m




Today's "Kathimerini" Newspaper (Sunday Edition) has a full-page story about a pair of twin towers envisioned for the area of "Elaionas" (or "Olive Grove" in English), to the south-west outskirts of central Athens, some 6 km from the city. The towers (scanned from "Kathimerini" look as follows, and are projected for heights of 200 metres and 150 metres respectively. The design looks surprisingly "Kalatravian", at first sight, although according to their designing architect Mr Manolis Anastasakis (Website: http://www.anastasakis.gr ) "they are designed so as to represent olive tree leaves coming out of the groung, incorporating the dual convert of two olive tree leafs coming out of the ground.

The newspaper also has a long reference to the issue of building tall in Athens with all you may already know if you are reading my threads. Mr Anastasakis talks about a bioclimatic pair of skyscrapers in the middle of a park incorporating all the benefits of modern eco-construction techniques and being in proximity to the station of Elaionaw belonging to the bunch of the Athens Metro extensions expected to be operational as soon as the year 2008, serving the west of |Athens to Aigaleo and Chaidari municipalities.

More news and comments later, as this was intended to be a first blast as I am still trying to catch my breath. Still a vision but even as such, it has tremendous value as it signifies the first time that something like this is thrown on the table. The time is nigh!!!

The location is here, if you find Athens on any map, you will understand where more otr less this is.



And a little closer:



This is a run-down area, occupied by small factories and other deserted establishments, plus is the base for the transport companies that will be transferred elsewhere. In summary, it will be the perfect place for such a re-urbanisation since it is close to the National road going to Thessaloniki, and is linked by highway to the new Athens airport. Also, in 2008 we will have the new metro station, completed which is part of the extensions to the west of Athens. This area is also directly accessible from Piraeus and... well, it is perfect. But I must admit that the height of the project stunned me (if it is built). At 200m tops it is going to be in the first five in the Balcans if we onsider that at the time of its completion Istanbul will already have ready the Diamond and the Dubai Towers and hopefully the Sabanci Centre III.

I keep a "reserved optimism" about this project. I have seen so much going on in Athens for the last 10 years that I believe this is realisible. After all, nobody believed that the Olympiv stadium would be completed on time and it was... This beauty can be ready by 2010 if they start next year...

Point is, everything looks fine on paper. The funny thing is that there may be no NIMBYs there. On the contrary, the poor west Athens neighbourhoods would probably like to see such a development there. I mean, new shopping centres, new football stadium, new towers, that should be enough...

Also, I don't believe that this story was published just like that. They have plans for this area and if they start, you know it, I know it, and certainly they know it that there won't be just one scraper built there or elsewhere ...

More news and commentary to follow later...


Welcome back Athens!!!!

ΑΕΙΝ ΥΨΙΠΕΤΕΙΝ (always look higher!!!)


Significant Update #2


Read the views of the architect first in http://www.anastasakis.gr/uk_pages/uk_home_new.html

See how he analyses the concept of a multi functional scraper or a Multiscraper:

"Our proposal is dominated by concern for the type of urbanity that a skyscraper can reveal, and how its relationship with the soil on which it rests is treated. This concern extends to the natural and cultural history of the place, i.e. to the way in which a major project can translate the special features of a site and propose meaningful links and new relationships between current needs and views and the history of the place.

A design strategy emerges from this concern. We have been led to create a significant amount of open-air public space that constitutes a functional part of the project. We treat the high-rise elements of the construction as natural protrusions from the familiar ground. The project is called upon to create a dense urban habitation site that will be in direct interchange with the natural subsoil of the city – the physical ground.

To achieve these goals, a new approach to tall buildings is necessary. We address the question of the skyscraper not as the design of a large monolithic building unit, but as a composition of component elements. The multiplicity of the elements liberates potentialities both for creating an open public space and for linking these units with the natural environment. We call this new building concept a multiskyscraper, because of the multiplicity of its units and functions and because of the multiple potential it offers.

The proposed high-rise buildings ( West Athens Towers – WAT) will constitute a powerful tool for urban regeneration and will lend a new dynamic to the region. They will enrich the skyline of Athens with a shape that conveys the meaning of the site and will become a dynamic symbol that will consolidate its position as the largest metropolis in the Mediterranean .

