The New Athens Stock Exchange will be ready in 2008!

You can see the project, prepared by Babis Vovos:

http://www.colliers.gr/HELEX/helex_gr.html

:banana:

When I saw the thread I expected better than that building
http://www.colliers.gr/HELEX/images/helex_gr_04.jpg
http://www.colliers.gr/HELEX/images/helex_gr_05.jpg

Athens has already many more beautiful buildings than this project...

Kuvacci my friend you are right, but how can you make our urban designers to understand that instead of having 3 eight-stories buildings covering a huge area of cement we could have a twenty-stories one covering more or less one third of that huge area filling the remaining with grass, trees and recreational areas; having this way a small cluster of 4 or 5 such height buildings surrounded with their corresponding green areas and serving the same as having these dwarfish-fattish structures covering so much of this district's, with so much potential, surface area.

:ohno:

Ντροπή μας βρε παιδιά! Πάλι και άλλη ευκαιρία σωστού σχεδιασμού θα χάσουμε;

^ well-said.

Another missed opportunity...

New photos of the new Athens Stock Exchange complex:

http://www.colliers.gr/HELEX/site.html#

http://www.colliers.gr/HELEX/images/photo9.jpg

what a pathetic building....

So, this is the emblematic building of the strongest economy in the eastern Mediterranean and Balkans!

It is a Disgrace.
:ohno:

Pretty regular.

http://www.colliers.gr/HELEX/images/photo9.jpg

what a pathetic building....

So, this is the emblematic building of the strongest economy in the eastern Mediterranean and Balkans!

It is a Disgrace.
:ohno:



The difference between an artistic city and Athens encapsulated in one modern building, total disgrace. Unimaginative/ not even modern - already looks dated, devoid of any style or grace - pathetic attempt. The Carrefour in the back ground makes a better statement.

What a trully pedestrian building.

Is this the how the Athens Stock Exchange wants to project its status in the eastern mediterranean ?

This development is a case study in what is trully lacking in Greek Town Planning :- there is abosulutely no vision or desire to use high quality architectural/urban design interventions to drive investment, tourism etc in cities.

From the photos presented so far, this building is just another carbon cut out Babis Vovos construction. It does nothing for the City's image or status as a financial centre in the Balkans. The existing Stock Exchange building on Sophocleous Street, maybe small but an architecural marvel compared to this nasty construction.

What is needed is a complete rethink of how Greek Cities are managed/developed, otherwise we will continue to see mistakes such as this repeated. :ohno:

i must agree this is the Athens stock exchange and it looks regular, why couldnt we bring in some spanish architect and build something with flair, the stock market is very important to our economy and asymbol or prosperity sooo why not build something nice

Well i have to say that the building is.. ok.. but the new athens stock exchange should look different then this...

http://www.colliers.gr/HELEX/images/photo15.jpg

Welcome to the 90's, Athens!

I agree

The building on the left (building "A") is the most intresting. Building "B" is just ok, i don't like building "C" though! I totally agree that these structures is nothing more than a "copy/paste" approach from Vovos kifissias Ave. buildings. I don't think we need any foreign architect to take care of any project, we need to get away from our consarvatism. Of course mr. Vovos just doing bussiness, he knows how to create class A buildings, but i'm not sure he even cares to take the step ahead any more! 30 years ago (1977) he did that starting the "Atrina" (a truly pioneering structure back then for Greece) and some years later the "Agora Center" (early 80's). But this project is very 90's indeed!!:ohno:

First of all, read here my small update with a few pictures, as posted in the construction section of ther Hellenic Agora in early January, regarding the overall construction in the Athinon Avenue area: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=11191861&postcount=216

To continue:

In my humble view, this building lacks the emblematic character that a new stock exchange should have. This should not necessarily be attributed to the moderate height but rather the mediocre geometry and form. I believe for instance that the Athens SE should be comprised of a building or complex around a plaza in the middle, where a statue representation of the Ancient Athens Agora should be located, with an indoor atrium or a trading floor covered by a (potentially curved) glass roof, similar to the one at the mall Athens or the Santiago Caratrava one at the Athens Olympic stadium, or even the one at the new 'Avenue" shopping centre under construction in Kifissias Avenue.

