Environment Ministry gives ‘green light’ for obelisk at Corfu Port
obelisk
22 Dec 2021
/ 17:52
CORFU. The Ministry for the Environment has given the ‘green light’ for the placement of an obelisk at the New Port roundabout following the initial rejection of the proposal by the Corfu Architecture Council.
The donation of the sponsor and Corfu Heritage Foundation President Spyros Flambouriaris caused negative reactions from a lot of locals as has been seen in previous reports in Enimerosi.
The obelisk, which is dedicated to the memory of those who died in 1716, will finally replace the ‘Apidalos Nafs’ (Ship without steering oars), which is a Homeric symbol, in the center of the New Port roundabout with the Ministry for the Environment’s permission.
Brief background
The Flambouriaris Foundation had made the placement of the obelisk public, even before receiving the necessary approvals, and had even announced 21 May 2021 as the date of the unveiling of the memorial – which did not happen in the end.
A few days later, the five-member Architecture Council gave a negative response regarding the placement of the obelisk for the following five reasons:
1) Its classicist and anachronistic character does not fit in the area of the New Port, where there are modern buildings, nor with the new gate of the port and the 1960s building complex, while there are no traditional elements from Corfu Old Town.
2) It cannot be placed in this location as a landmark because there is no visual convergence of the road.
3) It is proposed to be placed at a roundabout, which is not safe for pedestrian access and, therefore, they will not be able to read the sign.
4) This monument was created to commemorate a historical event that took place at a location that is not associated with the area and the roundabout.
5) It does not fit in with the surrounding urban environment.
Objection
However, as it turned out, the rejection was only temporary as the Ministry for the Environment undertook to overcome objections from the locals.
The Corfu Port Authority, lodged an appeal against the Architecture Council’s decision regarding the placement of a commemorative inscribed obelisk at the New Port roundabout.
Recommendation
At the Council meeting, the study was presented by the civil engineer Athanasios Makris and the architect Dimitrios Moumouris.
“The Council, having taken into account the case data and having heard those present, is giving a unanimous opinion in favour of the acceptance of the Corfu Port Authority’s appeal against the Corfu Architecture Council’s decision regarding the placement of a commemorative inscribed obelisk at the New Port roundabout. It should be noted that this recommendation is granted in accordance with the provisions of a Ministerial Decision.
The Ministry of Culture
According to Ministry of Culture, the placement of the obelisk received on 4 November 2021 the approval of the structural study by the Ministry of Culture’s Byzantine Monuments Directorate. Thus, it is possible that it will replace the ‘Apidalos Nafs’.
The monument
Mr. Flambouriaris announced in May 2021 that “The 8-meter obelisk was designed by a Corfiot architect and was made of marble by the Pitardi Cavamonti company in Lecce, Italy.
It consists of 17 pieces and weighs 15 tons. Due to its weight, the civil engineer Mr. Athanasios Makris had to build a special base. Director of the Antiquities Inspectorate Tenia Rigakou decided where the obelisk would be placed. The English architectural designer Mr. Alan Barrett created a 1:10 scale model which is owned by the Corfu Heritage Foundation.
It should be taken into consideration that in 1716 more than 3,500 Corfiots and people from the Ionian Islands fought against the Ottomans and defeated the Ottoman troops. This victory is celebrated as a victory against the Ottomans because, if we had been defeated, today the whole Europe would be an Ottoman state.
Thus, the obelisk will be placed to commemorate those who lost their lives in 1716”, said Mr. Flambouriaris.
The obelisk, which is dedicated to the memory of those who died in 1716, will finally replace the ‘Apidalos Nafs’ (Ship without steering oars), which is a Homeric symbol, in the center of the New Port roundabout with the Ministry for the Environment’s permission.
Brief background
The Flambouriaris Foundation had made the placement of the obelisk public, even before receiving the necessary approvals, and had even announced 21 May 2021 as the date of the unveiling of the memorial – which did not happen in the end.
A few days later, the five-member Architecture Council gave a negative response regarding the placement of the obelisk for the following five reasons:
1) Its classicist and anachronistic character does not fit in the area of the New Port, where there are modern buildings, nor with the new gate of the port and the 1960s building complex, while there are no traditional elements from Corfu Old Town.
2) It cannot be placed in this location as a landmark because there is no visual convergence of the road.
3) It is proposed to be placed at a roundabout, which is not safe for pedestrian access and, therefore, they will not be able to read the sign.
4) This monument was created to commemorate a historical event that took place at a location that is not associated with the area and the roundabout.
5) It does not fit in with the surrounding urban environment.
Objection
However, as it turned out, the rejection was only temporary as the Ministry for the Environment undertook to overcome objections from the locals.
The Corfu Port Authority, lodged an appeal against the Architecture Council’s decision regarding the placement of a commemorative inscribed obelisk at the New Port roundabout.
Recommendation
At the Council meeting, the study was presented by the civil engineer Athanasios Makris and the architect Dimitrios Moumouris.
“The Council, having taken into account the case data and having heard those present, is giving a unanimous opinion in favour of the acceptance of the Corfu Port Authority’s appeal against the Corfu Architecture Council’s decision regarding the placement of a commemorative inscribed obelisk at the New Port roundabout. It should be noted that this recommendation is granted in accordance with the provisions of a Ministerial Decision.
The Ministry of Culture
According to Ministry of Culture, the placement of the obelisk received on 4 November 2021 the approval of the structural study by the Ministry of Culture’s Byzantine Monuments Directorate. Thus, it is possible that it will replace the ‘Apidalos Nafs’.
The monument
Mr. Flambouriaris announced in May 2021 that “The 8-meter obelisk was designed by a Corfiot architect and was made of marble by the Pitardi Cavamonti company in Lecce, Italy.
It consists of 17 pieces and weighs 15 tons. Due to its weight, the civil engineer Mr. Athanasios Makris had to build a special base. Director of the Antiquities Inspectorate Tenia Rigakou decided where the obelisk would be placed. The English architectural designer Mr. Alan Barrett created a 1:10 scale model which is owned by the Corfu Heritage Foundation.
It should be taken into consideration that in 1716 more than 3,500 Corfiots and people from the Ionian Islands fought against the Ottomans and defeated the Ottoman troops. This victory is celebrated as a victory against the Ottomans because, if we had been defeated, today the whole Europe would be an Ottoman state.
Thus, the obelisk will be placed to commemorate those who lost their lives in 1716”, said Mr. Flambouriaris.
