[Special Report] Commemorating the Completion of the New Site of the Chinese Institute of Classical Civilization
The new premises of the Chinese Academy of Classical Civilizations is situated in the Ellinikon district on the southern coast of Athens, a vital gateway for Greece’s opening to the outside world. Formerly the site of the Athens International Airport, this area was utilized for military aviation beginning in 1938 and gradually transitioned to civil use in the 1950s, until the airport’s closure in 2001 when its functions were assumed by the newly built Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. Following the conclusion of its historical mission, this vast expanse of 620 hectares was integrated into the national urban renewal strategy and is currently undergoing the largest urban redevelopment project in Greek history—the Ellinikon Metropolitan Project.
The new site of the Chinese Academy of Classical Civilizations occupies 2,604.8 square meters, with a total floor area of 1,560 square meters, featuring an expansive space and an orderly layout. A broad lawn extends within the courtyard under the morning light, its lush greenery harmonizing with the white facade. This creates a transparent and elegant environment while providing an ample and flexible field for academic activities, cultural exhibitions, and public exchange. Wandering through the grounds, the lawn and the architecture seem to jointly construct a serene and open garden of thought.
The themed exhibition "Opening the Door to Mutual Learning Between Eastern and Western Civilizations" and the accompanying book exhibition utilize various formats, including chronological scrolls, 3-D printed cultural relics, graphic display boards, and introductions of key texts. These presentations illustrate the deep interactions and value resonances between Chinese civilization and Ancient Greek civilization throughout the course of history, highlighting the contemporary significance of the principle that "civilizations are enriched through mutual learning" [1].
In one corner of the building stands a private library left by the original owner, gathered like a cultural chamber carved by time. The collection comprises over 1,800 volumes covering diverse fields such as history, literature, and medicine, with books in languages including Greek, French, German, and Italian, filling the air with the scent of old paper. In another corner, several ceramic jars salvaged from shipwrecks sit quietly; their simple and classical elegance adds a touch of the primordial atmosphere of Mediterranean civilization. Amidst the turning of pages, history and civilization engage in a quiet dialogue. This library is not only a treasury for academic research but also a calm and profound spiritual field.
The interior spaces are spacious and bright, featuring a large academic hall and several meeting rooms. The walls are adorned with numerous oil paintings and etchings depicting figures and landscapes—some portraying tranquil natural vistas, others capturing vivid portraits with expressive countenances. Their warm tones and refined style complement the interior’s classical and solemn decorative aesthetic. These artworks do not merely cultivate a rich humanistic atmosphere; they imbue the space with a quiet and far-reaching sense of beauty, providing an ideal platform for exchange and display as the Chinese Academy of Classical Civilizations hosts various academic conferences and cultural events.