In front of me was a tufted, trimmed pine on Telephanus Street, near the park. Plato Academy An old photograph of Fred Boissonnet on Rue Verangerou, taken in the 1910s, came to mind. neoclassical houses they radiated an air of urban tranquility that only wood can convey.

There is little greenery around the narrow streets of Akadimia Platonos and Kolonos, but there can be much more, filling the eyes and smelling the senses. This lonely tree on Telephanus Street I already considered a monument not only of Nature, but also of the city. Now I brought it into myself. I recently saw other equally majestic pines in different areas, such as the two pines of Demosthenes 56 and Canaris in Kallithea, and what can we say about the historical pines of Vasilisa Sophia in the heart of Athens, of which very little remains …

But even in Plato’s Academy, a few remaining old houses are trying to create a certain atmosphere. I confess that I stumbled upon several dilapidated houses, familiar to me from previous research, which I found in even worse condition. There is so much planned for this area, but the real, authentic, folk urban culture in the area has been left to fend for itself. If you walk along the main street of the Academy of Platonos, Platonos Street, then next to the square you will come across a rare example of regional architecture, which is falling into decay every year. This is number 154. I photographed it four years ago because I was attracted by its special morphology. The house is probably 1925-1930, eclectic, with a plaster shell under the parapet, as a reminder of the Baroque style in the popular area of ​​Athens. Today the house squinted, I saw how it decays and disappears. A little further, again on Platonos Street, a rare image of two houses at numbers 109 and 111 disappointed me too. I praised these two houses many years ago as a unique unit of real people’s houses. The redundant neoclassical front door on one of the two has now been stolen by gangs that have infested the area and replaced with cardboard. Such is the absence of any policy towards the old districts of Athens.

Of course, there are many that carry beautiful and even unexpected images, such as, for example, on Vasilikon Street. There is a house with lattice shutters – a figment of the imagination from some folk tale, passed down from generation to generation. At 41 Euclidou Street, the only magnificent door with bars has been preserved. Urban culture, devoid of authentic folk expression, has been eradicated for decades.

However, life goes on and indeed there are new residences that offer a good life. However, the atmosphere is absent, high value is created only by the mere word “platoon academy”. The bust of Plato stands alone, while the nearby park fills up on sunny days with dogs, children, and passers-by who want something better. These old districts are of great importance for Athens, they carry the truth. I know that the ruins I will face will be destroyed. However, the place continues in time. We, modern people, are responsible.