100 things: 100 photos - photo 23: mayfly

mayfly_78

100 things: 100 photos - photo 23

Feb 26, 2014 21:22

I really like this photo, probably because it says so much to those in the know. I used to live near there, don't you know?

This photo is from Athens, along Syggrou Avenue as it nears the centre to be exact. The neighbourhood of Koukaki to one side and Nea Smurni to the other.

Three important landmarks are contained here. The tram is one. The much vaunted and discussed tram that is probably - together with the Athens Metro - the only good thing for the people of Athens to come from the 2004 Olympics. I really like the tram. It's very slow and only has three lines to it, but it runs 24 hours a day and allows bicycles on board.

The other two landmarks can't be seen, one is in the past and one is in the future.

[Rebirth of Fix]

Hidden behind the tarp and scaffolding is the old Fix Brewery, or at least what remains of it. The Fix Brewery founded 1864 held the monopoly on beer in Greece until the 60s with it's famous Fix Beer. It finally went out of business in the 80s, but was brought back after being bought over in 2010.

The building itself, known simply as Fix, was an important Athens landmark. Built in the 50s by big-name greek modernist architects it was considered the most important International Style building in Greece of the time. It was certainly very imposing, looking like a lying down skyscraper, with it's long rectangular form further emphasised by long horizontal openings. The building was abandoned in the 70s and despite being a landmark and a listed building half of it was demolished in the late 90s to make way for the Athens Metro station underneath. So we will never see the Fix again as it was conceived.

Hidden behind the scaffolding as well, like a butterfly to emerge from it's chrysalis, is the new National Museum of Contemporary Art. After much discussion and much dithering, all the important people finally agreed that the best new use for the old building was to be the new house of the so far homeless National Museum of Contemporary Art - or EMST as we call it. But there were yet more adventures and trials to come and when I left Athens and my old neighbourhood in 2011, the scaffolding was still up. In December 2013 the museum was finally inaugurated, but I have yet to see it in the flesh.

photos, #100things, living in athens