How Athens Became a Modern Metropolis

Is Athens the ugliest city in Europe? It seems many locals and tourists alike think so. But I beg to differ. Let's find out why Athens might be misunderstood.
'The Athens Urbanist' Episode 3 of 6. Watch the next episode: • How Athens Survived Ne...
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[@UrbanistExploringCities]

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[@Rousseau4469]

Athens can be transformed to a more livable and nicer city if it starts a plan to construct small parks and making them by tearing down squares with very old polykatoikies complexes. Also in some suburbs you can notice there are much lower complexes of polykatoikies with only 3 or 4 floors that have very large balconies which host huge amounts of plants or even small trees or fauna or even boumgamvillias which literally make the outside be hidden by them. Also somewhere in the city center there is an architect that owns the top 2 apartment and has transformed the terrace to a greenhouse. In my hometown of Pireas there is a building of polykatoikia that has managed to grow plants that run down it's walls and gives the feeling of a huge jungle obstacle. It's on Kountouriotou 178 street a bit before Mpoumpoulinas (the road that crosses vertical Kountouriotou). maps.app.goo.gl/AgFBHF2JkMAdBsyQ7?g_st=ic

[@SofronPolitis]

I once told an English friend that I hate Athens because it is ugly, he replied that he loves Athens because it is "honest"...which struck me as a very interesting description.

[@goatsinoflust7116]

wow you just struck an athenian as well bro , it is true ,we don't try to hide our pathogenesis nor our happiness. Athens is a mirror of our politcs and daylife

[@Fiaw1]

Athens is an ugly city, no matter how you dress it up.

[@lorrainevlambert]

Athens has many pockets of beauty, all over the city.... look and you will find them.

[@demetriosnikolianos1912]

@@Fiaw1 Indeed

[@LProfessorSuBassStudio]

@@Fiaw1 so ugly that is has Acropolis in the city center.

[@marshallc.t.2554]

The fact that commercial and residential areas are mixed and not seperate makes greek cities very lively and it’s a great concept!

[@joenuts5167]

Concept? That was the normal way of doing things until the druggies Americans decided that it should not be so

[@samdaniels2]

That’s the norm for most of the world. Strict zoning laws seem to be something that is unique to the US.

[@ucouldnevah]

that’s literally what the WHOLE of Europe looks like😅

[@marshallc.t.2554]

@@ucouldnevah I know

[@Patches_0001]

That’s just all European cities

[@yanni2737]

The problem of Athens isn't the polykatikies but the general state of the urban environment. By that I mean, the quality of communal spaces (pavements, road infrastructure, bike infrastructure) the lack of maintenance of both the buildings and spaces and of course the lack of basic hygiene.

[@ane-louisestampe7939]

Agree. The mix of the people living close together is very good for a society's dynamics... says a Nordic 😉 We talk about a socity's "connection power" (sammenhængskraft). We need to connect with people different from our selves. Sharing a staircase is an excellent way of attaining that. You can't hate all rich people, all immigrants, all doctors, all workers, if you know some of them 🥰

[@itzelouise8714]

@@ane-louisestampe7939 excellent point 👏

[@pwp8737]

I lived in Athens for four years back in the '90's, and have very fond memories. I fell in love with the city. Hidden alleyways, with cafes, bars and nightclubs. Charming neighborhoods, very livable, and always a bakery, a periptero ( a newsstand, but much more), a bakaliko and kafeneio always close by. My biggest complaint was its people who often didn't show much pride in the city and dumped garbage everywhere. Greeks I found very anarchic, never obeying rules.

[@skagon_]

You hit the nail on the head with your last comment. Greeks are by nature anarchists. This is the best explanation, also why we got rid of royalty, and a lot of prominent politicians. Even in ancient Greece, and up until today, us Greeks are against any form of authority. A blessing and a curse, really. But that's how it is.

[@andreasbalaskas7292]

From Ireland. Your video has its [+ / -], when it comes (2) evaluate and appreciate after a point all the "good looking resident buildings" vs neo classical or Victorian era, from all point of views. If you ask some1, 2day who is on their mid (45 - 50 +) years old, born late - early (60's - 70's), they reply you that, I caught Athens (2) see built with all that massive concrete last century. And after half century, I have use the whole idea "2 see the beauty of ugliness on these buildings". The good thing is that, the graffiti we see all around, cover some (50% - 60%) all the ugliness of Athens, as capital. You walked in neighbourhoods with shops totally closed and full with graffiti, how did you felt??? Personally, I don't know any capital city around the globe without graffiti. 1st) The wrong thing with buildings in Athens, is that, are built with such unique way [that time, last century]. And don't allow you (2) questioning, that, Athens had, has and will continue have such serious problems on the topic of buildings, because no1 really cares. During your video, you should ask locals, from all walks of life and all social background, how really feel on this topic??

[@Gk-ug6gu]

​@@skagon_Exactly! Very few can understand this.

[@sars6224]

@@skagon_ There is for sure anarchy into us but not for the reasons you write. During antiquity and Roman empire ages we were completely pro authority and loyal to the state. We became anarchic during the occupation of the Ottomans as disregard of authority and disloyalty to it was the only way to survive.

[@kostantismp3704]

about your last comment, its in our nature, free spirits hahahaxaxa

[@vndevries]

Ok, I think this is my first comment ever on youtube. I just moved to Athens after years all over the world, including NYC, Shanghai and Dubai. It's an overwhelmingly ugly city that is full of beauty. You captured it so well. There's a story about dog and cat cities - a dog city being a place like Amsterdam - it comes to you. A cat city being a place like Athens (or Beirut or Tehran)....you need to explore and see the beauty. Athens is full of life, love, culture, & energy. There's ugliness everywhere. There's beauty everywhere. You just have to look. Love Athens.

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

Hey I appreciate you commenting and watching the video! And I totally understand what you mean by dog and cat cities. Yea Athens beauty isn’t obvious and takes more digging and flowing with the chaos

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

There are cities that look beautiful both from above and from low and inside and out. There are other cities that at first sight seem below average but in wandering through them you find a lot of beauty. Athens belongs to the second category. It is a very special one that looks like no other, it has its uniqueness and while it looks ugly, if you live it you will love it. It has a huge history, high level culture, concentrated market and entertainment, good food, helpful people, good climate, good prices. Of course, there are negative points too. Certainly is not the ugliest in Europe. That is for sure!

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

And very friendly for the tourist and the foreigner. Because I have been in manny European cities where you have to pay a fortune to drink a glass of water, you will die from starvation if you don't speak their language. In Athens you will find the Hellenic (Greek) red cross to deliver free water to the walkers, in summer. Most of the Greeks are hospitable and you can communicate with them in basic or advanced English. They do not oblige you to speak in Greek. There are many good sides of Athens that you will not find in many ""beautiful European cities""". And I am the one who has been traveling to more than 20 European cities out of Greece. Have a nice time.

[@altrogeruvah]

I'm Greek and my wife's Japanese. I used to dread visiting Athens as a child, but seeing my wife's unfiltered love for Athens (and Greece in general) and asking me to visit whenever we can, I learned to appreciate the small things in this city. The small cafes and mom-and-pop stores in Plaka, Anafiotika, Thiseio, Koukaki etc, young and old people making the most of what they have with a smile on their face, always open for banter etc. I've lived in so many countries in my life so far, but every time I come back to Athens, I feel at home. Even though I know it's a piece of crap of a city, it's *_my_* piece of crap and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[@DaGo314]

Well, I think Greece should have modernize their fundamentals from their magnificent structures like the Parthenon or the Olimpia Zeus Temple. The founder fathers of the US had an open love for Roman and Greek architecture.

