Fix Building

Fix Building

The post-war modern architect Takis Zenetos designed the industry from scratch. Construction began between the 1950s, an era of industrial reconstruction of Greece. In its schematics, Zenetos was mentioning the horizontal dimension of the building along Syngrou Avenue and Kallirois Avenue with linearized glazings. Finally, the modern-day Fix distillery officially opened its doors in 1965.

The name was derived from Charles Fix, son of Bavarian Johann Karl Fuchs, founder of the famous "Mets" beer hall, near the Illisos area that was opened in 1872.
 

The family had breweries in several locations at different times, including the following in Attica: Karneadou / corner Irodotou Street, Timoleontos Street 7 (now Ypsilantou), Gragratetta field to Makrigianni / Kallirois Street, and finally on Syngrou Avenue.

In the mid-1950s, a time of industrial reconstruction for the country, the Fix family elected to radically refurbish the facility. The old brewery on Syngrou Avenue, was razed and replaced in 1965 by a new construction. This was an early work by Takis Zenetos, a pioneering figure of the post-war architecture in Greece.

Nonetheless, because of its size, it became the symbol of the uninformed large-scale industry boom. Thus, the surrounding residents called for its demolition and the construction of a park back in 1982. Of course, this did not come to pass. Moreover, Mr. Zenetos wasn't merely seeking to house an manufacturing unit, rather, in the context of his broader philosophy, he was interested in the future function of the building under various conditions in the next eras.

In the late 1970s, the operation was transferred out of Athens, and the entire building, although in perfect condition, was abandoned. Over the following years, indications of desertion and aesthetic decay began to show, with advertising boards hung on it and obvious damages in the interior and the outer walls of the structure.

In 1994, FIX brewery was purchased by the Athens Metro operator, who intended to build an underground garage and a park above. Numerous preservationists and fans of the architect demonstrated. After an unfinished demolition of nearly 40% and angry protests, the car park investor gave in and limited himself to the already obliterated area, where a lower building was developed. The rest of the structure was donated for future use as a museum of contemporary art.

The Athens Metro, which opened in 2001 directly next to it, and an overhead tram stop are named Syngrou-Fix. The total site of the Transit Station includes underground 6-storey parking garage with at least 650 parking spaces, Transit Station/ Bus terminal for four bus lines amounting to 2,400 square meters, green park covering 2,200 square meters, shops and commercial uses in part of level -1 of the underground parking, direct underground connections with the tickets area and the platforms of the Athens Metro station.

Since 2014, the building houses the National Museum of Contemporary Art. But, after many misadventures, the museum closed for financial and administrative problems. The museum re-opened in summer 2020 under a new management.