And further to that, did you know that the important connecting view between 
the museum and the Acropolis has architecturally significant art deco 
housing?  Nope, neither did I.

Denis Gojak

[extract from NSW Heritage Advisers Group]

I hope that this presentation will include a discussion of the Art Deco 
buildings proposed to be demolished as part of the project. For those who 
are not aware of this action (which is happening to provide a BETTER VIEW of 
the Parthenon from the museum), please see the following.

Art Deco Building In Danger in Athens
No. 17 Dionyssiou Areopagitou St. built by Vassilis Kouremenos.

ATHENS, GREECE.- Two listed buildings are in danger of being torn
down in Athens to provide a better view of the Parthenon from the new
museum. One of the buildings is an Art Deco gem designated a monument
in its own right at No. 17 Dionyssiou Areopagitou St. was built by
Vassilis Kouremenos, a graduate of Paris' Ecole des Beaux Arts and
reportedly a friend of Pablo Picasso. The other building is owned by
Oscar-winning composer Vangelis Papathanassiou of Chariots of Fire fame.

Kostas Stamatopoulos of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of
the Environment and Cultural Heritage said, "It is probably the most
impressive example of its kind."

The building has a pink marbled exterior, a mosaic of Oedipus and the
Sphinx adorning the top story and marble statues of women in
traditional dress flanking the wrought iron door.

These two buildings stand between the new museum and the Acropolis. A
visitor looking out from the museum towards the Parthenon would see
the two buildings' rear facade of plain, charmless walls.

Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis announced in May that the two
buildings would be removed. Greece's archaeological council voted in
early July to revoke the listed status of the more significant Art
Deco building and allow its demolition. An e-mail campaign was
launched by outraged residents and architects to save the two
buildings. An internet blog has also been set up at 
http://www.areopagitou17.blogspot.com/

"We can't do things like that at the expense of other monuments and
works of art."

Please help to save these buildings. Perhaps the speakers could be asked for 
their position on the preservation of 20thC buildings.

Robin Grow,
President Art Deco Society Inc.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "geoff carver" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 6:12 PM
Subject: parthenon/elgin marbles debate


fairly extreme bit of polemic, here:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/art/2007/10/the_parthenon_marbles_should_not_be_returned_to_greece.html