[@Phosphoreus]

I’ve been to hundreds of cities and take offense at you calling it that.

[@KujieSama]

​@@Phosphoreusoh? And how do you call a city filled with trash and graffiti EVERYWHERE? With broken sidewalks and streets? With zero consideration for bikers and people with disabilities? With next to zero green? With no respect from drivers to pedestrians and vice versa? With so many uncontrollable motorcycles which defy the laws about sounds? I could go on and on about "precious" Athens. Βρωμιά και σαπίλα, αυτό είναι.

[@carlitoxb110]

I understand you bro, I feel the same for my city, Bogotá Colombia is a massive and diverse mess that somehow makes sense and has a unique vibe I haven't found anywhere else, we have big issues but im proud of what we've build, my city is usually called the Athens of South America because we have lots of museums and libraries

[@alejandromartinezcorredor6493]

It most b

[@Hectorsanchez12331]

I'm watching while tears coming from my eyes. God.... I missed Athens so much. Athens: Ugly at first sight and so lovely and beautiful after you getting know it. Ariel my friend, your approach is also so unique. So simple and so pure at the same time. Talking with the locals with such a friendly conversation. And they are opening their hearts... I don't have another word to discribe it. done again my friend!!!

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

this right here is the comment of the week! this means so much. I'm glad this episode has moved you so much. I developed a similar emotional connection with Athens. And that means so much about this comment, about my approach being simple and pure. I definitely found it powerful to let people feel calm and safe to express themselves freely.

[@GothPaoki]

No it's still ugly after the first sight.

[@Hectorsanchez12331]

@@GothPaoki Call doctor Kevorkian

[@Dav23614]

@@Hectorsanchez12331 😅😅😅👍

[@Konsiliop]

@@GothPaoki That's the problem with Greeks, we can't appreciate anything we have until we lose it. Is it smart? i don't think so, but it is what it is.......Unfortunately.

[@JohnYannoulas]

"Why do Athenians hate Athens?" I really don't want to come off as condescending, but I see the same attitude in many passerbys that have this removed, academic interest in this topic, and this romanticized idea of a city, divorced from its lived reality as an inhabitant. You can interview a lot of bon viveurs, urbanites, or professors, basically high-middle to high class citizens that will say the situation is not really this bad. Well, to understand their point of view, you need to see the polykatoikia as the scale model of social inequality that it is. When it pours, the top floor tenants can enjoy a hot chocolate inside, an almost impressionistic view of the city in the haze, through a window adorned by shiny raindrops. Meanwhile the basement dwellers fear an imminent flood, due to the terrible infastructure, that will turn their possessions into moldy trash and their spaces into even more putrid catacombs. You can take thee bus to the sea, yes. You will also suffer through endless traffic in the hot sun, to reach a riviera infested with private beaches that cut off a lot of working class people with their entrance fees, and of course terribly polluted water. And enjoying the view of dilapidated buildings is not quite the same as living in them, where absent soundproofing and faulty construction make the entire place a noisy (and quite cold in the winter), space. Soaring rents don't make it any more romantic either. Having immigrants live in the darkest recesses of these structures or in lower income areas is not an element of cultural pluralism, its just another layer of cement that keeps them out of sight and out of mind so the more xenophobic parts of our society can feel at ease. You can't really feel this guttural disgust for the mess that is Athens if you haven't sufficiently tripped on its wrecked pavements, slipped on its time-eaten marbles, woken up to the smell of fresh sewage in your hot, street level apartment, seen the corpses of hundreds of neoclassicals that await to become banks and Zara outlets instead of housing the poor and homeless, and I could go on.

[@henrico6973]

Great take on some aspects of this video, those aspects you mention often go unnoticed when watching a video like this.

[@Gafigglethorp]

Very good comment. The flight of the middle and upper classes to the suburbs, leaving their downtown properties behind to become rented and increasingly dilapidated and unrepaired also wasn't really addressed. But i think the urban fabric of central Athens can be salvaged because of the traits talked about in the video. Transit is imperative because there is literally No parking on the streets of central Athens for even one car per apartment, let alone several, and no mayoral candidate is going to (openly) advocate bulldozing everything to make car parks, unlike in lots of the suburbs (mine included). The real battle is definitely against all these urbanites and/or tourists rediscovering how this is a great place to live if we fix it, then skyrocketing rents in response; essentially just gentrification, and sending the poor into increasingly segregated ghettos or far flung suburbs. Even the examples he gives in the video (Kolonaki, Koukaki, Kerameikos) are informed by a touristy, trendy perspective of the city. EDIT: apparently the next episode in the series is much more about what I'm talking about haha

[@alanpotter8680]

From my 25 years of experience in Athens since the day I was born, I have YET to see an Athenian who hates Athens. Astorian Athenians cry when they land on the airport. American tourist swear by the beauty of the city, Europeans flock every single year, Italians move to Greece.. (and that one is saying something!) ... Nobody hates Athens, especially not the Athenians, L.O.L.! If anything, we are proud of it. It's our baby, we raise it as well as we can. No other major capital of such magnitude or higher is better looking .. we all have our shit going on.

[@Gafigglethorp]

@@alanpotter8680 with all due respect, the Greek American experience is not the same as that of people "back home". Obviously returning back to where you grew up has a certain element of nostalgia and rose tinted glasses. Personally I love Athens, but i moved here at 15. I know plenty of young and old Athenians who genuinely hate it and would do (and many actually do) anything to leave. Whether for reasons specific to Athens or because they hate big city living, its not for everyone.

[@JohnYannoulas]

@@alanpotter8680 Lol spotted the kolonaki elitist

[@CrushedFemur]

I can understand why Athenians may dislike the polykatokias. But as an outsider it does have so much more character than the apartments I see built in my city in the US. It's less cold and distant, it has an inviting feeling. I also think it actually does look incredibly nice. Of course this is just an outsiders perspective

[@gaarakabuto1]

Wait until you live inside of one. To be fair the apartment buildings (polykatikoies), are not the worst thing ever, BUT it is another bad thing added into a pile. Also not all of these apartment buildings are terrible to live in, but they are associated with compromise.

[@gdb524]

I'm really surprised to hear there's so much contempt for Athen's architecture. I consider Athens much more pleasant than Stockholm for example, which is a pretty but very sterile wax figure of a city.

[@keksimusultimus4257]

wait until you go to sleep and you have to listen to EVERYTHING. the problem is there's 0 soundproofing whatsoever you can hear your neighboor breath almost. This is what makes them terrible.

