scopionewspaper, Dimitris Pikionis - Acropolis Paths by Mark Durden and João Leal
# June 2025

ISBN 978-989-53640-10-1
46 pages

AAI Research publication
SCOPIO EDITIONS
Porto, 2025

Publisher
Cityscopio Associação Cultural
info@cityscopio.com

Editorial and Advisory Board
Architecture, Art and Image (AAI) research group
Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto

Director
Pedro Leão Neto (FAUP)

Editors
Maria Neto (FAUP/CEAU)

Authors - Texts
Elena Hamaldi (Ionian University)
Pedro Leão Neto (FAUP)

Authors - Photography
Mark Durden, João Leal

Creative Director
Ne Santelmo

Layout and print
Né Santelmo & Artur Leão

Printing
Gráfica Maiadouro

Invited author

Light Touches

By Elena Hamaldi

The Acropolis paths are at the core of the landscaping of the Acropolis area, a project designed and executed by Dimitris Pikionis between 1954 and 1957. The replanning of the archaeological area, namely the Philopappou Hill (Hill of the Muses) and the Observatory Hill (Hill of the Nymphs), also encompassed the design of a pavilion next to the small church of St Dimitris Loumbardiaris and various improvements to both the church and the priest’s house. Commissioned by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the project was part of a broader plan to improve Athens’ city center and was driven by the rise of tourism, which was viewed as a key catalyst for Greece’s economic regeneration under the Marshall Plan.

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Editorial

By Pedro Leão Neto

Acropolis Paths: A Visual and Architectural Journey

The present issue of scopionewspaper, Acropolis Paths by Mark Durden and João Leal, explores the landscaping around the Acropolis of Athens, a project designed by the Greek architect Dimitris Pikionis between 1954 and 1957. This publication constitutes a special moment of celebration, not only for the success of this Architecture, Art & Photography Research collection—where photography reveals itself as a powerful instrument of inquiry and expression—but also for the fruitful collaboration with Mark Durden and João Leal, which has greatly enriched this editorial undertaking.
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scopionewspaper is an Architecture, Art and Image research publication with a special interest in photography as an instrument of inquiry and expression. scopionewspaper disseminates authors who use photography as an instrument to communicate in a critical, exploratory and innovative way diverse themes based upon a comprehensive understanding of architecture as a practice and discipline that integrates the dimensions of art, sociology, history, politics and construction. scopionewspaper has as its technological support for dissemination and communication, the scopio News Editorial area at scopio network platform.