Architecture Council rejects plans for obelisk at Corfu Port
obelisk
17 May 2021
/ 12:52
CORFU. The Ministry of Environment Architecture Council has rejected the plans for an obelisk to commemorate those who died in 1716.
The Council has rejected the proposal to replace the 'Apidalos Nafs' (Ship without steering oars) at the New Port roundabout with an obelisk.
The 'Apidalos Nafs' at the New Port roundabout
The placement of the memorial, sponsored by Spyros Flambouriaris, was rejected by the Ministry of Environment Architecture Council.
This means that it cannot receive planning permission as the recommendation of the Architecture Council and the Central Archaeological Council is required for permission to be given.
The President of Corfu Technical Chamber Yiannis Metallinos also agrees with the view of the Council. Mr. Metallinos told Enimerosi that the rejection is completely justified. "Whenever we are talking about public areas and monuments," he said, "there should always be a proper consultation. Someone may express the desire to make a gift, but there are many factors that need to be taken into account."
Furthermore, the news regarding the placement of the monument, which was announced - prematurely as has now been demonstrated - by the sponsor caused negative reactions from a lot of locals as has been seen in previous reports in Enimerosi.
The former Technical Chamber President Nikos Triantos also posted his views: "The proposed location for the obelisk is not vacant - it is already occupied by the "Apidalos Nafs" sculpture, which depicts the Homeric symbol of Corfu and has rightly been placed at the sea entrance to the island - and yet it is proposed that it be replaced. I consider it to be a great insult to the artist of the existing sculpture that it should be removed and replaced by an obelisk of questionable artistic merit and size. I also believe, in general, that in a public area where visitors get their first impression of the island no decorative or aesthetic work should be done without proper artistic criteria."
The 'Apidalos Nafs' at the New Port roundabout
The placement of the memorial, sponsored by Spyros Flambouriaris, was rejected by the Ministry of Environment Architecture Council.
This means that it cannot receive planning permission as the recommendation of the Architecture Council and the Central Archaeological Council is required for permission to be given.
The President of Corfu Technical Chamber Yiannis Metallinos also agrees with the view of the Council. Mr. Metallinos told Enimerosi that the rejection is completely justified. "Whenever we are talking about public areas and monuments," he said, "there should always be a proper consultation. Someone may express the desire to make a gift, but there are many factors that need to be taken into account."
Furthermore, the news regarding the placement of the monument, which was announced - prematurely as has now been demonstrated - by the sponsor caused negative reactions from a lot of locals as has been seen in previous reports in Enimerosi.
The former Technical Chamber President Nikos Triantos also posted his views: "The proposed location for the obelisk is not vacant - it is already occupied by the "Apidalos Nafs" sculpture, which depicts the Homeric symbol of Corfu and has rightly been placed at the sea entrance to the island - and yet it is proposed that it be replaced. I consider it to be a great insult to the artist of the existing sculpture that it should be removed and replaced by an obelisk of questionable artistic merit and size. I also believe, in general, that in a public area where visitors get their first impression of the island no decorative or aesthetic work should be done without proper artistic criteria."
