Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (Greek: Κέντρο Πολιτισμού Ίδρυμα Σταύρος Νιάρχος) is a complex under construction in the bay of Phaliron in Athens which includes new facilities for the National Library of Greece and the National Opera. The Center was designed by architect Renzo Piano and is being built by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. After its completion in 2016, the €566 million project will be donated to the Greek state.

The project

Plans for a big scale donation by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation started in 1998. Initially the foundation planned to make separate donations to the National Library and the National Opera. In 2006 it was decided to build one complex for both organizations and after discussions with the Greek state the area of the former horse racing track was chosen. In 2008 the foundation chose Italian architect Renzo Piano to design the complex and in 2012 construction works started.

The building

Renzo Piano envisaged the SNFCC rising out of the ground like a dislodged piece of the earth’s crust. As a result, an artificial hill is constructed and the roof of both the library and the opera house is emerging from it maintaining the slope. The library is lower and the ‘hill’ concludes with the opera house. The roof of the libray will be covered with ground material.[1] On top of the opera house there will be a canopy supported on thin steel columns. According to Piano, "the canopy represents a cloud hovering over the highest point of the hill".[2]

The design for the National Opera includes a 1,400-seat opera auditorium and a 400-seat black box theatre.

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Ike Ijeh (7 November 2013). Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre roof, Athens. building.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2014

External links

Coordinates: 37°56′23″N 23°41′30″E / 37.93972°N 23.69167°E