With all due respect, I believe that this lack of design ingenuity and novelty simply reflects on the contractor's lack of creativity and mechanical carbon-copy production of building designs for whatever cost-cutting or other economic reasons and also due to external factors such as a) the stupid limitations of height and size, but also, b) the fact that there is no competition in this particular market due to these limitations that involve startup costs with ridiculous return on investment prospects, unless for the ones already established their economies of scale (and built their money mashine that is) long ago. Although Athens is about to get a large number of pioneering shopping centres between 40,000 to 70,000 square metres of gross leasable space, our office building designs, especially since the year 2004 are completely lacking the needed dynamism in character to pinpoint Athens in the world map of economic and financial centres. This cannot be purely a matter of luck alone.

I would agree that this may be attributed to the absurd laws but I believe that it is also due to the lack of voices from the technical construction world that would point to the opposite direction. (Με απλά λόγια είναι όλοι "βολεμένοι", σου λέει εδώ είναι -ακόμα- πολιτισμική ζούγκλα, εγώ θα βγάλω το φίδι από την τρύπα. Πενταόροφα κυβάκια θέλετε, ε πενταόροφα κυβάκια θα σας χτίζουμε, σιγά μη χαλάσουμε και τα συκώτια μας να σας κάνουμε ανθρώπους).

I recognize that I have been harsh on my part to the Hellenic architecture community too, until I found out that in fact there was an undercover terror campaign by the establishment using cliches that we know such as the scale of the Attican landscapes, or the phobia regarding the Acropolis, even for constructions located 10km away, etc etc. However, since then there have been some loud and clear voices like those of Anastasakis and Vandoros and a thousand others lining behind them, that point to the skies instead of this carpet style "cementization" of the Attican landscape (or the Thessaloniki one for that matter). So, the architecture community finally reacted to the absurdity and made bold statements, in fact much bolder than anything I would propose heightwise as a start for the long due upward expansion of Athens.

I believe that, in a manner similar to our architects it is time for our civil engineering community and the construction companies to voice their lack of breathing space here. I wonder why Babis Vovos who righfully belongs to the the ivy league of the few that built quality tall buildings in Athens, did not even once in his 30+ year history, I mean just once, make a statement regarding these Procrustean laws that limited him in the past and after all prevented him from making more money, coupled with the negative public image that was systematically painted about him by the negativist part of our society.

At some time it is good to make waves, dear builders. The ones that know (we are all here, us and the hundreds of our visitors that read us and agree with us), will appreciate the fact that you are not merely interested in making money but also taking part in the fight for a better and Taller Athens...

...unless you don't want to be part of the cataclysmic changes that may rattle your established shelters and you feel threatened by them.

Well, know it well that the times-they-are-a-changin for a city of the calibre of our Athens has arrived. We appreciate your solitary efforts during the cold years of backwardness, but we want you to join your forces with us for the better. Now is the time to transcend, don't miss the opportunity.

Με άλλα λόγια: Καιρός είναι να ενώσουμε τις φωνές μας να γίνει κάτι, δεν νομίζετε;

i think it looks ok, but I agree with GM, its not anything particularly eye-catching. Although i like the marble...

If i am not wrong some sculpture is planned for its facade? I remember a steed or stallion :)

Don't blame the construction companies. Vovos just cares to make more money. I can understand that.

I blame the heads of the stock exchange for not doing an open architectural competition. Now, when they choose the best design they will do another competition for which construction company should implement it in the best and most cost efficient way.

Case closed!

The economies of scale have nothing to do in this case.

:ohno: this design looks very bad. Like some generic suburban American office park that sells paper products or something.
Too bad for the lost opportunity.:bash:
I love Athens with all my heart, but this is emblematic of the larger problem
with the mentality of developing. Building OUT instead of UP can't continue to work if Athens is to progress in the future. A sea of concrete growing sideways is a disaster in every way for the future. More roads, more traffic,
less possibility to walk, a more chaotic appearance, and a suffering quality of life. The Athens Stock Exchange should be representing the opposite.

Well, it was too hot to even go to the beach here in Athens today, so I figured I'd commit suicide and go take some pictures of the new stock exchange. Besides, I know how it feels to wish you were in Greece...