The fact that the towers will rise out of the ground as olive leaves and the natural landscape of the olive grove of Athens will be restored constitute links with the physical and cultural history of the site. With the aim of revealing the natural topography, the restored olive grove is interwoven with the three towers at the base level and creates a public park area. The public nature of the entrances highlights the accommodation of public services on the lower floors. The multifunctional nature of the project is made visible by the housing of multipurpose areas such as shops, offices, a hotel and residential units. This is a complex that intermingles uses, building masses, the city with nature, past with present, public with private. This is a Multiskyscraper"

Originally Posted by Skaros

The region is some few kms west of acropolis (as you see the map of athens from above)
At the same region will be built the new football stadium of Panathinaikos.

Originally posted September 4th, 2006, 09:19 PM SSC

We have a saying in Greece, as all of us know: "Μια του κλέφτη, δυο του κλέφτη, τρείς και την κακή του μέρα" (Thieves are cought in their third attempt to steal).

Well, I don't know about thieves but with regards to skyscrapers and highrises, Athens and Piraeus as well as Thessaloniki, while in the last 30 or so years even whispering the word "skyscraper" would invoke medieval style punishment from various citizen interest groups and public bodies, it seems that things are changing, and for a mildly superstitious person like me, I told you that I start to reading signs of change in the air, as far as construction of tall buildings in Greece is concerned.

First we had the twin "West Athens Towers" by Manolis Anastasakis proposed for the run-down area of Elaionas, close to the site of construction of the new stadium for Panathinaikos FC. Very good design although it was just a proposal for a competition. However, it was the first crack in the ice.

Second came the proposal for the three towers of the Thessaloniki Business Centre which further enforced the idea that "something's cooking" as far as the notion of highrise construction in Greece is concerned. This proposal was submitted by three architecture students in the "Aristoteleion" Technical University in Thessaloniki as part of their undergraduate degree dissertation and received coverage in the local press, while being supported by their professors. However, this is also an ambitious plan, not seemingly realisable in the foreseeable future.

Then came the news about another proposal that was in the drawers for quite some time, but now it looks its realisation is highly probable. It includes a 16-storey office tower amongst other structures, as well as a preserved 150-tall chimney. But let's have a look at the facts:

For decades, there was an area at the west end of the port of Piraeus, now between the passenger and the cargo sections, on the site of the old Fertilisers Plant of Drapetsona (Κρατικό Εργοστάσιο Λιπασμάτων )1, named after the district of Drapetsona, where it is located.

After the factory ceased its operations, there have been numerous thoughts about the fate of the area, including the renovation of its buildings in order to be used as a cultural centre. However, the strategic location of the area and the prospects of it as a potential source of urban renewal and regeneration as well as a business hub that would offer the shipping businesses of Piraeus a proper place to be accomodated and conduct their operations.

Well, it seems that these plans have gained substantial ground and are now about to come to fruition. It is endorsed by the Real Estate branch of the National Bank of Greece, BP Hellas, AGET Cement Company and the Greek State.

Factoids:

-Cost:

Buildings: €430mn
Landscaping, Public Space and Infrastructures: €137mn

-Total Area under development: 352,000sq metres

-Partial Projects:

Business and Shipping Centre: 71,011sqm
Private Residences: 98,813sqm
Retail (Gross Leased Space): 68,698sqm
Entertainment - Tourism: 35,545
Other activities (cultural, education, museums etc): 40 625 sqm

There is already a Business Plan in motion, following a feasibility study conducted by the British Finance and Consultancy House Savills. The architectural study was submitted by the "Th. Papaginannis and Associates" architectural office.
Access to the project is secured by the 6-lane Schistou Avenue which for this reason will get some additional junctions, while, it is expected that the tram line extension to Piraeus will continue to Drapetsona (following an old line that existed until the mid-1970's if I am correct). Soem works are already in progress since all the non-preserved buildings have been demolished, leaving in tact, the old factory's main building (to be used as a cultural centre) and the old 150m-tall chimney, which is an icon of the past and a technical construction feat at the time of construction (ages ago, I hope I will get additional info on this).

