The architect Andreas Mariatos goes on the counterattack, after the approval by the Economic Committee of the maturity study for the redevelopment of the River. A contract, accompanied by a communication from Municipality, which comments with a scathing tone on the Mr Mariatos' first position on the regeneration of the settlement.
In a new statement, the architect characterizes the whole philosophy of the City, «a model of bypassing science and art», since, as he says, he has carried out many projects without an architectural competition, as required by law. It describes the projects resulting from a tender as «qualitative» and refutes the municipality's claim that there are delays in them, arguing that «there is a risk of delay only if there is a complex of interests that do not want the tender.»
As regards the Municipality's allegations concerning its involvement in direct awards in the period 2005-2008, it submits that «the Law on Architectural Competitions was passed in 2011» and therefore could not be applied in an earlier period. Moreover, as he complains, those studies which he had prepared for the Municipality of Kythera were abused to such an extent that was forced to participate in a preparatory committee on the necessity of the tenders.
In closing, Mr. Mariatos is disappointed about a great missed opportunity that could have upgraded the quality of the settlement of Potamos.
Read below the full statement of Mr. Mariatos:
«After reading the notice of approval of the Contract, I became convinced that most members of the finance committee did not consult with anyone who knew anything about the matter. As I offered in my public intervention the day before yesterday to explain what is applicable to anyone who asks, let me refer to some points in the notice:
- I pledged to try to enforce the law in my village. In the announcement I see the advertisement, if not of a pattern of lawlessness, at least of a pattern of bypassing science and art: why the pride in studies and projects that our municipality and other NPAs carried out without architectural competition when they should have? From the result? Who can feel justified in the mess of public works?;
- The Redevelopment of the central public space of Potamos is an emblematic case of a remarkable technical project, according to the official Greek language. During my 3-year term of office, the Council of Architecture refused to consider any public project study unless it was accompanied by an opinion of the SYPOTHA regarding its non-inclusion in the noteworthy technical projects. So let's see.
- I have taken part in national architectural competitions as a designer and as a judge and I would recommend anyone interested to look for them to see how many such competitions are held (such as the recent Neapolis beach redevelopment in our part of Greece). From the high standard of the studies and the increased quality of the projects implemented through this route, reasonable questions arise as to the reasons for its aversion.
- There is a risk of delay only if there is a complex of interests that does not want the tender. I am also surprised at the selective anxiety about wasted time, when from its inception to the present day the municipality has been indifferent to delays, cancellation of building permits and loss of income from the island.
- As for the «risk» of a foreigner or a foreigner winning, let's not judge the foreigners by ourselves, we Architects do not think that we can lose the contract through our own hands. We put in our effort and knowledge knowing that one in twenty will be awarded. The best solution is in the public interest, and therefore in ours. Good architecture has no nationality; we are grateful for the work of Coxman, the English schools and bridges, the French flagship.
- According to the 2nd table of the contract (which was «leaked» in the announcement) the architect will receive from the Network only 6.900 out of a total of 28.514. I don't disagree with the Network being compensated, it's a revenue-needy business, but couldn't it be spent on something less parasitic? Such as setting up the issues of a competition? ;
- What the author of the announcement apparently does not know is that the law on Architectural Competitions was passed in 2011 - while I prepared the studies for the Municipality of Kythera between 2005-2008, i.e. before the current obligation existed. Besides, these were time contracts that primarily concerned primarily P.M.A. and related public space redevelopments (technical works).
- It was the experience of the abuse of those redevelopment studies that made me participate in the preparatory committee C3 of the above law on the necessity of tenders. And the tragic quality of execution of public works clearly states that there is no way our office can participate in this redevelopment process that the finance committee members voted for.
I close with the most meaningful, the statement of my disappointment at the time lost for my village, as through the secured funding programme something good could really start for the River.
PS. It is a shame to trivialize our place in this way, but because we cannot make a coptic cut in the announcement, unfortunately our collective bodies will read that a municipality with a deputy mayor architect considers the Architectural Competition process «dilatory». I would suggest that whoever wrote the notice give due weight to the opinion of an experienced colleague who is selflessly trying at the expense of his professional time to help our municipality so as not to discredit it to his fellow architects.»