[@nickklavdianos5136]

Couple of notes here: The big problem with Athens is that it's a very modern city. Now, I understand it can sound crazy to call Athens, a city that has been around since the Bronze Age, new, but the fact of the matter is that during the years of the Eastern Roman and Ottoman Empires, Athens massively regressed as a settlement, to the point that when it became capital of the newly independent Greece, in the 1830s, it was just a village around the Acropolis. There are some really funny photos from back then, were you can see the Acropolis, a few houses and the King's palace (now the Greek parliament), which looks enormous compared to the houses around. Athens became a large city during the late 19th and throughout the 20th century, when people from the rest of Greece kept moving in the increasingly bustling capital. But the fact that Athens is so new, makes the city lack the beautiful and picturesque medieval center, associated with most large cities in Europe, as well as the more modern but still old buildings of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. So, all the buildings that make cities like Amsterdam, Zurich, Prague, Vienna and Budapest beautiful, are nowhere to be found in Athens. Another point is that all these beautiful buildings, tend to be generally expensive to build. And Greece is really not that rich of a country. Now, the emergence of the polykatikoia happened for one big reason. Money. You see, during the 60s and the 70s, when a good amount of these buildings were erected, Greeks were, you guessed it, not doing very well economically. So, the moment people got the chance to sell their single or two floor houses to build five or six, or even seven story polykatikies, they did it immediately. (The way this worked was that the contractor that built the polykatikoia paid the money to build it and could sell most of the apartments. The owner of the land got a few apartments themselves, for their own use and to rent out for passive income.) The problem was, that these contractors didn't really care to make the building look beautiful, leave space for greenery etc. They cared to maximize space and height so that they could get as many apartments out of it as possible. So you end up with buildings that are ugly, that are jam packed together, most of the time don't offer adequate parking space, and are tall enough that when you walk in narrow streets, you feel suffocated. Plus, there's very few trees and other green areas like parks etc. Another big thing is that these buildings usually aren't kept very well on their outside, so a lot of the time they can look ugly and a bit decrepit. And because most buildings are greyish, it creates a depressing feeling around them. I like to joke that we built communist architecture in a capitalist country, so the buildings are equally ugly and depressing, and they also lack all the good features of the communist buildings, like the fact that they are built at some distance from the road so that people don't suffocate, that they leave space for greenery, and that they have incorporated parks inside and around them, something that Greek cities lack.

[@GothPaoki]

Unfortunately that's the least of Athens problem. City is too big and too chaotic. Too many people in it and complete lack of city planning

[@user-mf4pr8td3b]

Athens feels extremely similar to Beirut. A concrete jungle with very little greenery left. The vibes feel a lot alike where you feel it is chaotic and ugly, yet interesting and charming oftentimes when moving from a place to another.

[@AlihanGurpinar]

Yes, it both looks like a concrete jungle. But Athens road layout is much more neat compared to Beirut.

[@SathyaswamyS]

Better than Indian cities

[@hamlet557]

If Beirut was safe for a solo female, I'd have already visited it. And I'm pretty sure I'd love it.

[@erosgritti5171]

it is an objectively ugly city, but this does not mean that it does not have its charm.

[@dimitrioschoulis1190]

@@erosgritti5171 The most ugly cities in Europe are in Sicily. Catania and Palermo, especially Catania.

[@AALavdas]

My family has been living in Athens since the late 19th century. The ugliest European capital - well, maybe, although it has many nice parts. But the ugliest city??? Who says that? Even Greece itself has many uglier cities... As for the apartment buildings ("polykatoikies"), it depends on which ones. Those built before 1960, and even more so before 1940, are really nice. The only problem with those is when they replaced a neoclassical or other older building. But, post 1960, these are ranging from boring to ugly. Also, before 1960, the apartment building was THE building of choice for higher incomes. (The refugees of the Asia Minor disaster were not housed in central Athens, but in peripheral settlements). But, after 1960, more and more apartment buildings for lower income niches were built. A problem with this otherwise interesting video is that it does not make this distinction at all, and it also rarely shows any beautiful buildings, it is as if it is focused on ugliness.. A lot of delapidation, graffiti and exposed side walls in most images. Speaking with Nikos was brilliant, very few people know the city and care about it like Nikos does. His remarks are spot-on.

[@MariawithCats75]

THANK YOU! You are totally right. Kolonos' buildings are not the average in Athens and the intro of the video only shows kolonos... What about the cute buildings at Lykabettus, Faliro, Glyfada, Kolonaki etc etc...??

[@AALavdas]

@@MariawithCats75 To be fair, it does have some nice views - glimpses of Panepistimiou, St Dionysius in Skoufa in Kolonaki, St George square in Kypseli...but they are few and far between

[@Dominic-tq6dw]

Thats Exaclty what happened in Italy too

[@myt-mat-mil-mit-met-com-trol]

As a former resident of Athens center, that is when I was in my 20s and it was the 1990s, and the center was not so renovated as now, I did not care much of the architecture. I liked the way people meet in the same block and neighborhood: students, intellectuals and uneducated, young and old, rich and poor, even drivers and pedestrians. I could see my society in a glance, not just my community. This video brought me the insight I never thought for myself, and that's brilliant (and congratulations for). That time, Athens center was even more vibrant in this sense and I was a young man and I wanted to know people and things. Now as I grow older, I realize Athens is mostly impractical. You have to go to places, and that's not quick, there are still a lot to be done for public transport. You have to work and you commute, and that's expensive in time and money. You have to raise children and you have to feel they are safe; you cannot just keep them at home playing video games, neither you should expose them to dangers on the streets. There is the pedestrian warfare, people and vehicles cramped. It is not impossible to grow up in Athens, the contrary, but it is as difficult, and I notice "city people" becoming more individualistic. Athens made it because water, electricity, sewage, internet and the urban facilities made it in quality. That was a miracle. But fuel, energy and maintenance of infrastructure are costly considerations. So, Athens may not be ugly and appear mesmerizing to the visitor. But residents have a point of being not satisfied in comparison to a planned architecture.

[@viciouslady1340]

The metros are expanding so thats good

[@MrSebfrench76]

I have beautiful memories of Athens in 1992 .Spent 15 days in the city, riding a 200 CC Vespa . Trafic was anarchic, the air was suffocating, streets were dirty, and many buildings were decaying. But, gosh, how i felt alive....I was where everything is born.

[@TalkingPoint773]

What drugs were you taking then?

[@Flamethrower2579]

I really do feel like polykatokias are an optimal form of building at least for southern European cities. In Palermo, the areas with polykatokia-like buildings are usually considered to be good neighborhoods, whilst areas with apartment buildings that look like more those of central and northern Europe with big green open spaces between them are usually very degraded.

[@Fiaw1]

It's depressing to compare the aesthetics of other European cities to Athens. Athens is hideous. The buildings are ugly, and the graffiti is EVERYWHERE. No matter which way you or this youtuber tries to dress it up, it's ugly to any visitor that is touring around Europe.

[@giogisimos]

@@Fiaw1 No it is only ugly for you. Stop trying to push your opinion as if it is some objective reality. Athens is amongst the most lively, aesthetic and interesting cities in Europe.

[@Fiaw1]

@giogisimos I mean, I've lived in Greece for 13 years, and i love the country and people. Athens, however, is a shthole no matter how you spin it. The people are less Greek (kind), and the city is an unorganized mess and looks horribly ugly. These aren't opinions. These are facts, and the vast majority of Greeks agree with me. You sound like a Greek American who goes to Greece on holidays because Greeks generally dont act like you. Defending the indefensible. Greeks are self critical, and call a spade a spade when they see one. They dont make everything an emotional argument but are instead pragmatic. If you meet a woman, and she is 400lb, and nothing on her face is symmetrical nor matches, but when you look very closely, she has nicely shaped ears, she is still ugly. it's not an opinion, It is a fact. Are there noce places in Athens? Sure, I've lived it. I've been to all of them. Is Athens still a disorganized ugly city? Sure is.

