Gazi Factory, Athens

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The industrial chic cultural centre of Technopolis in Gazi represents the capital's turn towards
boosting contemporary architecture and art. The old gasworks building, dating from 1862, was converted into a complex of
buildings refurbished to house exhibitions, festivals and concerts. The main building’s slender chimney, beautifully illuminated
with red lights in the evening, has become a local landmark, while other features like the furnaces and cauldrons testify to the
industrial past of the area. Once a derelict working class village, the area of Gazi, known locally as Gazohori (village of Gazi) has
transformed into a busy and funky neighbourhood. The local annexe of Benaki Museum, home to all contemporary exhibitions,
is only a few blocks from the metro station of Keramikos, adding to the cultural profile of the area. Another interesting feature
of the area is the colourful graffiti painted by Brazilian artists Os Gemeos on the walls of the trolley depot station in Pireos street,
right across Technopolis.
Many rooms of the old industrial construction are now dedicate to famous artists like Antreas Empeirikos, Maria Kallas, Konstantinos Kavafis, etc. The whole industrial museum is special dedicated to great musician composer Manos Hatzidakis.

[Gazi area is now home to numerous gay and lesbian bars, clubs, cafeterias and restaurants, bar etc.]

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The Gazi, or to give it its proper name: "The City of Athens Technopolis", epitomises today's Athens as a city in the process of modernisation and is well worth a wander. This former industrial site and its surrounding neighbourhoods has been undergoing continual renovation since the 90's and is now one of the smarter areas of the city and has been the only place in Athens that I have managed to walk over 100 metres without having to detour around something: a rubbish skip in the middle of the pavement or a motor scooter chained to a tree...etc, etc.

The original factory buildings and gasometers have been stunningly transformed into artworks in their own right and are now home to a variety of workplaces, performance and exhibition spaces and even a cafe-bar, whilst still retaining their Industrial features. The Gazi comprises 8 main buildings named after Greek poets and has as its defining sculpure a piece entitled "The Millenium Globe" by Nikos - Yiorgos Papoustides.

Website below has a bit more onfo.

The Gazi (Gas) Factory was founded in 1857. It started functioning in 1862 and closed down its furnaces in August 1984. It was the last factory in Europe that was functioning in a traditional way until the day it closed. It was one of the first factories of the country, destined to produce the gas for lighting and later for heating the city.

Within its architectural space, one can see a real community, autonomous and self-reliant. The carpenter's shop, the melting-works, the machine-works, the garage for car repair, the restaurant, the barber-shop, the community clinic, were just some of the facilities offered by a well organized closed economy.

The complex has been completely restored by the City of Athens which is its owner. Today, the area of Gazi serves as an industrial park and is used as a cultural centre.

100, Pireos street
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The Gazi (Gaz) Factory was founded in 1857. It started functioning in 1862 and closed down its furnaces in August 1984. It was the last factory in Europe that was functioning in a traditional way until the day it closed.
Later it has been transformed into one of the top cultural centers of Athens.

Its many buildings, rooms, and outdoor areas host a variety of events, such as concerts, exhibitions (art, comic, multi-media, trash-art, etc.) and special screenings. Shows are listed on the Friday edition of the Athens News English-language weekly newspaper.

More pictures of my unusual walk in Gazi!