A Dutch architectural firm, Okra, is the winner of an international competition to revamp the city centre of Athens.  Launched by the Onassis Foundation, the result of the competition was announced at an event held on February 27.

Seventy-one architects and firms participated in the competition that was part of an initiative dubbed Re-Think Athens, which called for designs to completely overhaul the heart of the Greek capital, a plan centred on the pedestrianization of Panepistimiou Street, along with a revamp of the two squares -Omonia and Syntagma- located at its two ends.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who, in his address, underlined the symbolic nature of the plan to revamp downtown Athens. He further noted that the revamping of Panepistimiou Street, the development at Faliro Bay and Hellenikon, where a large metropolitan park will be also created, constitute the triangle of this rebirth. The Re-Think project is slated for completion by the end of 2015.


Meanwhile, the designs of all contestants will be on display at the Onassis Cultural Centre until March 6, 2013. Kathimerini: Dutch architectural firm wins competition for Athens revamp & Greek News Agenda: Rethink Athens-Revive Athens