[@pelagaki97]

I am not sure if densely build neighborhoods are less degraded. It depends on many factors However, when i walk in these areas in greece they tend to seem more crowded with pedestrians and make me feel safe.

[@Fiaw1]

@giogisimos Yeah, okay, i guess beauty is subjective? Do you find beauty also in a pile of cow dung?

[@CM73878]

It’s charming in its chaos. I love wandering around Athens and trying to live like a local. The best places are off the tourist track, like any big city. It is ugly and beautiful at the same time. But the weather and warmth of the people are undeniable.

[@gmeachim3270]

Greeks can be very warm but at the same time the rudeness and aggressiveness on the roads is appalling.

[@viciouslady1340]

Its the graffiti that pisses me off ,I remember the first time I saw the polytechnic in the 80s 😳 I grew up in Canada but my parents are Greek so visited regularly and the graffiti really taints the beauty. When mentioning graffiti I m not talking about artistic murals

[@nyenyere]

Well you cannot really have artistic murals without the graffiti, it's part of the same culture.

[@viciouslady1340]

@nyenyere fortunately than is not true I ve lived in 2 major cities in Canada that have beautiful murals and businesses, residents and the city will remove much of the nuicance graffiti. When my friend from Greece visited here they were shocked how clean it was , of course we have our skid rows that are pretty bad but those are not representstive of the city.

[@lrosemaije1995]

In 2019 I had the privilege to live in Athens and I loved every bit of it. Even tho I had a very small salary, I had the best time of my life. The buildings, the atmosphere, everything. I lived in Voula and Agia Varvara and the most beautiful part is that I met the love of my life which I’m still together with. So I’m forever grateful to Athens and it has a special place in my heart.

[@nicolebaab]

This is another great episode! I learned a lot. You’re doing such a great job with your first documentary series ❤️

[@Atenejin]

Very interesting and informative video. Put it simply: Greeks who have traveled or lived overseas get to appreciate the aesthetics and practicality of the polykatoikia. Now, could Athens be built differently? Could we have huge high-rise buildings like in Miami, Tokyo or London? Definitely not. Could we preserve the Neo-classical architecture of the early 20th century? Perhaps, but only if we didn't have to accommodate this influx of population after the Minor Asia Campaign, the Civil War and the urbanism of late '50s to early 70s. Greeks should learn to accept and love their polykatoikias and finds ways to decorate them. Paint the exterior, decorate them with plants, keep them clean and well maintained... Yes, there are ways to make them beautiful.

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video! And I agree there’s many ways that Athens current structures can be improved

[@user-xv9vn9si4g]

What a great take an a busy metropolis that is so chaotic, yet so orderly, so lively across all neighborhoods, so warm and communal. The mix of all people regardless of financial status! Great approach Ariel.

[@gmeachim3270]

In what way is it orderly? I'm curious, not being sarcastic.

[@user-xv9vn9si4g]

It becomes orderly by the people who despite what seems chaotic they adapt and find their way through to meet their needs. It seems chaotic to an outsider but locals find their ways and adjust accordingly.

[@gmeachim3270]

@@user-xv9vn9si4g I lived there for 2 and a half years. I didn't find it orderly.

[@cindygreif3077]

This was so interesting and educational. Well done! I love how you erase the opening credits with yourself!

[@lisapa297]

Great vid!! Been watching your Athens series, can't wait for the next one!! Keep up the good work!!

[@batnayanineveh6082]

This was super informative and well put together. Thank you Ariel and team !

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

I'm so happy you enjoyed this! thanks for watching :D

[@fawnmarie2679]

What I love about this episode, and all your content, are all the different view points you dish out to us. You are absolutely spot on with the ideas you showed us about architecture. "People dont admire what they have. They admire what they miss." Was that how it went? At any rate, fabulous and again so happy for where you are going. Followed you for years. Some of my favorite youtube videos are when your Dad would drive you from place to place in your old hood!!! Loved that!! Congrats ✌

[@maritkjn505]

I love that qoute ♥

[@kerrieb07]

I was in Athens in December for the first time. I love that city. I love the community of people. I enjoyed being able to walk and explore the city. I can't wait to go back. Thanks for doing this video. Made me feel I was back in Athens.❤

[@demetriosarcolakis4821]

If you are a tourist it's nice, if you are a citizen everyday life is a hell

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

​@@demetriosarcolakis4821not really! I am a Greek living in Athens and I find it very charming. Depends on the person...

[@supanyc]

I very much enjoyed watching this latest episode. Learned a lot. The visuals are wonderful too.

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

yay! I'm glad the visuals were able to convey the look of Athens 🙏

[@supanyc]

Also, the PoroCity concept by Maria & Katarina is so interesting. I can imagine something like that here in Bushwick!

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

@@supanyc yes agreed, this style of building can really work in Bushwick! :D

[@malamatinas1]

@@UrbanistExploringCities another great video! Have you ever been to Thessaloniki? It’s the second biggest city in Greece and my hometown! I highly recommend checking it out if you have the time.

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

⁠@@malamatinas1yea I have videos on Thessaloniki in this channel, they are from 2021. But I do hope to visit again soon!

[@steliosthemelakis9899]

you have done a wonderful job in these series, it definitely deserves a lot of views.

[@wendym5137]

Yay, wow, so interesting on the history/architecture. I never knew! thanks for the wonderful insight ✨️

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

yay!! thank you so much for watching this look into architecture history :D

[@user-yc3pb1ij7g]

Athens isn't ugly except for some uninspiring neighborhoods like Ano/Kato Liosia, Agioi Anargyroi, etc. It's just very compact, crowded, and there are lot's of bipedal apes that can ruin your mood.

[@daveexploring4512]

Well done Ariel and the team on putting together another informative and entertaining perspective of Athens and it's urbanisation.

[@KCH55]

I think that they're still missing something like yeah those plans are wonderful but they're in essence recreating what's already there. This is fine for restoration purposes however I think what's missing is parks, garden squares/ garden centers. This is the same problem in New York City is the lack of garden squares. Another thing is it has a lot of exposed wiring which gives it the feeling of not being very safe. Another thing is it's a limit of size since the stories have a limit. What I do like about it is I love balconies, not everybody thinks of balconies necessary but they do give spaces for people outdoors. Yes, there's greenery from the balconies but those are private. They're not public and that's what it lacks. Parks are public spaces of gathering, but allow people to be immersed in nature or garden spaces.

[@suemcleavy2571]

Ariel, this episode I thought I’d like the least, but so far I have loved the most. You brought the humanism of the city and, dare I say, beauty of a city I was hard pressed to see the beauty in. Well done! I appreciate Athens in a different way now. Love the series!

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

That means so much! Thank you for watching 🙏 I knew this episode wouldn’t be the most obvious one that people would like, but I knew deep down inside that people would be interested in learning about Athens architecture history. So it means a lot to hear this! Glad I can help you see the beauty of a place like Athens 🙏

[@suemcleavy2571]

🩷🩷 Cannot wait for the next three episodes!

