The photographs of the “NO ENTRY, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” project were created in a diverse selection of residential building entrances and communal spaces, located at different neighborhoods in the city of Athens. The only criteria in the selection process were for the buildings to represent some minimum architectural quality and bring out the variety of the typical Greek apartment building. The famous “polykatikea”, has been established as the predominant architectural structure in the city of Athens during the 50s – 60s, forming also a peculiar love and hate relationship between the building itself and Greek people. Polykatikea quickly dominated the urban landscape and managed to house the ambitions and dreams of the of internal migration waves, when the millions of Greek immigrants flocked from rural areas and Asia Minor in the 1920s. The rise of polykatikea created a new urban class, that highlighted inequality and class differences. Thus, alterated from luxury symbol of the modern and completely westernized style of living to an emphatic representation of suffocating urban environment, expressing the aesthetics of decay and decline. When one enters the internal areas of the polykatikea it’s easy to detect the typical typology that reflects the building’s form and function, as well as all those acquired characteristics resulting from time and habitancy. The decommissioned concierges, the worn-out mail boxes, the surreal announcing boards coexist in a distinct and controversial manner with the flora and fauna of the polykatikea (from the exotic yet plastic plants, to the lazy cats). On top of that the dubious decorative choices, the interventions and the “misfortunate accidents” of the residents are always present. In addition, the project incorporates, through self and staged photography, the photographer’s own presence in an attempt to progress the narration. The mysterious figure acts as vehicle for raising questions about his role and identity and references his own experience living in such buildings. Ultimately leading to a reminiscing quest for past feelings and recollection of scrappy memories.