I was disappointed, in general, to say the least. First of all, it is nowhere near a metro station. Public transportation around the area is also very poor. After waiting for a bus that never came for about an hour (yes, it was the correct stop) I decided to take the metro to Elaiwna and walk. The area between Elaiwna and the stock exchange is embarrassing - I saw abandoned buildings, cheap industrial buildings (mostly), and a decent industrial building here and there. On the bright side, there is great room for development. I was also shocked that Athinwn Ave was such a disaster. Of course, it looks as if things are developing now, but it has a long way to go. The new exchange is the nicest looking building in the area. In my opinion, however, the building itself fails to adequately reflect the economy of a developed country like Greece - it's quite small. Here are the pics...

Some new branch of Ethniki (construction visible)

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange001-1.jpg


The view down the street towards the exchange:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange002.jpg


Another bank (Alpha Bank) building:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange003.jpg


Right by the bank, another building is under construction:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange004.jpg


Another look down the street:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange005.jpg


A view of the construction and the neighboring bank:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange006.jpg


The stock exchange complex:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange008.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange010.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange011.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange012.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange015.jpg


Views of the stock exchange complex from the side street to the right of the main stock exchange building:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange016.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange017.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange018.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange019.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange020.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange021.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange022.jpg


A building is under construction directly across from the stock exchange:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange023.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange009.jpg


The TIM building (or should I say WIND building):

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange013.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange014.jpg

The pics actually make the place look nicer than it really is.
I find it hard to believe that the Athens stock exchange will be in operation in that kind of an area within a month's time. We'll see how quickly it develops...
...

Truly a crap building, even by Greek standards. A real missed opportunity.

The "Stock Exchange Complex" in addition to its mediocracy (I'm polite) is also aesthetically disrupted and I mean really disrupted, not as an architectural statement.

This building sucks. It is not only a humiliating solution to host the "Athens Stock Exchange". It sucks on its own, even if it was hosting Karamolegos Co.

Konstantinoupolis, thanks for the pictures.

I do like the Ethniki Trapeza branch. Modern and sleek. But such a building will look even better in a dense urban area, IMO, because it's a very "urban" design (as opposed to suburban or countryside).

I completely agree with everyone that the other buildings are a disappointment. Especially the new Stock Exchange. Looks like a bad provincial 1980s office building designed by a nobody architect. :no:

Bloody boring...

Konstantinoupolis, thanks for the pictures.
Τα ευχαριστήρια στον greecelighting, δικές του είναι οι φωτογραφίες :)

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange010.jpgΈνα πράγμα έχω να πω: BOOOOOO :ohno: Λες και φτιάξανε κτίριο για τα νέα γραφεία της Pizza Hut. Τι αίσχος!

χαχα, σωστός. Να μη σου πω ακόμη χειρότερα

http://www.ososo.de/pycon06/2005-03-01_22-06-54.jpg

haha les na einai to ktirio pou kathreftizei sta tzamia tis Pizza Hut? i amerikaniki simaia den kolaei omws :P

^^Όχι γιατί είναι τα headquarters της, στο Texas.

hehe to piasa re, "haritologousa"

Another underwhelming architectural addition to modern Athens.:nuts:

Pizza Hut?

I think it's worse than that.

To me, the new Athens Stock Exchange looks like a #@&$#@ doctor's office.

Not a Stock Exchange for the world's 27th largest economy (nominal GDP, IMF 2006)

:no:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2143/1561528855_ed4d2c6c2e.jpg?v=0

Thank you, flickr.

Opportunity missed to show the world something, obviously not everyone is no board in Athens with the whole interesting architecture thing yet, anyway, we live and learn.
Total disaster imo.

I don't mind the building next to the stock exchange.

at first i was totally negative..now i'm thinking of it as alright..although i would definitely prefere for the stock exchange building itself to be more centralized in the whole project,to be the leading building to say it like that..you know..be taller ,dominant etc..but anyway...those are alright as well..i don't have a great knowledge of the area...i just wish that the surroundings will be developed as well..i mean the near surroundings..you know green development,pavements etc..oh btw today i found that one of the buildings is going to be used by the Allianz group is that true?

at first i was totally negative..now i'm thinking of it as alright..although i would definitely prefere for the stock exchange building itself to be more centralized in the whole project,to be the leading building to say it like that..you know..be taller ,dominant etc..but anyway...those are alright as well..i don't have a great knowledge of the area...i just wish that the surroundings will be developed as well..i mean the near surroundings..you know green development,pavements etc..oh btw today i found that one of the buildings is going to be used by the Allianz group is that true?

