Fokionos Negri
Fokionos Negri is a linear square that reminds some of the old glamour and prestige of the Kypseli district.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
At the beginning of the 20th century, here was the Great Fountain, from where the water sellers, whose presence was important, especially in times of water scarcity, procured water.
1930 It was built on the Levidis stream, by the architect Vassilios Tsagris.
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
There used to be an islet with rich planting between 2 streams. This pattern has been preserved in the later configuration of the linear square that we see today, with two pedestrian streets on either side of the central green, which also includes sculptures and fountains. Fokionos Negri starts from Kypseli Square and ends at Ioannou Drosopoulou Street. It is considered the centre of Kypseli. This is indeed where most of the district’s activities are concentrated. The use of the square is timeless. Many people today go for shopping, drink coffee and eat. This is exactly what the Athenians of earlier times also did. Even today it resembles a Parisian boulevard with many cafes, restaurants, patisseries, traditional taverns and clothing and shoe stores. Of great architectural importance are many of the apartment buildings along the square, typical examples of modernism, such as the Lanaras apartment building.
What I can't see
The name of the square comes from the first Athenian president of the Academy of Athens and politician, Fokion Negris. It was a typical area of the “Athens bourgeois” of the mid-20th century, with many artists and movie stars frequenting here. It was a sought-after neighbourhood during the 1960s, with very expensive rents and many famous people, who made Fokionos Negri “fashionable”. Among the most famous stores were “Select”, “Quinta” and “Igloo”. Kypseli belongs to the most densely built regions of Europe. It suffered a huge decline during the 1980s. Many of the old residents of Kypseli moved to the northern suburbs and especially to Kifissia, because Kypseli became so densely built that Fokionos Negri was the only green space. During the 1990s, many Albanian immigrants and later Africans settled. Despite the problems of coexistence with the Greek residents, most immigrants made good use of empty buildings, which prevented the worst for the district. In recent years, the decline of the last decades has begun to reverse, regardless of obvious problems (eg, problematic sidewalks, buildings and roads, litter). Fokionos Negri and the Municipal Market of Kypseli “lead” this change.
Bibliography
Kerofylas G., (2008), Περπατώντας στους δρόμους της Αθήνας, (Walking in the streets of Athens), Philippoti Publication
Cade D., (2013), Αθήνα, η αλήθεια, αναζητώντας το Μάνο Χατζιδάκι λίγο πριν «σκάσει η φούσκα», [Athens, the truth, searching for Manos just before the “bubble burst”], Savvalas
