The Pritzker Prize–winning Italian architect, Renzo Piano, has added yet another spectacular feat in architecture to his portfolio.
He has completed a massive undertaking in Athens, Greece by transforming what was once used as a parking lot during the 2004 Olympics into what is now known as the brand-new and ever-popular Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
Piano created the new spectacular public park, complete with a library and a theater.
Located in Kallithea (which means “nice view” in Greek), the architect has brought back a sense of pride and innovation to the most densely populated suburb of Athens.
The 1.8 million-square-foot space will soon be the new home to the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera.
Originally started in 2008, the project had a budget of $660 million dollars donated by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which is named after the multi-billionaire Greek shipping tycoon.
Piano began his project by transforming the derelict parking area once used during the 2004 Olympics into an artificial hill. The structures that have been built on top of the hill have an amazing view of the Marina and Bay of Kallithea, which is just across the highway, and is linked for visitors to visit by an expanding bridge landscaped with herbs and olive trees.
“From our first observations, there emerged the idea that by raising the ground—with a slight slope and a progressive course—we could restore the beautiful view of Kallithea,” said Piano in a statement as reported by architecturaldigest.com.
The park that is built on the slope of the artificial hill reaches a height of 105 feet at its peak, where Piano installed solar panels that generate 2.5 megawatts of power which is enough energy to run the library during operational hours.
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