The project for the restoration of the iconic listed building Villa Rossa restarted a month ago, after having been halted on 28 December, following the special work cessation declaration by the contractor company, due to an outstanding bill of €91,530.43.
After the settlement of the debt by the Regional Authority on March 8th (exercising its legal right due to the delay in payment of the bill without his being at fault), the project resumed at the same time and is progressing normally.
However, it is not expected to be completed within the contractual time frame, as the 70-day work stoppage and the complexity of the project have pushed the schedule back. The project "Restoration of the building and auxiliary buildings of Villa Rossa for cultural use and environmental development" was contracted by the Kratsa Regional Authority on June 14, 2022, with a completion time of two years from the signing of the relevant contract with the contractor company "M.T ATE," namely on 14-06-2024.
The representative of the contracting company, Efstathios Mandilaras, told Enimerosi that at the moment, approximately 30% - 40% of the restoration work has been completed, and a request for a six-month extension to the completion deadline is expected to be submitted. "The project is detailed and complex, but it's on a good track. Our team is there on a daily basis," stated Mr. Mandilaras. "The effort being made is to preserve the existing structure as much as possible to keep the building intact, by order of the Ministry of Culture." The project is being supervised by the Inspectorate of Antiquities in Ioannina, while the Regional Authority oversees it.
What work has been done
According to the project's civil engineer, Yiannis Tsompanidis, the static restoration of the foundation and basement has been completed, and the static restoration of the remaining floors is in progress. Additionally, the problem of the water table has been addressed with the construction of an external drainage network, inconsistencies in the load-bearing structure have been addressed by stitching with stonemasonry and filling cracks with injections, and the load-bearing walls of the basement have been reinforced with complex systems of polymer-fiber-reinforced composites - glass grids - inorganic matrix (IAM).
Additionally, a person responsible for the maintenance of the preserved decorative elements has been appointed. "The investigation into the existence of painted decoration and the documentation of the condition of the decorative elements (stone, ceramic, plaster, wood, and metal) has been completed, while their maintenance is ongoing," he said.
The project
The project, with a budget of €4,800,000, is included in the Ionian Islands EP "2014-2020" Programme (80% funding from European Union funds and 20% from national funds) and is among those transitioning to the new programming period 2021-2027. Its objective is the restoration of the listed building complex of Villa Rossa, situated on a plot of land totaling 5426.70 sq.m., consisting of the main residence of Villa Rossa, the old stables, the octagonal pavilion, the small auxiliary building of the old tank, and the outdoor space of the complex. The aforementioned buildings have been designated as historic monuments by decisions of the Ministry of Culture. Upon completion, it is expected to be returned for cultural use.
The company undertaking the restoration of Villa Rossa has significant experience in similar projects involving preserved buildings. Among these are the Apollo Theatre in Ermoupolis, the Town Hall in Kotzia Square, the Museums of Ioannina, Thebes, Delphi, the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, and others.
MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
Photos: Yiannis Tsompanidis
