'A work of genius': Renzo Piano's cultural centre takes shape in the heart of Athens
by Kim Megson | 10 Nov 2015
One of the creative minds behind London’s Millennium Dome and the Pompidou Centre in Paris, has declared Renzo Piano’s forthcoming national opera house and library in Athens to be “a work of pure genius.”
In an upcoming interview with CLADmag, Mike Davies – a founding partner at Rogers Stirk Harbour – is quick to praise the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre, which is nearing completion.
“It's more than a building,” said Davies. “It’s on the scale of the great Egyptian temples. It’s a wonder.”
The Renzo Piano Building Workshop was tasked in 2008 with transforming a large car park from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games into a cultural hub for the Greek capital, housing the National Library of Greece and Greek National Opera in one building.
The design is now taking shape. The opera wing will be composed of two auditoria – one dedicated to traditional operas and ballets, the other for more experimental performances – with the library located in a separate wing.
The facility will have a sloping grass roof which visitors will be able to climb. From there, they can reach a glass-walled box which rests on top of the building and contains a reading room – designed as a “public resource where culture is truly accessible to share and enjoy”. The vantage point will offer 360-degree views of Athens and the coast, restoring the connection between the city and the sea.
The bottom of the sloped roof will be connected with a new 170,000sq m (1,800,000sq ft) landscaped park – described by Davies as “absolutely stunning” – and a public space known as the Agora providing access to the centre’s bottom floors.
Gardens and green space will feature prominently and a new canal will run along a pedestrianised esplanade.
The complex is aiming for a LEED platinum rating. Natural ventilation is being extensively used and the building’s canopy roof will be topped with 10,000sq m (107,000sq ft) of photovoltaic cells. The architects say this will generate 1.5 megawatts of power.
Work is scheduled for completion by the end of the 2015. Funding is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the centre will be controlled and operated by the Greek government.
Look out for our interview with Mike Davies in Issue 1 2016 of CLADmag.
The facility will have a sloping grass roof connected to a large landscaped park Credit: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
The cultural centre will house the National Library of Greece and Greek National Opera in one building Credit: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Funding is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the centre will be controlled and operated by the Greek government Credit: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
The complex has been built on a car park built for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Credit: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Visitors will have a panoramic view of Athens and the coast from the top of the centre's grass roof Credit: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
One of the creative minds behind London’s Millennium Dome and the Pompidou Centre in Paris, has declared Renzo Piano’s forthcoming national opera house and library in Athens to be “a work of pure genius.” In an upcoming interview with CLADmag, Mike Davies – a founding partner at Rogers Stirk Harbour – is quick to praise the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre, which is nearing completion. “It's more than a building,” said
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