[@innorruck1]

Last year i traveled for the first time outside of Greece to Budapest Hungary and i was so excited to see some refreshing good architecture. When we arrived there from day one i felt depressed and started to question myself. How could i feel like this, when i had great architecture around me in comparison to Athens's concrete buildings? I later realized that it was because almost everything was the same. Square buildings with windows and decorative features and while stunning, they felt mundane and cold. In Athens every single polykatoikia is different, they have balconies which add depth and greenery (unfortunately most people leave them empty), you can hear and see people sitting or looking out from them. I believe that if polykatoikies start to have a more architectural exterior and add color, Athens could become a more likable city by Greeks.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

I have traveled a lot out of Greece, and I have walked step by step many European cities. Most of them are like bacterial clones. Exactly designed squares with the same motive and colour of buildings, in the same motive of roads and usually a river in the middle of the city. For tourism is OK, but after some days you fell depressed. Athens has colour, weather, food, entertainment, diversity, HISTORY, high culture and many more. It is not the ugly city they show in that video. But if it is for them, it is not for us. At the very end, we Greeks live here, not they.

[@user-uf2df6zf5w]

@@user-oi4cn7rt8t The reason for that is the good weather and familiarity. Imagine these types of structures somewhere north of the Alps, where it is rainy and dark more often (that is basically former USSR level of depression,).

[@matiasechehun9518]

Finally the youtube recommendations work, I'm so glad I found your channel, beautiful video

[@skoy21]

I have really enjoyed this series so far! Already waiting for the next!

[@mirtokiriazanou766]

You left the fact that Athens has really bad infrastructure. In the 19th century, people didn't want to give a part of their land to the state in exchange for money, to create bigger roads and bigger pavements. The city centre ( the non touristic parts, so real Athens, not Plaka, or Akropolis or Koukaki or Kolonaki that is a rich neighborhood) is dirty and smells like piss sometimes. There are cars parked in pavements that are already non taken care off, with cracks, which makes daily walk really difficult. All this cause there was no planning for cars in the 50s-60s when these polykatikies were being build. In addition, the polykatikies, have no soundproufing and no insulation and are not taken care off. The traffic is insane, so no, you can't go to the beach. In summer days you need at least 2 hours to go to and be back from the beach, by car. It's an everyday nighmare, when i can be somewere in 40 minutes on foot (on 20 by car) and the public transport can be there in there in 40-60 minutes. Public transports are also never on time, except from our beutiful and usefull metro ❤And bear in mind these buses and trolleys are old vehicles and not being maintained the way the should be, so they look older, are super dirty and everyone is packed inside like sardines cause we need more vehicles. Foreigners will never understand the strugle, for you it's colourful lively neighbohouds, for us it's uglyness and obstacles everywhere. It's different to live in Athens for a few weeks/months in a good neighborhood at the centre, than having to live there for decades, in a regular far from the centre neighborhood. Also, Athens has one of the lowest percentage of green spaces in Europe and no, plants on polykatikies are not parks. I really hope Athens gets better by the next century though 🤞 I would love for the city to be friendlier to those who actually live there❤

[@Amundsakis]

I love Athens. Its like an overgrown Greek village. The people brought their own villages into growing metropolis and made it a organic, beautiful mess! Nothing like it. A Unique modern and ancient city.

[@skalextmv5483]

Tbh I’ve lived in Gdańsk I’ve lived in Copenhagen I’ve lived in delft but nothing beats Athens so beautiful in every way

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

Yea I’ve been to Copenhagen too and many other beautiful cities of Europe, but I still find that Athens has its charm 🥰

[@chrise36coupe]

Oh really Copenhagen is like coming from a farytale...

[@skalextmv5483]

it’s not only the buildings that make a city. It’s the people the vibe. The energy that gives you. Copenhagen was beautiful almost perfect but Athens is perfectly imperfect.

[@maakalli]

I’m loving this video. I was born and raised in Athens, bang in the middle of the city, and I always went around on foot and with public transport. I have lived in London and the last fourteen years in Mumbai. London is truly very easy to navigate and with a lot of character, and Mumbai is… well the epitome of chaos. Athens is quiet and with hardly any people, no truly high rise buildings, a very humane city to live in. Athens is the golden, middle path for city life and with so much character.

[@flawyerlawyertv7454]

What caused you to move to Mumbai?

[@maakalli]

@@flawyerlawyertv7454 just… life. I moved so I can be with my partner.

[@gerassimos.fourlanos]

A very beautiful, almost poetic video about Athens. Since I live in Stockholm for almost 50 years, I have now enough distance from the city of my youth to see it with a "fresh eye." I now see Athens as a place where ugly is really ugly and pretty is really pretty. A city where you find many sterile, uninspiring areas as well as extremely energising areas, yes, areas, not just spots, where you can walk around for hours surrounded by beauty and transcending to a different reality. And a city where you walk around and suddenly you turn right or left and everything changes, from chaotic to perfect and from dull to invigorating. Finally, a city where all buildings and all polykatoikias are individual rather than uniform...

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

Beautifully said 🙏

[@MeLexdy]

Its a beautfiul city. Its not just a visual thing and I cant tell you where to go to see that beauty. I ve spend 3 weeks there and had the privilege of walking around many areas, taking the metro and visit both the sea and the hills on the north. Its certainly chaotic when you have to live ,work and drive daily in those streets but if you are a visitor, its definitely an experience. And what a great wish that was: for our building to one day be indistinguishable from the natural world. Cant wait for that.

[@tsiaa6790]

The best video out there explaining why Athens is the way it🎉 thanks for all your hard work and effort! It really payed off!

[@checkadog]

I grew up, and still live in Athens. If I had to describe Athens and cities in Greece, the words I would choose are "beautiful caos". I miss that when I travel abroad, when I see for example several identical multi storie residential buildings together, I really dislike that. There is no personality in that. I like the caos us Greeks have. The biggest drawback of living in Athens is the traffic. If you don't live near a metro station, you are very unlucky. Over the years, as the population grew, the state did nothing to improve the infrastructure. And the result is really bad. If Athens and the greater Attica region, could go from 5million, to 3.5m people, I think it would be ideal.

[@Chloe-hu9tf]

✅✔The appearance of othomans turks in this region ( Asia Minor , Europe) few centuries ego had huge negative consequences for the local nations. Sad. but where turks appear there is regress

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

True

[@lalamla1879]

Turks did not live in Athens or Southern Greece, they mostly lived in Northern Greece (Western Thrace and Southern Macedonia). The funny part is that the most developed region of Greece was where Turks lived densely.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

@lalamla1879 it is logic since they got the rates from all Greeks. Greeks payed high taxes to ottomans during the ottoman period. It is logic to be wealthier than the Greeks.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

Greeks worked like slaves to pay the high taxes to the ottomans.

[@frida507]

Never been to Athens or even Greece but it looks charming and not ugly at all! Or did they pick only the more charming locations? From the birds eye view it looks a bit dense, but in the street view there seems to be quite a lot of greenery. Please don't let it be ruined by gentrification and Air b&b! I imagine summers can be tough... If it's too hot and air pollution maybe add some mini park here and there, in between, and some water features to cool off?

[@Gk-ug6gu]

Athens hasn't many parks and especially big parks but does have many trees in sidewalks ,in streets and in alleys something that is not common in the most European cities at least.Also greek style buildings have big balconies and people usually have many plants their something that you can't see the often in other European cities which their apartment buildings doesn't have balconies.

[@frida507]

@@Gk-ug6gu Exactly like it looked in this video. It makes a difference though. And if it's too hot adding some little park in stead of a building here and there could be nice.