Also, click HERE to read the relevant article from the "Kathimerini" Newspaper (in Greek)


And... Yes, I know, I know, I know. Photos.


First of all, the location, original image, courtesy of Google Earth.




Scanned images from "Kathimerini" Newspaper, Sunday Edition, 3 September 2006

-Aerial of the site with the tall chimney clearly visible in the right of the pic:



-Computer rendering of the area from the same perspective:




-Cloze-up on the... object of lust, the 16-storey office tower in the centre of the Business centre.




-The tower. I wish it was taller. Notice the antenna which is almost the third of its total height...



They say that the project's full development will be extended over a 10-year horizon, but I think that four years from the start of construction should be enough. Needless to mention the overall benefits for the surrounding areas in terms of jobs created, upgrading of the natural surroundings, etc.




Important Update #3 – Thessaloniki Developments

OK, the discussion is already underway in the relevant forum where the Thessalonicean forumers are thrilled with excitement but due to the gravity of the event, it surely needs to be mentioned here in this thread.

Three, yes three 165m towers were porposed for Thessaloniki and made the local news. (Sardonic smile)

Up to now, the only tall buildings and structures of Thessaloniki that I know of are:
(PIcs by our Thessalonicean Forumers)

-The Greek Telecom miniscule TV tower at some 90m height, known because of its location at the entrance of the International Fair of Thessaloniki, some 40 years old (and one of the most pioneering desings in Greece EVER)



-A small number of 14-storey towers (3-4) to the west side of the city, built during the years of military Junda (comme toujours). Photos have already been posted aroubd but cannot find them right now...

-The over 100m-tall Silo of the Titan Cement company (impressive - I have seen it when I was returning from Istanbul by coach in 2002). I played with the contrast of the pic a bit to make the image of the huge silo more visible, sorry guys!!!





-The "University Tower", a new building inside the university I am not sure which school or faculty it serves though



some 10 storeys and 45 metres at most...

So, it is with the utmost satisfaction, like in the case of Mr Anastasakis and his West Athens Towers, we also had a proposal for three 165m-tall towers to be built in the area of "Lahanokipoi" To the west of the city.

You can read the details here:
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread...79#post9796279



Well...

I know that this is just a proposal, a case study in a year-end paper of two students and simply endorsed by their tutors

I know that chances are that this particular jewels may not be built...

However...

The fact that only in two months we have two proposals where for 20+ years NOTHING was heard about tall buildings in Greece, is, in my humple opinion, VERY encouraging.

I have many times said that regardless of what the old-fashioned ones think, thw tide of Karma will find a way to make its course through history...

I hear the winds of Karma blowing in my ear whispering...


"Now is the time, now is the time, now is the time"

Mr Anastasakis (West Athens Towers), the Thessaloniki university team, me, the Thessalonicean and other Greek forumers speaking here about transformation instead of stagnation, all of us will share in a few years the joy of the first highrises in Athens and Thessaloniki. I can see that the plans are grandiose: three 165m-tall for Thessaloniki and three 100, 150 and 200m respectively for Athens at a moment that the height limit for buildings is how much for Athens, 27 metres?



OK, it took some time but this is way too low (not to say ridiculously low)


and the times they are a changing (Bob Dylan)

How can we lobby to bring this day a bit closer that it will eventually happen?

Strange thoughts cross my mind...



(Στο κάτω-κάτω αν δεν κάνεις και αυτο που αγαπάς η ζωή δεν έχει νόημα, έχει; )

[skylinearth]

gm's best thread is back

[Istanbullu]

This one is indeed the mother of all threads! Magnificient work GM!

[dR_wHo]

I actually got to read only a part of this amazing full-detail thread...
I'll definetely read the rest!
After all your name is a guarantee for really good threads!
Bravo

[Giorgos]

Good one gm
Very comprehensive and informative. I will sticky it.

I think for Thessaloniki you didn't mention the proposed Calatrava tower also.

Looks like things are getting close now!