Reuse of Two Properties to Serve Visitors to the Acropolis

The Ministry of Culture is proceeding with the reuse of the building at 18–20 Areopagitou Street and the redevelopment of the adjacent plot at 20 Vyronos Street—with functional integration between the two properties.

The implementation of the project will make it possible to open both properties to the public, strengthening visitor services for the Acropolis archaeological site through modern infrastructure that combines functionality with an educational and cultural character.

The basic design principles of the project include preserving the morphology and character of the building at 18–20 Areopagitou Street, as well as maintaining the open-air character of the plot at 20 Vyronos Street. Upon completion of the project, both spaces will be returned to public use, covering functional needs of the Acropolis archaeological site while simultaneously upgrading the visitor experience.

The Ministry of Culture’s plan includes the creation—within the building—of a cloakroom with individual self-service lockers, additional sanitary facilities, and a multipurpose space with an educational and cultural character for visitors. The new uses occupy the existing unified interior space of the building, as well as the already configured auxiliary spaces. An Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development (ODAP) retail shop will also be created, while a control unit for visitors and their luggage will be installed at the entrance.

Interior view of the building – Existing condition

The multipurpose space is located at the rear section of the building, operating independently and taking advantage of an opening in the roof with views toward the Acropolis. Among the proposed uses, a key one is creative activities for children up to 12 years of age, aimed at parents who wish to leave younger children (indicative ages 3–6) during their visit to the archaeological site, as well as school groups (indicative ages 6–12) from Greece or abroad. The central axis of the educational programs will focus on archaeology, with emphasis on nearby archaeological sites. The plot is transformed into an open-air multipurpose space with an educational and cultural character, which may operate independently or in connection with the building on Areopagitou Street.

The building at 18–20 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street is single-story, with spaces arranged in a Ð-shaped layout around a courtyard. The building surrounds the courtyard with a shaded colonnade, through which access to all enclosed spaces is provided. Internally, the building consists of a single unified space supported by auxiliary rooms (storage, office, infirmary), while access to sanitary facilities is also provided from the courtyard. On the plot at 20 Vyronos Street, there was a children’s playground constructed by the Municipality of Athens in 1983, featuring seating areas, a fountain, low planting, and a small structure housing sanitary facilities. In the early 2000s, an industrial building was placed in the central part of the plot. Access to the plot is through a metal gate framed by a built fa?ade on either side of the entrance, reminiscent of a typical courtyard boundary wall of early 20th-century Athenian houses.

Interior view of the building – Existing condition

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated:
“The building at 18–20 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street was constructed as part of the project for the redevelopment and configuration of the pedestrian network and open spaces in the Acropolis area, with the aim of operating as an information center for visitors to the archaeological sites, including a retail shop and sanitary facilities. The property is located at a key point and in direct proximity to the archaeological site of the South Slope of the Acropolis.

From 2011 until 2017, the building operated exclusively as an information office of the Greek National Tourism Organization, to which it had been granted by the Ministry of Culture. Today, only the sanitary facilities are operational and accessible to the public. As part of upgrading the services provided to visitors to the Acropolis and enhancing the overall visitor experience, the building at 18–20 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street is being functionally linked with the property at 20 Vyronos Street. In this way, the infrastructure serving the Acropolis archaeological site and its slopes is strengthened. At the same time, the intervention constitutes a critical contribution to improving the visitor experience and the overall upgrading of the area.”