Labour houses of Finikas
The Labour houses of Finikas is a complex of modern architecture on the east of the city.
Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )
1960 Beginning of construction.
1962 Delivery to residents.
Ottoman era (1453- 1912)
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
In an area of 195 acres, east of the city, there is one of the symbols of modernization of post-war Greece. The Finikas labour residences housed former shack refugees, workers and Roma. The buildings are typical of the Workers’ Housing Organization apartments and are characterized by ergonomics, functionality and simple lines. The goal of the architect Ares Konstantinidis was the gathering of inhabitants around small natural spaces and the development of mild activities such as play, adult gatherings and finally the creation of small neighbourhoods, as it did happen. It is a socialist approach to public space. The settlement was planned to have all public facilities (e.g. schools, health centre, and church) at its centre, but only some of them were completed. Today, the interventions on the complex are many, in a residents’ effort to have a more comfortable living (e.g. semi-outdoor spaces, shelters, fences). Many objects, from older times, create a different atmosphere from that of modern everyday life.
What I can't see
The creation of the settlement was a state initiative and it housed 1,200 families. When the houses were handed over to the residents, they were unfinished and the location, which is on the outskirts of the city, was almost deserted. Today, the biggest event of the district is the festival of the 15th of August for which it is famous.
Bibliography
Kolonas V., (2012), Η αρχιτεκτονική μιας εκατονταετίας: Θεσσαλονίκη 1912-2012, [The architecture of a century: Thessaloniki 1912-2012] University Studio Press
Simeoforidou Y., (2018), Εργατικές κατοικίες Φοίνικα. Μακρινή γειτονιά, [Finikas Labour Houses. Distant neighbourhood], in Parallaxi,
https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki/ergatikes-katikies
Last visit 18/1/2020