ATHENA projects for Athens by VITTORIO MAZZUCCONI

Kifissias Av.-Mantz .St   Athens 1985   Commercial Center

Index of ATHENA Projects Italiano

In this project two different dimensions are contemporarily present. In one of them -an evocation of an ancient Athens fragment - one can see a low building with porticos that is prospecting a little square, in which also appears the podium of a temple. In the other dimension, some huge concrete blocs invade part of the square and held a great three-dimensional metallic roof. The square is intended to give access to an important commercial center, with a rectangular plan, which shorter side is corresponding to the façade on the Avenue.

Thus the entrance square is becoming vacuum, mysterious, while suggesting a magic relationship between the temple which we have evocated and the cyclopean façade blocs. Even the ancient Greeks new the Cyclops, but in modern times we make the experience of their power with quite a different strength. The project shows the dramatic contrast between the grace and balance of the ancient Athens and the violence of our time: from the civilization of Gods to the containers one.