In the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the plan for the redevelopment and utilization of the Allatini Ceramics was presented today, an area where the old and abandoned industrial facilities of the ceramics are locatedon the southeast side of Thessaloniki.

The prime minister pointed out that the specific area is currently abandoned, however it marks the realization of a vision, in terms of the future, with respect for the city’s industrial heritage and with the knowledge of what we know about the future of sustainable cities. He characterized as bold the thought of Stavros Andreadis, president of STANTA SA, for the utilization of the area through the promotion of the industrial building of Kerameia, the creation of a large communal green park and the possibility of a commercial exploitation based on the built-up area that the law gives the possibility in this field.

Especially for the tall building that will be created, 100 meters high and a total area of ​​29,800 sq.m. the prime minister noted: “the only way was to move vertically, something unusual for Greek standards, but quite common in other cities that incorporate what we know about dealing with the climate crisis and how to live sustainably”.

At the same time, he estimated that other buildings will follow, while for this particular one he underlined how it will be the first very tall building in Thessaloniki that will be a landmark and will symbolize the eastern entrance of the cityfreeing up all the remaining space for greenery and enabling the utilization of the core of the former pottery building.

Regarding the whole issue of regeneration, he pointed out that the first step was the idea of ​​Mr. Andreadis and the second was the issuance of the presidential decree so that, as he said, we would know what the permitted uses are in order to plan the next steps.

Among other things, the prime minister mentioned that the relevant ministries worked quickly while the Ministry of Environment and Energy embraced the relevant proposal, and added that the total investment will exceed one hundred million euros. “I believe that this investment will also be a pilot investment for how we perceive outside Thessaloniki the utilization of such large spaces, giving more possibilities for building at height” he said and jokingly added: “I have a slight phobia of heights but I’m not afraid of heights when it comes to this kind of interventions in densely populated cities like Thessaloniki».

What does the planning for the regeneration provide in detail

Presenting the plan for the regeneration, Stavros Andreadis, president of STANDA SA, pointed out, among other things, that when this area was purchased there was the dilemma of its urban planning, which, as he said, would suffocate the conservation building of the ceramics or the concentration of all the construction in a multi-storey building 100 meters high and an area of ​​29,800 meters. He emphasized that with the choice of the multi-storey building, the protected complex of the old potteries will be displayed in an ideal way, all the parking spaces will be underground and there will be no cars on the surface. The large central building of the ceramics with a total area of ​​13,000 m2, which is preserved in terms of its shell and intended only for cultural uses, is contributed to the Municipality of Thessaloniki to utilize it. With regard to the remaining two volumes of the conservation areas that have an area of ​​7,100 m2 for which a change of use is allowed, there are considerations for their regeneration so that they can be regenerated into office, leisure, dining and support areas for the operation of the other facilities.

“We consider the overall project to be a very important, supra-local, residential and at the same time cultural regeneration that transforms a dead and abandoned space for decades into a public park alive and accessible to all with all the construction concentrated in a tall building and the preserved monument to come to life and stand out in the greenery that will surround itadded Mr. Andreadis. He thanked all the agencies involved in the process, spoke of an ambitious action and expressed optimism about the synergies that will be needed.

The presentation of the plan by Mr. Andreadis was attended by the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia – Thrace Sector) Stathis Konstantinidis and the Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Zervas.