C O N T E X T 1 4 5 : J U LY 2 0 1 6 39 Vox pop Eleni Makri is director of Conservation PD (Planning + Design). Who has been your greatest inspiration? Quite a few. Today a Facebook update reminded me of the Greek architect Aris Konstantinidis (1913–1993), a great contributor with his designs to contemporary, contextual architecture in Greece. During a spell as the chief architect to the Greek National Tourist Board in the 1970s–80s he introduced a historic buildings and areas regeneration scheme. Through this the board obtained derelict historic properties throughout the country from their owners for free for a period of 10 years, which it then refurbished and ran as Xenia hotels to great acclaim. After that period, they were returned to their owners repaired and refurbished, and with a new use should they wish to continue with it. Konstantinidis told my university year about this project as our guest lecturer when I was a student of architecture at the National Technical University of Athens. I was so inspired that day! What has been your best idea? To persevere with getting the National Trust for Greece scholarship to do the MA in conservation studies inYork, 1983–84. One of the conditions of the scholarship was to present a lecture on my thesis at the Society of Antiquaries in Piccadilly. I smile cheekily to myself every time I go past on my way to the Royal Academy – I am laughing right now. My thesis was on the regeneration of a historic town in the Peloponnese. Clearly Aris Konstantinidis and the Wirksworth Project had made a strong impression on me. Years later as a conservation officer at Haringey Council I was fortunate to be entrusted with the buildings-at-risk programme and to lead the conservation area partnership (CAP) historic corridor scheme as an acting manager. Later, while an associate director at Halpern, I successfully entered 808 Tottenham High Road, one of my CAP projects, for the first-ever Georgian Group award for best restoration in an urban setting. Endless joy! Renzo Piano’s Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre creates new homes for the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera. (Photo: GeorgeVlachos)
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