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History of Gazi

 


Technopolis
History of Gazi

 


The Athenian factory of the French Gas Company was founded in 1857, the time when the industrial revolution began to emerge in the newly established Greek State, which was merely three decades old.

A decree granted Fragiskos Feraldis the right to found and develop the gas factory for the lighting of the city. The site chosen was on the main road to Piraeus. In the plans drawn up by Kleanthes and Schaubert in 1833 (the original city plan) this site was to have been the location of Kekrops Square while, in the 1834 plan, prepared by von Klentze, it was designed to host the Royal Palaces. Later development in the wider area around the gasworks led to Pireos Street becoming one of the capital city's main industrial areas.

The Gazi factoryThe factory's construction and operation followed four phases:

- 1862-1887: the first buildings were created (gas rooms for storage,
  chimneys, a cleaning room, water deposits, store-rooms and the
  director's residence) and machines, such as distillation ovens, were
  put in place.

- 1887-1920: the need for use of gas was expanding. Besides public lighting of streets, homes and
  industries were added to gas users. At the same time, the factory expanded in view of the
  Olympic Games in 1896. A new chimney was constructed and a line of ovens, two gas-rooms as
  well as buildings for use by workers (lockers room, baths, barbershop etc.) were added which
  gave the place its current form and shape.

The courtyard of Gazi in earlier days- 1920-1952: German technology was introduced for quality
  improvement of the gas, a new production unit was added and a third
  chimney was constructed. At the same time pioneering  technology
  for water-gas production was introduced. Upon expiry of the contract
  of the French company, the factory was ceded (1938) to the
  Municipality of Athens and became the Public Gas Enterprise of
  Athens (DEFA).

- 1952-1984: despite the city's reconstruction, in the ' 60s, the factory fell into disuse, as the type
  of energy produced in it was considered obsolete. In 1983 gas production from coal was
  discontinued and the network was connected to the Greek Refineries of Aspropirgos. One year
  later the factory's operation was completely suspended partly because of the pollution produced
  but mainly due to its location in the center of Athens, near the Acropolis.

Today, the Gazi site is a living museum of industrial archaeology and architecture as well as a source of inspiration for various branches of science and art.

  

 
  WHAT TO SEE IN ATHENS
  TECHNOPOLIS (GAZI)
  THE HISTORY OF GAZI
  HALLS AND BUILDINGS

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