A walk in the park

On a chilly, overcast morning we set out to visit the new jewel in the crown of Athens: the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Park and Cultural Centre. Athens, having grown exponentially and without proper planning in the last decades (a plan was made, but was ignored by successive governments for reasons I shall not go into here) is a city with the lowest per capita green space in Europe. The only relief is the easy access to the sea on all sides – otherwise it is drowning in urban concrete.
When the racecourse was moved from the bay of Phaliron to the town of Markopoulo on the occasion of the Athens Olympics, a large area was liberated. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation stepped in with a project, designed by the architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), that includes the new facilities of the National Library of Greece, and of the Greek National Opera, as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (www.SNF.org) is one of the world’s leading private international philanthropic organizations, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare.The SNF Cultural Center is the Foundation’s largest single gift, for a total budget of $867mil (€630mil). This huge investment is a testament and a commitment to the country’s future, and also hopes to be an engine of economic stimulus in the short and middle term.

 

img_0241

Although this is not the best season to visit gardens, it was immediately apparent that the whole park has been beautifully planted in a way that celebrates Greece’s horticultural tradition: the open, sunlit Mediterranean Garden.

 

img_0244

Each month is meant to bring a new color, and each season to introduce a different combination of flowers or foliage. Each visit should be a sensual pleasure, with the proliferation of evergreen and other endemic plants such as boxwood, coronilla, cistus, and lentisc, salvia, oregano, thyme, lavender, rosemary, roses and euphorbias.

 

img_0250

 

From the Mediterranean Garden, curving landscaped pathways wend their way up a gentle grade to the 32 m high summit of an artificial hill.  Beneath the earth is the building that houses the Library and Opera House, making the hill the green roof for the structure. One of the largest in Europe, the green roof significantly reduces air-conditioning requirements.

 

img_0248

 

Architect Renzo Piano envisaged the SNFCC rising out of the ground like a dislodged piece of the earth’s crust. Soaring 14 m above the summit, a 100m x 100m photovoltaic canopy extends outward from its perimeter. A marvel of engineering and construction, supported by 40 sinewy metal pillars, it will meet the buildings’ energetic needs, as well as making a fascinating addition to the city skyline.

 

img_0254

 

The summit offers spectacular 360-degree views of the sea to the west, the Acropolis to the east, and the cultural and educational park below. It certainly is breathtaking, although it did strike me how loud the traffic noise was, even up here!

 

img_0251

 

Berneath the green roof is the enormous Library, built on several levels around an open atrium.

 

img_0237

 

The shelves are still empty of books, but imagine when they are full! I loved the mobile suspended from the vertiginous ceiling.

 

img_0234

 

Cosy reading corners abound, and there are stands stacked with daily papers and magazines in different languages.

 

img_0233

 

Enormous windows flood the library with light.

 

img_0235

 

Walking out of the library, one comes out into the Agora, with its impressive water feature.

 

img_0239

 

This is a huge space, where a multitude of events can be staged.

 

img_0240

 

We did not visit the National Opera, because you can only go in if you join the guided tour, and they were fully booked. It is not totally operational, and has only staged a few experimental performances so far.

This is a huge undertaking and it is not entirely completed yet. One can only imagine how impressive it will be when it is functioning on all levels – mature gardens, well-stocked library shelves, a program of performances of all types. The only thing that worries me is that there is a plan for the complex to be donated to the Greek state in 2017 – in the present climate of disintegration, i wonder if it will be upkept and used to its full potential?

It remains to be seen. Meanwhile, for any of you planning a trip to Athens, be sure to add it to your list, together with the Acropolis Museum. Well worth a visit.

41 thoughts on “A walk in the park”

  1. it sounds both well needed and hugely beneficial if it is looked after. Pressure on cash makes one wonder though. Over here we seem to be increasingly dependent on volunteers; a recent survey showed that 4.1 million over 55s expect to volunteer their time for some community project in 2017. Which sounds great until you ask how the state is taking advantage

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  4. What a marvellous project, looking to the future and not just the past. Good to know some elements of your country are creating new artistic and social venues, not to mention the greenery which you say is so scarce in Athens. Moving ahead despite all the economic and political ills is quite a challenge, hopefully the Foundation will rethink donating the complex to the government – or at least postpone it for a few years.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    2. Totally agree here! The current government, (or the next one for this matter), should definitely postpone accepting the donation of this marvel. We are not in need of another marvel rotting on us again!
      Thank you Marina for posting this. I nearly went last time I was in Athens but was put off by a friend’s comment that it wasn’t anywhere near complete yet!
      A must in my next visit!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. Yes. I think wait until late spring when the gardens will be lovely. Apparently the free concerts they had last summer were amazing – I missed them, unfortunately.

        Like

  9. Truly one more reason to return to Athens! Beautiful . . . am glad that the moneys made by Niarchos are being put to such wonderful use. Love both the gardens and library but will keep a special eye on the opera house as am an ardent lover of the composite art.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  10. What a wonderful new project for Athens – It’s sure to be well used and well loved. I love the botanical gardens and that library – fabulous! I hope you get to visit it often, Marina. Here in Southern California, they’ve been gutting our libraries and putting in more computers for the public to use. They are also often free babysitting for kids after school. While I see the benefit of both, I miss the old library whose shelves were loaded with books.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. There are still books, and you can order nearly anything you want though waiting for it can be patience demanding, It used to be that the library was so full of books, just to wander through and browse unfamiliar sections was a treat. Sometimes you don’t know what title you want, but you know a section you’d like to glance over. I used to pour through the art history sections, looking for books I could use to teach with. Can’t do it now, would have to know the exact title.

        Like

    1. The green roof was covered in some long grasses, only they were yellow in February. In Greece you can’t have natural parkland, because it needs to be constantly irrigated and weeded. They are, however, planting one huge lawn, for picnics etc. but it wasn’t ready yet so I didn’t take a photo🌺

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. How wonderful that in these straitened economic times someone is prepared to invest into gardens and libraries! They are so often seen to be luxuries, but you have put them front and centre. Thank you so much for sharing these joys!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. An architectural triumph and all those beautifully laid-out gardens make my heart sing. Would love to see the inside of the opera one day, though – it promises to be quite something if one goes by the rest.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  20. What a wonderful post, Marina. This is a gem and if I ever get to Athen, it’s a must see. Absolutely gorgeous! I’ll put a link to our post about Renzo Piano in Oslo.
    Have a great weekend. x

    Like

    Reply

  21. Lovely pictures and post. I saw your comment on WiseDrugged(Gus’) blog and recalled our interactions from 2015. I’ve been undergoing a metamorphosis and felt like saying hello. How have you been? Love and light ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

I’d love to hear what you think

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.