Omonia Square

What I can see

Omonia Square is one of Athen’s main squares and a meeting point for different social groups. It has a bad reputation for being a place where marginalized groups gather. The square is interesting not only because of its social diversity, but also for the early and mid-20^th century buildings that surround it. Ever since the 19^th century, many hotels have operated here, as well as in the nearby neighbourhood of Chafteia, because it was an arrival point for visitors from other parts of Greece as well as for foreign tourists. Until the most recent renovation, many immigrants and others from marginalized groups frequented the square. This renovation, however, did not include any benches in the square, and the fountain itself is designed so the water cannot be easily approached and the rim of the fountain has no space for sitting. For this reason the design-which was not implemented with the appropriate procedures-has been characterized by many residents and architects as Instagram-friendly, but at the same time racist.

What I can't see

The presence of socially marginalized groups in this area is not a new phenomenon but has been going on for several decades. As noted by Sarigiannis (1994), the square has witnessed a “dramatic struggle between the bourgeois Athens of Syntagma and the working areas in the south and southwest of Omonia Square”. When Athens became the capital, this area was the northern border of the city. There were agricultural fields nearby, and two streams – those of Stadiou and Panepistimiou Streets – passed through it. In the original urban plan, designed in the first half of the 19^th century, the palace was planned to be built here, which was eventually cancelled. The design of the palace in Omonia had a neoclassical philosophy, with Pireos, Stadiou and Ermou streets creating a symmetrical triangle. After it eventually became a square, the first renovation overwhelmed the area, by giving it a circular shape and adding fencing. Since then, the square has undergone seven major revamps. The square has been a point of political conflict, a place of shaming for both guerrillas during the civil war, and young people (known as teddy boys) who did not follow the norms of the post-war era. Today, it is mainly a meeting point for demonstrations, political gatherings, or celebrations when something pleasant happens (e.g. winning the European Football Championship in 2004).

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