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Upper Aristotelous square

The north side of the Aristotelous axis ends in the Upper Aristotelous square, which is similar to the southern side.

  1. Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )


    1950 It was constructed during this decade.

  2. Ottoman era (1453- 1912)


  3. Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)


  4. Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)


  5. Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)


  6. Classical era (478-323 BC)


  7. Archaic era (800-479 BC)


  8. Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)


  9. Prehistory (-1100 BC)


What I can see

This is the “sister” of Aristotelous Square. It has the same architectural logic as the whole Aristotelous axis, which combined local architecture and the international trends of the time, especially eclecticism, modernism and neo-Byzantinism. However, it does not work as a “plateau” like Aristotelous Square, as it has richer plantings. It serves as a functional square in the daily life of local citizens, as opposed to Aristotelous Square. It has various shops, but not restaurants or cafés to sit at. It also has an excellent view of the Thermaic Gulf and Mount Olympus.

What I can't see

The square would have had a more important role in the city if the Hebrard Committee’s urban plan had been implemented in its entirety after the devastating Thessaloniki fire in 1917. The plan was not completed because of pressure from special interest groups combined with the rapid population increase due to the influx of refugees in 1922 and the rise of post-war urbanism. The Hebrard plan included the geometric engraving of wide streets, as opposed to the anarchic alleys of the old town before the fire. It divided the city into zones, referring to a Taylor production model, but also sought to create a historic and political centre by highlighting monuments, creating squares and green zones, and preserving some traditional uses.

Bibliography

Yerolympos A., (1996), Urban Transformations in the Balkans (1820-1920), Aspects of Balkan Town Planning and the Remaking of Thessaloniki, University Studio Press.

 

Yerolympos Karadimos A., (1997), Πυρκαγιά  του ΄17 και ανασχεδιασμός, [Fire of 1917 and redesign], in Liontis K., (1997) (επ), Αρχιτεκτονική της Θεσσαλονίκης, [Architecture in Thessaloniki] in Epta Imeres, Kathimerini, p. 23-26

 

Yerolympos A., (2013), Η ανάδυση της σύγχρονης Θεσσαλονίκης, ιστορίες, πρόσωπα, τοπία, [The emergence of modern Thessaloniki, stories, faces, landscapes] University Studio Press

 

Dordanas S.N. (2015), Ο εχθρός προ των πυλών: η Θεσσαλονίκη ως διακύβευμα κατά τον Α΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, [The enemy at the gates: Thessaloniki at stake during World War I], in Kairidis D. (2015), (επ), Θεσσαλονίκη, μια πόλη σε μετάβαση, 1912- 2012, [Thessaloniki, a city in transition, 1912-2012], OFF, PEEV, Νavarino Network, Epikentro, p. 244- 255

 

Kostoglou Β., Mitsi Ε., (d.u.), Πολεδομικοί Μετασχηματισμοί της Θεσσαλονίκηςαναζητώντας ταυτότητα, [Urban Transformations of Thessaloniki – seeking identity] in greekarchitects.