[@lostinthesupermarket]

I rarely say this but this is a really well made and interesting video. Ive been to athens a few times and loved it despite its "chaos"(to be honest its nothing compared to cities like Naples). It reminded me a bit of my hometown (buenos aires) but with a relaxed mediterranian flair. It doesnt have the majesties of rome or the big avenues of paris, but everything seems to fit naturally somehow.

[@stii.baschet]

bro. I don't think you know the meaning of architecture 'chaos'. just visit Bucharest

[@chirichesmihai4010]

Bro trust me, Bucharest it's beautiful compared with Athena.

[@chirichesmihai4010]

Bro, trust me, Bucharest is beautiful compared with Athens.

[@strathernian]

As an urban researcher i found this absolutely fascinating. I can't wait to explore Athens now.

[@michelelands4103]

I love this docuseries. I learned so much about Greece. History, religion, food, architecture, traditions, culture, and urbanism. The cinematography, music and content are presented a way so I feel as if I was there, experiencing this journey with Ariel. I enjoyed this series and look forward to future productions by Ariel.

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

wow that means so much man! Our intention was immersion first and foremost, so I'm so happy to hear you were immersed!

[@bernardobonixe6873]

What a great story, beautiful imagery and simply sublime soundtrack... Love this!

[@kaymarrow]

Each episode just gets better and better, and I’m learning so much! Thank you Ariel.

[@hhydar883]

Achievement is not to build new fancy tall buildings and luxury neighborhoods... the true achievement is to preserve and uplift the buildings and neighborhoods with historical heritage. Thats what tourists want to see when they visit a city.

[@raresremetan2001]

Amazing work! Thanks to you I only got to further appreciate the unique beauty Athens has, and now I’d really like to buy a plane ticket and book a hotel somewhere in the city centre to explore all these streets myself! Keep up with the great work and I would warmly encourage you to come and document as well the urbanist chaos that took place in the capital city of my country Romania, Bucharest. A lot changed during the communist period, but part of the chaos still persists today! I think you’ll find it quite intriguing! Best wishes!

[@CR-wz7hu]

Im Portuguese and I have Visited for the first time Athens last year and I loved the vibe of the city! Looking forward to comeback this year ❤

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

🇬🇷💙🇵🇹

[@hamlet557]

When I went to Lisbon, and people asked me I said that it's like Athens in spirit but beautiful.

[@CR-wz7hu]

@@hamlet557will be back in July! Counting the days ❤️

[@Kotsiras]

I enjoyed and appreciated your research video of Athens! Excellent way to describe the problems and charming uniqueness of my beloved Capital.

[@alexandros1984]

There should be a new law that forces people to maintain their properties.

[@gmeachim3270]

Spot on. I wonder though what people would say if they were forced to maintain their polykatoikies. "Junta, junta!". "Mitsotakis is the devil and Hitler would have been less autocratic" etc.

[@axelsandi]

As an Athenian, who has travelled Europe, excellent and highly esthetic documentary and very interesting interview-partners!

[@williammckelvey2677]

I absolutely loved Athens. It didn't find it ugly at all. It isn't beautiful, but it's not ugly. I think tourists are disappointed because they are expecting Rome, but Greek. But Athens is just a very large, very dense, deeply lived-in city. It is charismatic, almost electric.

[@dkaloger5720]

You mostly talked about central Athens (the municipality of Athens ) .I think the “suburbs” like ilioupoli , glyfada , kifisia are also interesting and have a lot to teach us. It’s a similar level of density but with better architecture.

[@bestcraps4ever]

Those are only the uptown rich people suburbs. Suburbs like Aigaleo, Zografou, Chalandri, Nea smyrni!!, and so much more for someone that wants to see what an Athenian lives like

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

Next episode we go to the suburbs of Glyfada and Voula ;)

[@dkaloger5720]

@@bestcraps4ever well kifisia and glyfada are indeed higher income suburbs but ilioupoli and new smirni are middle class suburbs and I would say they have a nicer vibe and atmosphere than the richer places .

[@demetriosnikolianos1912]

@@UrbanistExploringCities Welcome!

[@altrogeruvah]

​@@UrbanistExploringCities Glyfada and Voula is where all the nouveaux riches / TV personalities / Balkan mafia / Golden Visa types have all gathered. Ford Raptor trucks and broken pavements everywhere, Dubai-esque kitsch apartment complexes with balcony pools, little to no Greek cuisine etc. It's a whole different, albeit sad reality over there. Ilioupoli and Nea Smyrni still feel very true to their roots though. Lavrio is also a beautiful port town that actually feels authentically Greek.

[@Gk-ug6gu]

Get rid of graffiti,make an open call for all artists around the world to draw murals in the walls(open art museum) fix the sidewalks better and wider without obstacles and make new parking spaces. Also give to residents incentives to paint their facades n change the awnings. Lastly plant trees and flowers wherever you can and take advantage of every single free space.

[@Nestoras_Zogopoulos]

graffiti gets cleaned and remade all the time despite the best efforts of everyone. Murals such as the ones you suggest do exist in a limited way, but even those occassionally get painted-over by idiots or cleaned by cranky neighbors. I do agree about the sidewalks, they desperately need to be fixed and widened, but widening streets is very hard due to the density of apartments. The last point about trees and flowers is more or less done by individuals. If only it were that simple...

[@neboul]

Nice guests. Very informative. Good to have all those point of views. Really enjoyed it

[@missdramatica2604]

Beautifully done intro👏

[@nikospapadopoulos168]

Athens is like this girl in movies that she looks ugly but then she does a lifting and becomes beautiful. Athens in the same way with some ''lifting'' can become one of the best cities in europe, just because its weather (chill winters) and location (next to the sea and dozens of islands or other unique historical places in the mainland). Athens just needs to fix its problem with graphiti, put some order in the streets, some extra parks and classic architecture and lastly make the polikatikies look a bit nicer, for example with some kind of roof tiles, now it looks ugly and chaotic, especially from above.

[@haristsiras5075]

How says athens is ugly??? Athens is a unique city with unique vibe!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@viivii346]

I love the interviews, insightful, learning from your documentaries. 🙏

[@officialkurwol]

10/10 video,excellent pacing to the story. I felt at peace throughout watching it, which is a rarity

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

That means so much!! We put so much work in making this a well paced video, so thank you!!

[@nicholasdemetriades3480]

Very nice and interesting video. Athens is a concrete jungle but has way more life than other beautiful cities like sydney. It has life and culture

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

Exactly! This is the very reason why I made this documentary series. I was intrigued why Athens has this liveliness everywhere, while cities with a similar population and density don’t.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

Greeks do not have the money to create fabulous wrappings (as others do), but they have the energy, the spirit and the culture. We don't care to be the most beautiful, we care to be the Greeks, either the others like or don't like us. And we don't force anyone to love or like us or recognize us. Take care thanx for your comment.