I agree with the taller and dominant and would add imposing. Unfortunately this SE building doesn't imply none of the above. It has the level of the headquarters of a medium size insurance company instead of that of the 6th largest SE of the EU and second largest after Moscow of the Europe east of the Adriatic-Baltic a.k.a. Italy-Denmark, line (even larger that that of Vienna).

I would like this area to be developed in a different way, Elaionas has all the potential for a mixture of office skyscrapers, green areas (parks) and luxurious residential projects (no appartment buildings at all, just houses).

If there's any clever, non-mediocre architect out of the bunch, please start presenting your plans, as Mr Anastasakis did last year (we need more like him), otherwise I guess it is time for us to go a step further; I don't know how, maybe this sounds silly and crazy; but hey we have resources. There are architects among us, experts on the field like GM (I think that the extreme need of skyscrapers in Athens, led GM to become into one of the best specialists on skyscrapers....on earth...believe me, I never met anyone with such a rich knowledge on that field, like GM, buddy believe you don't need emporis, you have the database in your mind :) ), programmers and 3D designers (that's my part), engineers, etc.

Maybe someday it might be possible to organize something bigger. Who knows...

Err. allow me to say that I have met in SSC many people that know more. What really drives me is my passion for the better future of this city. I wish I had enough money to devote undistractedly all my efforts into this cause. Unfortunately, life's realities kept me behind for some time and I am looking forward for some good contributions during the coming Christmas - New Year season.

So thank you for your kind words but I am not an expert. I am simply someone who wants to fight the irrational way of thinking some try to impose to us. It seems that the times-they-are-a-changing. I know that I was the first to write about skyscrapers in Greece but I will certainly not be the last, or the best from now on. I only hope that the party will begin soon and i will be there with my camera to capture the New Dawn of urbanism, once it starts after so many-many years of inaction and aesthetic depravity.


...and no, I am not satisfied with the new stock exchange. Had I been a farmer from Timbuktu coming to the nearest city to my village I would have been impressed. However, knowing that

this is to be built in Warsaw (one of the many proposed (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=17134093&postcount=720)):

http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/9/4770/z4770049O.jpghttp://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/masakla/912353dd476d7dbc.jpg

these are being completed in Madrid:

http://gallery.jcmunoz.net/d/60038-2/Cuatro+Torres+Business+Area.jpg

...and while others including Istanbul are off the chart, then I consider this

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/greecelightning/AthensStockExchange010.jpg

...too low, too little, too unimaginatively 90's-ish, and utterly mediocre and an insult to my intelligence, especially when I know that the left one is a copycat of three other buildings I know of in Athens. Sorry guys, try harder, I am not convinced, not at all... .... :D

Fainetai oti oi Ellines den goustaroune psila ktiria.

It all comes down to conditioning.....We are conditioned to not think outside the square and to accept mediocrity.

There needs to be more open and informed discussion on the future of the city.

The completed stock exchange building and its neighbourhood, as at 30/12/2007 by my pictures. I was extremely lucky to have good weather, albeit being late as seen by the position of the sun.

-The new face of the avenue in the stock exchange neighbourhood.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplex-AthinonA.jpg


-The new stock exchange building from various perspective angles:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock1-sm.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock1B-s.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock1C-s.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock1D-s.jpg


-The second building of the Stock Exchange block

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock2-sm.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock2B-s.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock2C-s.jpg



The third building which is almost invisible from the Athinon Avenue which as indicated by the sign, belongs to the German Alliantz Insurance company.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock3-sm.jpg


-Two other buildings in the vicinity of the S.E. complex:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/TelestetBuilding-106AthinonAvenue-2.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/KareliaAthinonAvenue-small900x.jpg

Now, if we compare these pictures with the ones below from Kifissias Avenue taken on 2005 and depicting buildings built from 1989 to 1994...

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22633/29410/398404/0/Athens+-+Kiffisias+Buildings+Medium+-+2.jpg

http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download/gm22633/29410/347429/0/Polis+4%2C+5+and+6+-+2+-+small+.jpg/Polis+4%2C+5+and+6+-+2+-+small+.jpg

...we arrive to the conclusion that it looks like nothing' s changed within a dozen years... not even the signs with the developer's name on the buildings...

