“The fate of buildings is changing, but I don’t know if she enjoyed her first life” – says the architect Kalliopi Kontozoglu “K”. and author of the book Project Fix by Potamos. Ms. Kontozoglu’s relationship with the National Museum of Modern Art began a few years ago when she was a partner in the office of 3SK Stylianidis Architects SA, which turned the FIX brewery into the current museum, and led a study group on architectural applications. The presentation of the “Project Fix” was held with great participation of the public, which confirmed the interest of the Athenians in the symbolic, but long-suffering building, which will soon add another station to its historical course. “By the end of 2022, the transfer of the building from Attico Metro to EMST is expected to be completed,” the museum’s administrative director said. Athena Ioannou, in “K”which solves the problem. Attico Metro, he adds, is going to transfer the building of the former FIX plant to the use of the EMCT by decision of its general meeting, and at this time the necessary actions are being taken together with the Ministry of Culture. Thus, potentially changes or modifications can be initiated within the building without complex approval procedures.

Through a conversation with Ms. Kontozoglou and a tour of the museum, the central architectural idea that originated from the existing building – half of what was designed by the architect Takis Zenetos almost 70 years ago – appears before us more clearly: the site of Ilisu overlooking Callirois street, with marble slabs that will change over time, and vertical grooves, streams that, however, never work. Ground floor area, an open plan space where visitors could potentially cross over if the other two entrances to the museum were used, next to the store. Terrace, green roof, which would compensate for the lack of open space around the building and could communicate with the restaurant on the ground floor if they were implemented. Perhaps the most touching part of this design, which, apart from functionality, at the same time tried to pay a modest tribute to the past, is what the architect calls the “archaeological space” of the building, i.e. the part behind the preserved Syngrou Boulevard façade, retaining the original design elements: columns, beams and large openings that guide the visitor’s tour as they ascend the escalator to the collection areas.

The history of the building tells about the political, social and cultural life of Greece for more than half a century.

If we wanted to see the history of the Fix building from the very beginning, we would simultaneously be chronicling the political, social and cultural life of Greece for over half a century. From 1957, when architect Takis Zenetos began designing a new state-of-the-art brewery commissioned by the Fix family, until today, an impressive number of governments, ministers of culture and EMST boards of directors have been involved in the construction of the building. Without disrupting the factory, Zenetos integrated pre-existing buildings into the new design and created a flexible structure that can be changed and adapted for future use. In 1961, the reconstruction was completed, and the 200-meter building overlooking Syngrou became an innovative architectural work of its time and blended into the post-war urban landscape of the capital.

Abandonment

The building was abandoned in the late 1970s. The damage changed his character. Thoughts on its preservation and use have been intense but inconclusive. In 1994, the building became the property of Attico Metro, and in 1995 part of the northern part was demolished, despite strong reactions from the Greek and international architectural community. The building, which is exactly half the size of the original building in Zenetos that currently houses EMST, is a project completed in 2014, although since 2001 EMST has left its temporary roof in the Fix building. Finally, in February 2020, EMST opened to the public in full force.