Building Restoration Timeline
November 15th 2011
Signing of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens’ between EMST and the construction company ACTOR.
October 14th 2010
Completion of the Design for the Architectural-Geometrical Plan of the existing condition of the Museum Building.
September 29th 2010
The Board of Directors of EMST decides upon a New Tender for the award of the Contract for the Project 'Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens' after the default declaration of the Contractor from the Project Contract.
July 15th 2010
Pursuant to n 5835 Decision of the Single-Member Court of First Instance of Athens, the Contractor’s Temporary Injunction against EMST is rejected and the default declaration of the Contractor from the Project Contract as well as the forfeiture of quarantees are confirmed.
In the framework of the Project Contract settlement, after the declaration of default of the Contractor, and the preparation of New Tender Issues for the construction of the Museum building, the Board of Directors of EMST decides to assign a Design for the Architectural-Geometrical Plan of the existing condition of the Museum Building.
June 30th 2010
Pursuant to the decision of the Board of Directors of EMST, a five-member Legal-technical Committee of consultative nature is designated in order to promote the procedures for the completion of the Museum Building and all relative legal issues.
January 18th 2010
Hearing of the Contractor’s Temporary Injunction against EMST, before the Single-Member Court of First Instance.
December 11th 2009
The Single-Member Court of First Instance Temporary Order, orders the suspension of the 5/11/2009 decision of the Board of EMST and non forfeiture of the Contractor’s guarantees.
December 4th 2009
The Contractor brings a Temporary Injunction to the Single-Member Court of First Instance against EMST, requesting the suspension of the 5/11/2009 decision of the Board of Directors of EMST, non forfeiture of the Contractor’s guarantees and Temporary Order.
December 1th 2009
The 5/11/2009 decision of the Board of Directors of EMST, which rejected the Contractor’s objection to the default declaration from the Project Contract, is notified to the Contractor.
October 9th 2009
The Contractor lodges an objection to the 1/10/2009 default declaration from the Project Contract.
October 1st 2009
The Project Manager declares the Contractor ‘defaulted’ from the 26/6/2007 Project Contract.
August 18th 2009
Pursuant to Article 5.6 of the General Obligations Agreement, a 'Special Call' is sent to the Contractor.
July 2009
Due to significant delay in the delivery of the Project, the Board of Directors of EMST, during the 21st July 2009 meeting, decides to send a ‘Special Call’ to the Contractor.
May 2008- August 2009
Tardy progress on the executed works of the Project by the Contractor. By the end of July 2009 the executed works represent less than 10% of the anticipated by the Contractual Issues.
November 25th 2008
A Supplementary Contract is signed between EMST and the Contractor. A 208-day extension is given to the Contractor for the completion of the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens’.
April 22th 2008 & May 08th 2008
Clean certificates are issued by Plinios A.E. Company.
February 29th 2008
Works for the removal of dangerous materials begin.
September 26th 2007
Works are ceased after Αsbestos is found in the building.
July 2007- September 2007
Preliminary works are held by the Contractor for his installation in the building site.
June 26th 2007
Signing of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens’ in a special ceremony, attended by the Minister of Culture Mr. Giorgos Voulgarakis.
The contractual time for the completion of the reconstruction works is two years, that is on the 25-06-2009.
June 5th 2007
Invitation to the lowest bidder of the Tender, the construction firm under the name BIOTER S.A. called hereinafter ‘the Contractor’, to sign the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens’.
May 2nd 2007
Pursuant to the Letter of the European Commission ‘at the present stage there is no sufficient clue to prove violation of the European Union law on Public Contracts, regarding the issues of the complaint’.
November 11th 2006
AKTOR S.A., the third lowest bidder construction firm, lodges a complaint to the European Commission against the Tender Procedure for the award of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens’.
October 4th 2006
Decision of the Single-Member Court of First Instance which rejects Temporary Injunction of the firm AKTOR S.A. Procedures for the construction of the Building are continued.
July 4th 2006
Hearing of the Temporary Injunction that AKTOR S.A. brought against the decision of the Board of Directors of EMST, according to which the construction firm BIOTER S.A. was pronounced temporary bidder of the Tender for the award of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens’.
June 2006
The Board of Directors of EMST declares the construction firm BIOTER S.A as the lowest bidder of the Tender and as the Contractor for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art’.
May 2006
Second Stage of the Tender for the award of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art’. The following 9 construction firms submit their financial offers: AKTOR S.A., EKTER S.A., BIOTER S.A., ATHENA S.A., ANASTILOTIKI S.A., MICHANIKI S.A., ERETVO S.A., EDRASI C. PSALLIDAS S.A., TERNA S.A.
February 22nd 2006
Decision of the Single-Member Court of First Instance of Athens which rejects the Temporary Injunction brought by the firm ENTECHNOS S.A. against the decision of the Board of Directors of EMST, according to which, ENTECHNOS S.A. is excluded from further procedure of the Tender for the award of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art’
January 12th 2006
Pursuant to the decision of the Board of Directors of EMST the following 10 construction firms are designated to participate in the Second Stage of the International Restricted Procedure Tender for the award of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art’: AKTOR S.A., J & P ABAX S.A., EDRASIS C. PSALLIDAS S.A., BIOTER S.A., ERETVO S.A, ATHENA S.A., ANASTILOTIKI S.A., MICHANIKI S.A., TERNA S.A., EKTER S.A.
November 2005
The Third Stage of the Architectural Design (Application Design) is submitted.