..."σα να μην πέρασε μια μέρα" που λέει και ένα τραγουδάκι της εποχής... :D

Also, compare the designs of this building in Kifissias Avenue:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/KifissiasAvenuesmallofficebuilding-.jpg


...and this building in the new stock exchange complex:


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock2C-s.jpg


...so much for originality and fresh ideas in the forefront of the Hellenic architecture community, especially in buildings representing the best we presumably offer in terms of high-calibre professional office space...

Pity...

everybody knows that greek architects suck...:ohno:

nice photos gm but i also have to say that those buildings lack of beauty, of originality and style. Especially the New Hellenic Exchange!!!! The sad thing is that those are new constructions!!!!! What is wrong with greek architects? They live in a place which you could suppose is prerfect to inspire everyone.... Very sad thing..

I see red right now....:bleep::down:....one by one opportunities for something better are ruined by some idiots...:badnews:.

I just wonder ..is there enough space on that complex for a future skyscraper development?..hm,whatever.

aah kai to babis vovos dipla sta ktiria einai toso aparetito diladi..? siga mh mas klepsoun to design..eleos.

Αυτή η πινακίδα babis vovos κρύβει μια τεράστια ματαιοδοξία...:ohno:

I actually like the other building, its the stock exchange that I hate!

if the stock exchange was like 150 meters tall it would be cool now it looks like a bath house

if the stock exchange was like 150 meters tall it would be cool now it looks like a bath house

:lol: :rofl:

...and BTW look at this editing of the original renderings as it appeared by ovem in the Athens Visions Thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=362558&page=2).

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z188/ovem/newone.jpg

See how the designs become much more vibrant with the addition of height... :bash:

The buildings are mediocre and would of been fine for typical office space but not for the Athens Stock Exchange!

The new Hellenic Exchange building is a miniature of the Greek economy.
Too small with out any dreams or serious plans to get bigger. :ohno:

Ι would prefer it if they would keep the old building.
At list it was classical.

Τake a look here (http://bp0.blogger.com/_UV-fXaqrS40/RozyUfbxnsI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Ebe0eSVIMAY/s1600-h/Xrimatistirio.jpg)

Small town minds often prefer small town solutions.

Even the old exterior was quite nice
http://www.skai.gr/photos/200703/m28-64632xrhimatistirio.jpg

^^agree Giorgio. at least it has some charm to it.


you guys are right; this building is a HUGE fucking letdown considering that Greece is no longer the economic backwater that it was 30 years ago. But it could be worse, much worse, and you don't have to travel far to see it. however, that doesn't excuse the fact that the new ASE ought to have been a prestige building.

και μίνι news, που δεν αφορούν το κτίριο αλλά το χρηματιστήριο:

MH ΔΕΣΜΕΥΤΙΚΗ προσφορά στην πρώτη φάση του διαγωνισμού για το 64% του χρηματιστηρίου της Λιουμπλιάνα υπέβαλε σήμερα η ΕΧΑΕ όπως ανέφερε πριν από λίγο ο πρόεδρος του ΧΑ., Σπύρος Καπράλος μιλώντας στο 6ο Banking Forum του Economist. (http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/static/08/02/07/1473041.htm)

The old A.S.E. building is a piece of art. Any doubts?
What is the new one?
Ok. If we think abt ''Polikatoikies'' Mr Babis Vovos building is ok. But as others said ''IS NOT PROPER FOR THE NEW A.S.E.''

I hope the old classical building will be used as a museum.

Does anyone know what's happening with the old stock exchange building?

Does anyone know what's happening with the old stock exchange building?

Is is used like a conference centre or like a special occasion meeting areas from the same company,the Hellenic excange...

You know what is interesting? The very beautiful "old" stock exchange is not actually the oldest. It was built around 1930. Before that, there was another building that housed the stock exchange, a real neoclassical gem built by Ziller in the 1870's I think. This still exists and was recently rennovated. Most of us must have passed like 50 metres away from it thousands of times without realizing it, because its front is not facing the street but a courtyard. The entrance to the courtyard is from Pesmazoglou street, on your right as you go past Stadiou towards Sophocleous. That courtyard is shut out of hours, so you have to be there during working hours to see it. You go past a big iron gate from a lovely an inter-war bank building, into the courtyard, and there you can see the fascade of Ziller's gem. I've never been inside the building itself, but I've seen pictures in Prof Filippides recent book "architectural transformations". The style of its interior reminds me of Vienna's Musikvereinsaal. Apologies for not having any photos to post.
Now, as you probably gathered from my description, this "old-old" stock exchange is in the same block with the "old" stock exchange. So WHY, OH WHY couldn't they just use BOTH as a stock exhange, if they needed more room?
It really annoys me how in this country we talk (too much) about the past, but it's not really part of our lives. We want to turn all the surviving old buldings into museums and house everything in something new...there was talk even about the Parliament! The Germans returned to Reichstag after so many decades, and we discovered our Parliament is not enough for our needs...are they bigger than Germany's?....

