EVENTS FULL OF INDUSTRIAL POWER
Abandoned industrial buildings are in most cases left to decay and such was the case with the old Gas Works in Athens. Fortunately, however, the balance of opinion tilted to the view that reusing these kinds of buildings had a lot of benefits to offer, not solely environmental and economical, but also social and helping with continual growth as well as also keeping alive the memories of the past. With all of this in mind, the reuse of an abandoned industrial site has a positive effect on the quality of life for the near vicinity and it is also reasonably cheaper and ecologically friendlier than all the new buildings sprouting up today.
After almost thirty years of lying fallow, the former factory opened its doors in 2004 under the name of ‘Technopolis’. Its transformation opened up fresh options of using old and outmoded infrastructure in new and innovative ways. The “Art City” is suitable for different kinds of meetings and offers incredibly interesting spaces with an industrial feel, topped off by museum collections and loads of space for organising events.
An event in the former factory, where you can still almost smell the coal in the air, is an unforgettable experience. The charm of a bygone area, conveyed through its stacks, enormous cauldrons (gasometers), chimneys and ovens, “conspires” with a certain reverence to establish the site as a “factory” for the protection and production of art.
The major facilites in it are named after famous Greek poets; Andreas Embirikos (Room D1), Angelos Sikelianos (D4), Yannis Ritsos (Amphitheatre “Athina 9 ,84” radio station), Kostis Palamas (D10), Takis Papatsonis (D6), Constantine Cavafis (D7) and Kostas Varnalis (8).
Hundreds of events have been staged in the premises since May 1999, including Exhibitions of visual art, Sculpture, Photography, Video-art and Technology; Conferences; Seminars: International Festivals; Concerts; Theatre and Dance performances; Forums on employment and entrepreneurship; Educational programmes; Product presentations and much more. Most of the spaces are very flexible and especially suitable for corporate events as well as fairs. The factory offers very efficient branding and can adjust the space to specific events and needs.
Europe’s largest gasholder is located in the town of Oberhausen in Germany and has a holding capacity of 347,000 cubic metres. The largest gasholders in the Athens Gasworks (Gasholder 3) had a holding capacity of only 15,000 cubic metres.