First Stage of the International Restricted Procedure Tender for the award of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art’. Submission of expression of interest folders by the following 15 construction firms: EKTER S.A, AKTOR S.A., J & P ABAX, EDRASIS C. PSALLIDAS S.A., BIOTER S.A., ENTECHNOS S.A., ERETVO S.A., ELTER S.A., MOCHLOS S.A., INTRAKAT S.A., ATHENA S.A., ANASTILOTIKI S.A., MICHANIKI S.A., GANTZOULAS S.A., TERNA S.A.
October 6th 2005
Invitation to International Tender (Restricted Procedure to be conducted in two stages) for the award of the Contract for the Project: ‘Construction of the National Museum of Contemporary Art’.
September 2005
The Second Stage of the Architectural Design (Final Design) is submitted.
March 2005
The First Stage of the Architectural Design (Initial Design) is submitted.
February 2005
Discourse upon the transformation of FIX building into exhibition space of EMST.
January 28th 2005
The National Museum of Contemporary Art presents an exhibition with the Special Preliminary Designs of the Tender for the award of the Contract for the Design of EMST.
December 13th 2004
The Design Development Contract is signed between EMST and the bidding partnership: ‘IOANNIS MOUZAKIS AND ASSOCIATES-ARCHITECTS LTD, STUDIES OF TECHNICAL PROJECTS, PAN. BABILIS AND ASSOCIATES LLC, INSTA’.
November 2003
Pursuant to the decision of the Tender Evaluation Committee, the first prize is awarded to the bidding partnership: ‘IOANNIS MOUZAKIS AND ASSOCIATES-ARCHITECTS LTD, STUDIES OF TECHNICAL PROJECTS, PAN. BABILIS AND ASSOCIATES LLC, INSTA’.
The Museum's Board of Directors approves the result of the Tender Procedure and awards the Contract for the Design of EMST to the first prize winner.
August 2003
Special Preliminary Designs are submitted by seven architectural firms.
December 19th 2002
Invitation to Architectural Tender (Restricted Procedure to be conducted in two stages) for the award of the Contract for the Design of EMST.
November 11th 2002
After an Open Tender Procedure, the ΕΜΣΤ assigns all necessary Project Management Services to a Project Management Firm under the name ‘Ellinotechniki S.A.’ to monitor and review the Design and the reconstruction of the Museum building. The process of recording the existing condition of the building begins, along with the planning of the Museum's building program.
ARCITECTS
3SK STYLIANIDIS ARCHITECTS
3SK Stylianidis Architects are based in Athens. They have realized projects of high specifications and they are active nationwide and abroad. The study group is based on creative deign and has great and acknowledged know-how of materials and construction. Their projects cover design as a whole: public buildings, cultural centres, theatres, museums, offices, shops, working spaces, banks, hotels and big tourist entitys as well as mansions, both individual and in complexes. The group has extensive experience in the construction of big projects which are particularly demanding, as far as time is concerned.
TIM RONALDS ARCHITECTS
Tim Ronalds Architects area renowned in Great Britain due to their many distinctions, as well as the high quality work they provide. The studio specializes in composite constructions and reconstructions of existing edifices: buildings for the arts, theatres and cultural centres. Some of their recent works are: The Landmark, a building - museum for a wider area in Ilfracombe comprising a theatre and a visitor's Pavilion ( RIBA, 1999), the Mick Jagger Arts Centre, the Brighton College Arts Centre ( 1st prize), the restoration and reconstruction of Hackney Empire Theatre, London, the new musical stage in Watford, Salisbury Cultural Centre e.a.
I.MOUZAKIS & ASSOCIATES-ARCHITECTS LTD STUDIES
I. Mouzakis & Associates-Architects Ltd Studies comprises of architects, who have worked together since 1972 providing architectural services in a wide typological range and large scale of building constructions. Its architects have great experience in composite and specialized projects both in the Public and private sectors, in every phase of study and realization of the undertaken works. Their experience covers the fields of Residence, Education, Industry, Office and Administration, Hospitals, Tourist and Sports Facilities, Solar Energy Applications, Research, Air stations.
The Architectural Design
On the banks of the river Ilissus (presently Kallirrois Avenue), just a little further from the fountain of Nymph Kallirroe, EMST comes to inhabit one of the most remarkable samples of Greek Modern Architecture, the old FIX brewery, a work of the architect Takis Zenetos. Something new is being born through such intercourse. The facades designed by Takis Zenetos on Syggrou and Frantzi are maintained. The two new views of the building reveal and restore the forgotten topography of Athens. The "section" of Ilissus, namely water, the river bed with the sedimentary bed rock as it has developed after such centuries- long subsidence, appears again, it "re-emerges" from the soil and is suspended as a giant "curtain"- within its folds the Museum exhibition spaces lie hidden. In is lower part and on the ground floor level, a water wall slides into the vacuum between the volume of the exhibition and the ground.
Today the FIX building "floats" amidst a sea of vehicles. A narrow pavement, which encircles it as far as the "wake of the boat" and the area of the Transit Station constitute its surrounding space. As it lacks in space outside, this is offered inside, within the interior. The Museum returns to the city what it has taken away: a foyer and a space of "epic" dimensions (almost 30 m high), which reveals perpendicularly in the interior of the building "the archaeological findings of the plot": Zenetos's view on Syggrou. From the top floor one can reach the first level of the chamber and hence move up to the Sculpture Gallery from the outdoor. The latter inhabits the "ground" of a garden-labyrinth, which reveals furtive views to selected points of Athens.
The Museum as an edifice is not a tabula rasa where it is unimportant whether one is in Helsinki, Barcelona or London. It is a significant element of the preservation of the city's collective memory. The past, as it is maintained in the Fix building cannot naturally be kept intact; if so it would be a Fix building museum. But the fact that the building has now been constructed to serve another purpose and is transformed into a Museum of contemporary art signifies that the space bears the memories of the period of its birth and it is hence enriched.