My father said something true of the Italians - 'They like to live with their past.' He was talking about their architecture.
Seems Greeks like to put their past on the shelf and view it from a convenient distance and live in Babis Vovos Hell.

My father said something true of the Italians - 'They like to live with their past.' He was talking about their architecture.
Seems Greeks like to put their past on the shelf and view it from a convenient distance and live in Babis Vovos Hell.

Absolutely right. Who makes these people architects and why do they get hired? We started the whole classical style and while the rest of Europe and Western world continues to embrace and experiment with it, we left it in the past and decided that post WWII communist architecture was the next big thing.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock1-sm.jpg


This is Greece's new stock exchange?

You should have kept the old one.. This new building might have been expensive, but it surely has a cheap look not worthy of any further comment...

You know what is interesting? The very beautiful "old" stock exchange is not actually the oldest. It was built around 1930. Before that, there was another building that housed the stock exchange, a real neoclassical gem built by Ziller in the 1870's I think. This still exists and was recently rennovated. Most of us must have passed like 50 metres away from it thousands of times without realizing it, because its front is not facing the street but a courtyard. The entrance to the courtyard is from Pesmazoglou street, on your right as you go past Stadiou towards Sophocleous. That courtyard is shut out of hours, so you have to be there during working hours to see it. You go past a big iron gate from a lovely an inter-war bank building, into the courtyard, and there you can see the fascade of Ziller's gem. I've never been inside the building itself, but I've seen pictures in Prof Filippides recent book "architectural transformations". The style of its interior reminds me of Vienna's Musikvereinsaal. Apologies for not having any photos to post.


This is unfortunately the only picture i have of that building.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z222/Ares_K_album/athensstockexchange.jpg

WOW!

The first Athens stock exchange is really a hidden treasure, that hopefully is still alive, few pictures of this magnificent building that it was reconstructed and its marvelous interior is once again shining:


http://www.athex.gr/imgs/gr/announcements/1_B_OldRoom.jpg

http://www.athex.gr/imgs/gr/announcements/2_B_OldRoom.jpg

http://www.athex.gr/imgs/gr/announcements/5_B_OldRoom.jpg

http://www.athex.gr/imgs/gr/announcements/6_B_OldRoom.jpg

http://www.terna.gr/static/images/related_images/xaa_2big.jpg

Oh my god!
Could someone give me the exact location? Id love to go visit it in the flesh when I am in Athens this July.
This building looks like an absolute gem! What is it going to be used for now? Id love for it to be the stock exchange again. :(

You know what is interesting? The very beautiful "old" stock exchange is not actually the oldest. It was built around 1930. Before that, there was another building that housed the stock exchange, a real neoclassical gem built by Ziller in the 1870's I think. This still exists and was recently rennovated. Most of us must have passed like 50 metres away from it thousands of times without realizing it, because its front is not facing the street but a courtyard. The entrance to the courtyard is from Pesmazoglou street, on your right as you go past Stadiou towards Sophocleous. That courtyard is shut out of hours, so you have to be there during working hours to see it. You go past a big iron gate from a lovely an inter-war bank building, into the courtyard, and there you can see the fascade of Ziller's gem. I've never been inside the building itself, but I've seen pictures in Prof Filippides recent book "architectural transformations". The style of its interior reminds me of Vienna's Musikvereinsaal. Apologies for not having any photos to post. Are you serious? :eek: I want to see this building. Glad to hear it's still around and restored.

Incidentally the Musikverein is by Theophil Hansen, the same architect who designed the Academy of Athens. The Dane Hansen, completed some stunning work in both Vienna and Athens with his magnum opus being the Austrian Parliament House.

This is the interior of the Musikverein in Vienna.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4924/zzzviennamusikverein2ln7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

As for the Athens Stock Exchange buildings, I really don't mind them. They could have been more inspiring and taller (we all wish), but they're still quite handsome imho!!