[@gmeachim3270]

@@user-oi4cn7rt8t I don't know what you mean by "wrappings" but Greeks do have money (and even more so before the crisis) to improve the aesthetics and overall beauty of their urban environment but chose not to. Their priorities lie elsewhere like bouzoukia, expensive clothes and expensive vacations. Greeks are proud of their culture but part of that "culture" is vandalizing public and private spaces, littering everything around them and treating their urban spaces like public toilets. And as for your comment about not caring if others like you or recognize you, I think that is also not true about most Greeks, as they feel somewhat insecure about their place in the world and their identity as modern Greeks. It's nice to be unique as a people but in a rapidly globalising and changing world, no one should choose to isolate themselves.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

@gmeachim3270 1.Stereotype that Greeks waste their money in expensive clothes and bouzoukia. I know many Greeks who do 2 and even 3 jobs to get by and have never gone to bouzoukia. Example is me and most of my friends. 2.All the foreigners say that the Greeks are poor and poor, so now do we have the money??? Glad that you see us as not poor at once 😊 so at least we are not inferior to you as we are used to listen all our lives. 😊 3.We don't feel insecure about our identity, we know we are the Greeks and our heritage. It is not our problem if the others can or can't accept that. 4.It is better not to judge a people's if you haven't lived with it and its difficulties or its worries. At the very end for you Athens is maybe an ugly city. For me Athens is my capital and my life and I do love her. It is your business if you like or don't like my capital, my country, my city, my language, my identity, not mine. I know who I am and I do love my Athens and my country.

[@gmeachim3270]

@@user-oi4cn7rt8t Calm down dude. I am also Greek and I live abroad in England so I have a better perspective that you. You and your friends might not be the best examples. There are A LOT of Greeks who buy expensive cars, boats etc and can't be bothered to clean their gardens or paint the front of their house. That is a FACT. I lived in Greece for 28 years. I know more than you do. Greeks are poor compared to Western Europe and America but not very poor like the Middle East, Asia or Africa. It is a middle income country. What makes it annoying is the mentality of people like you who don't want to improve, open their minds and become more educated and just hide behind their ignorance and mediocrity. No one used the word "inferior". That is your complex and insecurity that you project on other people including me. I love my country as well but loving your home city and country doesn't mean always "protecting" her from any criticism. Constructive criticism is important to improve. Otherwise you stay stagnant and nothing ever improves. I suggest you save some money and travel abroad at least once a year to see other places. It will be good for you. Not everything revolves around Athens😉

[@AmbientWalking]

Super! 😁 Enjoyed this a lot a lot. 😁

[@andrzejkorytkowski8151]

Please tell me in which street and area this passage with small printing houses and ancient walls remaining is?

[@proskater6899]

Loved the documentary! Very professional job and one thing that I admire is how you managed to bring a posotive vibe even when showing objectively the problematic parts of the city.

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, we aimed to show both the good and bad parts of Athens. But I still have a very high opinion of the city

[@v4v777]

As an Athenian.. i have one thing to say... For Athens to be a nice livable city.. it has to be Demolished to the ground, (apart from the parts around Acropolis) half of its population to move out and live back in the country, and built up from scratch, with a city plan in mind, and with lots of Nature between buildings ... there is no other way that this city will ever look good.. no -matter what these people say in this video...(of course they have their opinion.. and i have mine, about city aesthetics.)

[@theatisgr]

Athens is a bit like Georgia Vasileiadou: she was the ugliest Greek actress ever, but everybody liked her because of her kindness and the way she acted. 😃

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

lol great analogy

[@retroball]

this content is so top class. truly enjoying this!

[@geetamoonesar249]

Good morning, I'm checking in to see how everything is with you and your family. I saw NYC had an earthquake and many aftershocks yesterday. I hope everyone is safe.

[@Eleftherios-Alexandris-76]

2024 and Urban planning is still an unfamiliar term :( The biggest mistake ever made in Athens is the height restriction as the maximum allowable height of buildings is just 33 meters. Because of the stupid height restriction the city spread out everywhere and became chaotic. The higher the building the more the free space between the buildings. Also another huge mistake was that the Government never forced the Civil engineers to collaborate with architectures and that's how all the residential buildings look ugly.

[@prokopimiden]

nope the biggest problems are the lack of parking spots and the lack of walking places for pedestrians, athens would not grow as much if goverments had plans of others cities growing as well, but during the 50's and 60's goverments plans were everyone moving to athens

[@skoy21]

I have traveled to many cities with high rise buildings east and west and while they are impressive at first, get boring very quickly. The area bellow is either covered by multi-lane roads and the rest that you can walk feels steral. All the action in those places is packed in huge malls with little to no character...

[@NC7491]

I tend to agree about the mistake regarding the height restrictions , but I don't like the Le Corbusier cold monstrosities either. Between them and the polykatoikies, polykatoikies hands down.

[@petermages9482]

Hight restrictions are a very wise move. That helps people a lot. Otherwise look at Hong Kong. Besides, this way everyone has light and air. It also saves on taxes, because you would need bigger water pipes, media, parking ect.

[@Phosphoreus]

I disagree.

[@milenmi1]

The ugliest city in Europe is Charleroi, Belgium! The worst architects and designers made their absolute best to create the most awful buildings. Even in Eastern Europe it doesn't exist such monstrosity.

[@hydrocharis1]

I know it's a popular 'edgy' thing to say (not in the least by Belgians themselves) but I'd say this is very hyperbolic and even for the criticism the city deserves it's kinda negative in the wrong way. Charleroi has a nice variety of styles of historical buildings, of course some post-war brutalist ones but nothing out of the ordinary compared with many other (even Western) European cities. The problem isn't really the architecture, it's mainly the poverty, urban decay and scars due to the departure of industry that make it 'ugly'. Only slowly is the city crawling out of this slump and despite efforts, many neglected places still are in need of renovation or development. But then again, plenty of this kind of urban decay to find in poorer parts of Europe and I don't mean that in a judgmental way, and there are also many cities which lack much more of their historical (pre-WWII) core even in Western Europe. Of course beauty is subjective so go along and judge byself and just drop the streetview man in a variety of places.

[@sabysoto2095]

Another great video ❤

[@pittim]

Possibly the greatest example of that 60's era with polikatikia and antiparohi is an other old movie τέντι μπόι αγάπη μου (teddy boy my love). Depicts perfectly that hunger of getting rid of anything old and outdated to new, modern and up to date life style.

[@passionatesingle]

Imagine living in a beautiful city with no soul,culture or aliveness. How utterly boring! Give me Athens any time!! Αθηνα μου λείπεις!!

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

Yea exactly! Liveliness is more important than aesthetics

[@dikans2143]

this is happening in Serbia Pancevo for example, old houses demolished 5 floor condominums built, Belgrade also

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

Greeks and Serbs only can understand each other. We have experienced same problems and similar situations., long common history together. Athens and Belgrade maybe are not rich and beautiful cities, but they are full of spirit and good hearted people, the Greeks and the Serbs 🇬🇷💙🇷🇸

[@rosafilippidi6440]

This is excellent!!! I feel very emotional. As a local, I love the chaos of all the different architectures and how history has shaped the design of the city ... Excellent work !!! Congratulations !!!!

[@CapnChillV]

Keep up the great work. I know nothing about modern Athens. Eye-opening stuff.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

9:06 It was actually the opposite. Germany and Greece received the least amount of money from the Marshall plan among the major countries…

[@King_Leonidas723]

Sadly even though it lost nearly 1/3 of its population and was the first axis setback

[@georgegreek5357]

Come on now everyone knows that Athens is a picturesque city of course there are nice and ungly views like anywhere else but Athens is a unigue elegant city with huge history and a modern style which is noticable in every step you do despite the bad views that only need some improvment. And sorry that we dont build skyscrapers like USA but we have to maintain the view of the Acropolis you see no other bulding should overcome this greatness. This is Athens! Welcome to Greece! Cheers! 🇬🇷

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

Athens has its unique character. You may like her you may not like her, but that is Athens. 🇬🇷💙🇬🇷

[@veroniquevero22]

Great documentary on Athens's buildings! The PoroCity design is a wonderful idea to update Athens!

