Such a “super ocean of culture” calls to “K” Speaker of the Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulasa huge project to be released to the public once the lighting and use of the former Public Tobacco Factory is completed Greek Parliament.

The project, the decision makers told us, “considers the building as a whole” and its budget of approximately 97 million euros for civil works and equipment should be included in the project. NSRF.

In particular, the cost of performing the work is estimated at 85 million euros, while 6.8 million euros are for implementation studies and 3.5 million euros for a technical consultant for the implementation and construction of a new checkpoint substation at the former Tobacco Factory. Factory. According to the schedule, it will take 8 years from the moment of tendering for studies and selection of a contractor to complete the project.

In the meantime, the existing exhibition spaces will remain open, and the new year will begin in March with a collaboration between the Greek Parliament and the Chamber of Fine Arts and an exhibition on the theme of the catastrophe in Asia Minor.

Besides Public Tobacco Factory refers to the second phase of the acceleration of the industrialization of Greece. Its construction in the late 1920s—simultaneously with a project to resettle refugees from Asia Minor—was designed to house small tobacco factories, which made it easier for companies that did not have the necessary capital to enter the production of tobacco products. standardized cigarettes.

In 1989, the Ministry of the Interior classified the Lenormand Tobacco Factory as a Historical Monument, along with its mechanical equipment, on the basis that “it is an important example of industrial architecture and evidence that contributes to a comprehensive study and presentation of the historical development of the tobacco industry in Greece from the point of view of conditions production, mode of production and organization of business.

This very historical character will be highlighted for the first time by a new study that available for “K”with the work of a thematic museum about public tobacco factories in Greece, their employees, as well as describing and promoting the “tobacco value chain”.

The budget for the lighting and maintenance of the building is 97 million euros.

The modern functions of the building, as stated in the study, include, among other things, the development of the BtE library as a modern parliamentary library, the development of a number of expanded educational programs with a focus on schoolchildren, and the development of the Information and Education Centre. As well as the creation of a modern amphitheater for conferences and lectures and a simulation hall of the Youth Parliament for 50-60 seats in an amphitheater layout. Finally, provision is made for the allocation and periodic presentation of the Parliament’s special collections and art collection.

The public tobacco factory on rue Lenormand is an important monument of historical importance both for the tobacco economy and for its architectural value. Preserving the memory of such factories in the country, it is this building that stands out on the square today with its volumes, reflecting the spirit of modernism of the 30s.

The connection of the building with the Greek Parliament began in 1989, when the State Real Estate Company granted a plot of 4,700 square meters for use. arrangements to meet the urgent housing needs of the Parliamentary Library, and in 2000 the entire building was made available to Parliament to cover its housing needs.

“Portals”

In previous years, many people passed by the entrance of the former Tobacco Factory to visit the Library of Parliament. However, the building’s attendance increased dramatically in 2021 and 2022. At that time, the reformed tobacco factory, which emerged after the completion of restoration and repair work with a total area of ​​​​6,500 m2, was completed – with the financial support of the NEON organization – the organization’s contemporary arts cultural program was held. About 50,000 visitors visited the Portals International Art Exhibition in the second half of 2021 and 46,000 people visited the Dream On exhibition from June to December 2022.

The way the Athenians have perceived the building in the past two years clearly confirms the correctness of the choice of the former Tobacco Factory as a place that can make a significant contribution to culture and democracy. And this is actually in a relatively degraded area of ​​the city, which, thanks to this particular project, seems to be able to dynamically change its cultural identity.

In this context, the decision of the Greek Parliament to allocate and use the entire building with a total area of ​​22,500 sq.m.