PS: I just saw that pilotos has posted some pics of the original Stock Exchange and indeed it is very beautiful.

Ah the Musikverein!!! It is good to listen to the same Vienna tunes every new year's day from the new year's concert!!!

Wonderful building, thanks for the info neorion!!!

Well, it's obviously not as big and grandiose as the Musikverein, but the style of the interior really reminded me of it. Thanks for the photos Pilotos!

Great photos pilotos

ήθελα να ήξερα ποιός ανόητος βλάχος αποφάσισε να φύγει το χρηματιστήριο από το κέντρο και από αυτό το υπέροχο κτήριο για το τερατούργημα του BAbis και του Βικέλα...η εθνική τράπεζα τους είχε κάνει πρόταση για το συγκρότημα της Εθνικής Ασφαλιστικής του Μπότα...

to palio einai poli oraio mesa (de ksero poso leiourgiko) eno to kainourio einai asximo ekso ala poli moderno mesa (tha moy peite olo ayta leme les kai einai politeleia gia neo ktirio...).

To palio omos eksoterika einai pnigmeno arketa, oso oraio kai na einai.

Since the needed more space, they should simply have used the 1930's AND the 19th century buildings in parallel - after all they are in the same block!- and not moved to that silly structure in Athinon avenue...

^^

Η να έφτιαχναν ένα πιο σύγχρονο, πιο όμορφο και φυσικά πιο ψηλό από αυτή την αηδία που φτιάξανε.

Does this horrendous building really deserve a thread..The architect has totally soldout which can be proven at his exhibition currently at the Benaki museum.

Καλά, ο Βικέλας θα φιλοτεχνήσει το μουσείο μοντέρνας τέχνης Γουλανδρή...; Πως από τον Πει πέσαμε τόσο μα τόσο χαμηλά;

http://weloveathens.wordpress.com/

^^ Πρέπει ΚΑΘΕ νεοκλασικό να κακοποιείται με τσόντες? Τι κατάρα είναι αυτή? Τόσα άδεια οικόπεδα υπάρχουν....:bash::bash::bash::bash:

:)

^^πάντως αν βρείς οικόπεδο μπορεί να εφαρμοστεί το σχέδιο του Πέι...20 χρόνια πάντως δεν τα καταφέραμε...ας μην εξαντλήσουμε όλη μας την αυστηρότητα για μια συλλογή που 5 από τους Βαν Γκονγκ της κοστίζουν περισσότερο από το νέο μουσείο της ακρόπολης...οκ η πρόταση του Βικέλα είναι αδιάφορη μα το σημαντικό είναι να γίνει επιτέλους το μουσείο...

^^

Ναι, μια ψυχή που είναι να βγει ας βγει και να πάνε στα κομμάτια τα σχέδια του Πει... Συμφωνώ.

Απλώς ερωτώ, ποσο πολύ μπορείς να αγαπάς τον τόπο σου και να μην τους διαολοστελνεις όλους που εδώ και 20 χρονια τους προσφέρεις και μουσείο, και έργα φοβερής αξιας και κανεις τους δεν μπορεί να σου βρει ένα οικόπεδο.

Καλά, εδώ που τα λέμε, το σχέδιο του Pei δεν ήταν και από τα καλύτερά του. Τουλάχιστον αυτό κατάλαβα από τις ελάχιστες μακέτες που είχα βρει.

In English so that all our friends understand

OK, so let me give you some background information about the stock Exchange complex as I am in possession of some new info on the issue.

First, The stock exchange complex as it appears in the initial perspective drawings by Vikelas is different from what is depicted in my pics from a few years ago. Specifically, the initial perspective drawing from the monograph (see "I. VIkelas" monograph, 2010, KAPON Publishing) is as follows:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%205/AthensStockExchangeComplex-AthinonA.jpg

...while the actual result as per my pics in the previous posts can be seen by clicking HERE (http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%205/AthensStockExchangeComplex-AthinonA.jpg):

In the thread "Stories About the City, Architecture and the Arts", I pointed out (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=58262979&postcount=461) that I Vikelas wanted to create an atrium in the Stock Exchange building, in a manner similar to the one that Richard Rogers created for the Lloyds Building (http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=110694) in London. As ridiculous this may sound, in reality, that's what the initial drawings of the interior of the new Stock Exchange Building indicate as per the drawing picture below:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%205/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock1-In.jpg


...compare the above picture with the atrium in London's Lloyds

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Other%20Cities%20and%20Regions/LloydsBuildingAtrium.gif

What seems to be the common denominator here is the fact that all as per the Lloyds tradition, the underwriters working in the building had to have their offices all under the same roof. I don't know whether this is what was implemented in the ASE but this was the idea in the beginning. Needless to say that I never attempted to go inside the new ASE building to take pics as I understand the security measures may be very strict, especially after the terrorist bombing action a few months before the time of this writing.

