Σάββατο 21 Απριλίου 2012

Modern Greek Architectural Eyesore

I've been collecting many cases where elements of ancient Greek architecture have been incorporated in modern buildings in Greece. I've been meaning to honor and present each one with a separate post, but time is extra-valuable these days, so a collective post it is. Do scroll down till the end - the last one is my favourite ;)


These are all finds and photographs made by other people, so attribution to the original source follows each find. 


As you are about to see, it is extremelly difficult to create a modern building with ancient Greek elements and not end up with a kitch result. 


Still, one may appreciate the effort. 


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A block of flats with a large statue in a porch between two blue columns. 
It looks like a copy of the Discobolus and oh-my-God there is a disco ball lying next to it and over it... 


Not sure of its whereabouts, presumably in Corinth.






[original source] [source]




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A block of flats in Aigaleo, Athens. 
The shop in the ground floor is also decorated with many copies and a free-standing Athena statue on a column.


Note the Artemision Zeus on top of it all (as it should be) and the numerous Caryatids supporting each floor. 










[source




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Another block of flats, also in Aigaleo, Athens - a trend is formed? 


This time the building is crowned with a pediment standing on top of two Ionian columns, painted in blue to match the Greek flag I presume. Not able to discern the subject on the pediment. Many-many statues and columns as well built-in relief metopes - so many one feels his brain complaining. 









[source]




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The blogger Valia Calda dog spotted this in Thessaloniki and named it appropriately "Bucephalus' manger". It is a garage decorated with a relief of the well-known scene with Alexander the Great attacking Darius III










[source]




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Another find by the same blogger, this time from Kastoria. 


This is actually my favourite, since I consider it very characteristic of modern Greek architecture and aesthetics. A battle of incongruous elements in the unending desire of the owner to dissociate himself from the environment and state his uniqueness. 

In this case, the Vergina Sun and many columns define Greekness - or better yet "Macedonianess". 










[source]


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I am extremelly grateful to the blogger Valia Calda dog for granting me permission to republish his photographs here. 


Many thanks are also due to this blog's faithful reader, Ein Steppenwolf, who never fails to let me know of such finds as he sees them. 


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AN IMPORTANT UPDATE


The Greek blogger Athensville visited Aigaleo and made an excellent photographic documentation of the wonderful blocks of flats there. 
Visit his blog clicking HERE to see all the details!