[MSN] Greece's culture minister has angered architects and conservationists by clearing the way for the demolition of a landmark art deco building to improve the view from the new Acropolis museum.

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Art Deco Gem Victim of Acropolis Museum 

Friday September 14, 2007 1:31 AM


By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS 

Associated Press Writer 

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's culture minister has angered architects and
conservationists by clearing the way for the demolition of a landmark art
deco building to improve the view from the new Acropolis museum. 

George Voulgarakis revoked his ministry's protection of the 1930s building,
saying that tearing it down would ``allow an unimpeded view of the
Acropolis'' from the new museum. He also argued that excavating the site
could ``reveal antiquities whose existence is considered highly likely.'' 

The building's defenders have launched an international e-mail campaign to
save it, accusing the government of sacrificing Greece's modern treasures to
showcase its ancient history. Residents vowed to challenge Wednesday's
decision in court. 

``You have hundreds of people both in Greece and all over the world who ...
appreciate the coexistence of early 20th century architecture and this urban
environment opposite the rock of the Acropolis and the Parthenon,'' said
architect Nikos Rousseas, whose office is in the building. 

The four-story building, with its pink marbled facade, stands about 300
yards from the Acropolis on a carefully landscaped pedestrian street facing
the ancient citadel's southern slopes. A mosaic of Oedipus and the Sphinxd
modern, softening the impact of the large glass and concrete museum. ``The
mere existence of this building screens off the otherwise huge, monumental
volume of the 21st century museum,'' he said. 

A neighboring building is also set to be demolished. It's owned by composer
Vangelis Papathanassiou, who won an Academy Award for creating the score for
``Chariots of Fire.'' 

The dispute over the two structures is overshadowing the opening of the $179
million Acropolis museum, planned for early 2008 after a delay of more than
two decades. 

Greece hopes the new museum will eventually display the Elgin Marbles - a
collection of sculptures removed from the Parthenon in the early 19th
century and currently housed in London's British Museum. The British Museum
has refused Greece's request to return the sculptures, but a space awaits
them in a gallery on the top floor of the new museum. 

Greece's Ministry of Public Works must still remove the buildings from its
own list of protected structures, although it was unlikely to refuse after
the Culture Ministry's decision. 

But residents have not given up hope. 

``We are certain that, with broad popular support and the verdict of our
justice system, (the art deco building) will continue to embellish our city
for many years to come,'' residents said in a statement on a blog devoted to
the building's salvation. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/