In any case, we cannot avoid the use of the blasphemous word "imitation" or "copycat" here... with all due respect...

Now let's go to the second building.

Again, compare the intended design as per the perspective drawing, vis-a-vis my picture:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%205/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock2-Al.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/AthensStockExchangeComplexBlock2C-s.jpg

...also, as pointed out in an early post, compare this building to another in Kifissias Avenue:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c94/gm2263/Athens%20Skyscrapers%20and%20Modern%20Architecture%203/KifissiasAvenuesmallofficebuilding-.jpg


I really don' know what caused the transformation which in my view was not needed as the original design had somewhat more plasticity (in the context of the overall layout arrangement of the buildings, that is).

I believe that the overall design was ill-conceived from the beginning, looking more like something that came right out the 1980s rather than a project designed well into the first decade of the second millennium. I suspect cost-cutting considerations on the part of contractor here - you know who.

And a final note, knowing in advance your responses:

I respect Vikelas for his works up until the beginning of the 1990s. I have also seen drawings for never built projects that were good. I also deeply respect the fact that he alone designed so many highrises for Athens, built or not, that not all the other architects combined together probably ventured to. However, time has started showing its ugly side in his work. I consider him one of the proponents of cosmopolitan architecture who gave new directions to many others whose creations are present on all sides of Kifissias and Syggrou Avenue.

However, the way this Stock Exchange project was realized means that he either lost his touch or worse, the contractor -you-know-who- really became too intervening in his work. By international standards, even for a lowrise project, this one was a failure. Pure and simple.

On the other hand, for reasons out of the scope of this thread, I think that he should have spoken much earlier about his convictions on tall buildings. Probably people would have listened much more than he might expect, especially in the late 80s early 90s when the economy was doing much better -in whichever way it was doing better. He should have spoken when he was younger and in much better shape, spiritually, creatively as well as physically. I know it sounds harsh but, as we all know, there are new architects who managed to rejuvenate the issues of tall buildings, some apparently younger than Vikelas, others even younger than me. For it is time that sets the frame and the pace on when to speak and what to say.

I feel sorry for the man, IF he has the same passion about tall buildings that we have (which he seems to have had and still having it now) and has been unable to share with nobody, especially in the first stone-cold years that followed his first highrise creations. So many years with the fire inside... he should have spoken though... Had he acted in a prompt and timely manner, probably things may have not been so ugly for us (i.e. the Hellenic Skyscrapers and Tall Buildings Community) today.

If he was happy with his design I am sure he would have included it in his exhibition at the Benaki Museum. So somebody else had the say...is it Babis?

But don´t feel sory for him...he took the money, as would most architects...

One thing that really annoys me about public and corporate architecture in Greece is that they are all clad in shinny marble and black tinted glass so the buildings seem very stern and leaves no one with the desire to enter the building..they kind of look secret intelligence buildings and Vovos and Vikelas are masters of this.

I agree with with GM2263 that Vikelas work after the 90´s is weak except for the housing projects which are in the same style as his early work and the plan drawings seem very good..

I have worked in the brown tower in Ag Varvaras and the exterior and interiors are wonderfull..

About the Goulandris museum I agree just to get it finally built.

I agree with with GM2263 that Vikelas work after the 90´s is weak except for the housing projects which are in the same style as his early work and the plan drawings seem very good..

I have worked in the brown tower in Ag Varvaras and the exterior and interiors are wonderfull..

About the Goulandris museum I agree just to get it finally built.

You mean this one (http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=towerinaghiavarvara,neopsychiko-astreetns-greece)? If this is the case, we need to talk dear friend.

You mean this one (http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=towerinaghiavarvara,neopsychiko-astreetns-greece)? If this is the case, we need to talk dear friend.

Yes that one. I worked there on the 8th floor...Its was great and the views are amazing..