[ Aris Zambikos ] ‘The Breeder’ gallery

‘The Breeder’ gallery in ATHENS
based on the greek article by Chara Tzavara for Eleftherotypia-newspaper

english translation by Tina Komninou for Yatzer

The famous Greek Architect, Aris Zambikos was commisioned by George Vamvakidis & Stathis Panagoulis (The Breeders) to design the ‘The Breeder’gallery and the vague and characterless 70’s building was renovated tobecome an award winning gallery. The award wining architectural gemannounced by the Hellenic Institute of Architecture onFriday the 9th of January 2009. A pure and hopeful example of what canbecome when there is belief and passion for your work. Something thatthe work of the Architect Aris Zambikos, never fails to exemplify us.

 

   An award of the highest honor which is brought together by the GIAand announced every 4 years. There are only 3 awards that are announcedevery quarterly and the decision making process for all buildingsshortlisted are very thorough and detailed. The nominations aregathered and the selection is broken up into two stages. The committeeconsists of the professors of Architecture Andrea Giakoumako and PanoDragona together with the award winners of the 2004 nominations C.Deligiani, D. Diamantopoulou and D. Tsagaraki. For the final stage thepresident of the GIA Professor N. Kalogeras and Foulvio Irase thedirector of Trienalle in Milan are presented with the final shortlistand are invited to take part in the decision process. This year’scategories were:

 

• Private Residence, with 73 nominations in this categorythe honor was given to the much awarded architect Pandeli Nikolakopoulofor his residence in Psichiko
• Public Projects, 18nominations from which the award was given to the team consisting ofProdromos Nikiforidis, Bernar Cuomo of the atelie R. Castro and S.Denisof for their successful and talented reformation of the New Beachin Salonica.
• The ‘Breeder’ gallery was in a category amongst great archetypes like the Dome for the Foundation of the Hellenic World, a bioclimate wine factory, the Naousa Civil centre and the reformation of the entrance for the Astera Vouliagmeni Resort.

   The architect Aris Zambikos together with his colleague Architect Policheria Tzova stated that this is a particular category which reflects to André Breton.His portfolio consists of great works which include exceptional towersand private residences together with the Art Cine in Psiri which wewere sadly informed that it did not open its doors to the public lastsummer and that it will be demolished to be replaced by a shoppingcentre. A pure example of eliminating character and presence for massproduction.

   The award winning galleryfirst opened its doors to the public in Psiri and later moved to thearea of Metaxourgio in the heart of Athens. The building that was selected for the gallery was a vague and architecture less abandoned space.
   Aris Zambikos seems to be familiar with this neglected andunderdeveloped side of Athens, and has stated that it has been leftabandoned by the futuristic Athens understandably as it is too close tothe centre for a residence and far away for a centre. He also informedus that it is the sole district so close to the Acropolis with ashortage of archaeological types, which means that it, was quitepossibly used as a vegetable field that was responsible for thecultivation which provided food to the town. He is familiar though thatnowadays this area is responsible for the existence of loft spaces inAthens and at the same time called no man’s land. A land as Zambikostates that everyone visits but those who can afford to leave here arenot ready for the transition. He is however hopeful that the attitudeto this area is still to be cultivated.

   With these points in mind his architectural team which consist ofcivil engineers C. Kalligeros – Ergosystem and mechanical engineers V.Manolas – Synapsis Technical had a tough challenge in front of them.The original building had been constructed with the typical 70’s shellconsisting of a condensed shell of concrete a mandatory skylight andmosaic flooring. The basement had never been used and like the roofspace there was no staircase present. The ground floor had access tothe upper floors by a spiral staircase that was falling apart.
   These architectural barriers were tackled with great ideas anddesign approaches and have now been treated as prime focus within theinterior. For example, the main skylight with the forgotten crane inthe roof. These details are unimportant to the naked eye like the leaksand cracks in different parts of the building even the windows in thetoilets have been treated in a way that compliment the new design. Themain changes were made to the interior by bringing together the spaceswhich now make it practical to the circulation due to the new buildstaircase which hosts art corners. Aris Zambikos prefers his work to dothe talking for him and respects greatly his colleagues that worktowards keeping the characteristic architectural identities of thecities.

How does Aris Zambikos see the future of architecture in Greece “We live in a country that depends in services, it does not produce anything, therefore architecture is no exception to that rule".

from  yatzer