[@harderos3]

Keep in mind that all these buildings are already showing signs of decay. As in pieces of concrete have started to be exposed in balconies and nobody seems to pay the required attention. Since most of them were built in a 20-30 year period, it also means they will reach the end of their life in a similarly small period.

[@roysmallian2889]

Visited there once. Was wonderful. Difficult get around and too much traffic, but the scale of everything was so natural. You never felt isolated. Easy to get lost in with the language and multiple street names that were "Greek' to me.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

Honest, human, sweet comment. The way someone put the words in order, show his quality and the depth of his heart, education and mind. Thank you 💙🤍💙

[@evmereos]

What an insightful approach! You made me understand why I feel this guilty love for Athens

[@Pan472]

Thing is, if the polykatoikies were properly maintained, they wouldn't be ugly. Many that have been maintained are indeed nice. But they're still few in numbers in comparison to the total. Plus, we call them ugly as they replaced objectively beautiful neoclassical buildings, with which Athens was entirely made of them until the 60s. We miss that beauty and we call their replacements ugly (which, they are for the most part, excepting these who've been maintained, as mentioned). For the comparison with Paris: Athens is also designed in perfect blocks, if you'll see from the satellite. But the buildings built in these blocks are chaotic.

[@lsvmuk]

When are you going to Lisbon, a very different city but with some similar problems.

[@s.t.1483]

I can understand the people in Athens to be honest 😅 Istanbul is no different, but since 2004 there has been the "Kentsel Dönüşüm" law in Turkey, which means “urban transformation“ This involves demolishing of entire residential areas, even large districts, and building new apartments from scratch. Initially, it was mostly about making the buildings earthquake-proof. But in addition, more and more "Gecekondu communities" (slums) were also demolished. A good example is the Roma district "Sulukule". But there are also the consequences of urbanization that you can visibly feel (no wonder with a metropolis of 17 million people). I live in the Ataşehir district, which is the financial hub on the Anatolian/Asian side of Istanbul. Every time I go to Kadıköy, for example, I drive past of fikirtepe, which is a district of Kadıköy. And there you can see that "urban transformation" also has other sides, because in Fikirtepe hundreds of residual high-rise buildings have been built - it makes you dizzy just looking at them. Instead of making such a large city more liveable, it is slowly turning into a jungle of high-rise buildings. You feel more and more cramped in this huge city which, despite everything, has something magical, our love for this urban jungle is endless.

[@harderos3]

The City as we call it, is 100 times more beautiful than Athens. I would rather live there than here.

[@magureveeru]

Claude Levi-Strauss had a term that may define the Athenian style of city...Bicolage

[@michaelpilos]

What a Beautiful & Inspiring Documentary! I want to walk Athens now ❤

[@PeidosFTW]

33:01 this is the same reason the metro of rome has so much issues getting new lines/extensions done right? Just old artifacts scattered in the ground

[@Alex-dn7jq]

I always looked at the style of Athens as "cyberpunk" without the "cyber"

[@MaximusAugustusOrthodox]

Love Greece from Germany ☦️🇩🇪❤️🇬🇷☦️

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

We are poor lazy and inferior to you!! How you dare love us?!!?!?! That is a shame!

[@emilbruns9238]

@@user-oi4cn7rt8t How can you say such a thing? We Germans always adored Greek culture. Take king Ludwig I. of Bavaria as an example. He was so obsessed with Greece that he caused a neoclassical building boom in his capital Munich and he even changed the German spelling of his country from “Baiern” to the “Bayern” with the Greek “Y”. There’s nobody inferior to anyone here

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

@emilbruns9238 Ludwig 1 may appreciated Greece and Greek culture and Greeks, but modern Germans hate Greece. Do you know how much abuse the Greeks received from the ""europeans"" and especially the Germans during the years of the economic crisis??? Have you ever read comments by the Germans against the Greeks?? We Greeks had our big problems and troubles, we had also the Germans calling us lazy, thieves, pigs and that we were fed by them because we were hungry. Do you know how many times Greeks read abusive and insulting comments?? Do you know how many times we see Germans to support turkey in violations and threats?? There were times that we didn't want to enter sites and videos concerning Greece, because we were afraid of the comments coming from Germans and the rest of their partnership in Europe. We Greeks had to face the daily suicides, the austerity, the threats of the turks and we also had to face the German comments. Come on now. I wish your country never live something like that. Admiration, respect and love is in real actions my friend and not in words of a comment. We didn't want your admiration we wanted your respect, because we worth it.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

@emilbruns9238 Ludwig 1 may appreciated Greece and Greek culture and Greeks, but modern Germans hate Greece. Do you know how much abuse the Greeks received from the ""europeans"" and especially the Germans during the years of the economic crisis??? Have you ever read comments by the Germans against the Greeks?? We Greeks had our big problems and troubles, we had also the Germans calling us lazy, thieves, pigs and that we were fed by them because we were hungry. Do you know how many times Greeks read abusive and insulting comments?? Do you know how many times we see Germans to support turkey in violations and threats?? There were times that we didn't want to enter sites and videos concerning Greece, because we were afraid of the comments coming from Germans and the rest of their partnership of Europe. We Greeks had to face the daily suicides, the austerity, the threats of the turks and we also had to face the German comments. Come on now. I wish your country NEVER live something like that. Admiration, respect and love is in real actions my friend and not in words of a comment many years later. We didn't want your admiration we wanted your respect, because we worth it.

[@user-oi4cn7rt8t]

@emilbruns9238 I tried to answer you many times but my messages, although polite, were not shown..... anyway. The bullying that Greeks have accepted from the Germans and their friends, the past years, is untold. Most of the Greeks were afraid of entering in a video concerning Greece, because of the German comments. Come on now please.

[@TOUMBAAAA]

Such a nice documentary,Btw you might find a visit to Thessaloniki and Mount Athos quite intriguing. In Athens, we come face-to-face with the classical era of Hellenism. However, in the two places I’ve mentioned, (plus vergina,pella and Dion in the northern foothills of Mount Olympus ), the Macedonian and Byzantine periods are more pronounced. This will provide you with a well-rounded, experiential understanding of Hellenic history. Life on Mount Athos seems as if it hasn’t changed since that time - as if not a single day has passed. Moreover,Thessaloniki is home to some of the largest functioning Orthodox churches from that era

[@konstantinosmarkakis4661]

Great documentary mate!

[@garymc3519]

Interesting how the Athenians followed the medieval Edinburgh solution used in The Old Town where the different social classes lived on different floors of the same block. That is until the toffs moved into The New Town in the 1760s.

[@thecriticalscholar8680]

Same thing will happen to Athens with the Ellinikln project.

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

It is interesting… almost as if though I need to make series about Edinburgh next 🤔😜

[@Gk-ug6gu]

The funny thing is that from the old times people always referred to Edinburgh as the Athens of North!

[@UrbanistExploringCities]

@@Gk-ug6gu yea exactly! :D