Art Deco gem victim of Acropolis museum

Greece's culture minister has cleared the way for demolition of a listed architectural gem in central Athens to improve the view from the landmark new Acropolis Museum.

George Voulgarakis' decision, signed on Aug. 30 but made public Wednesday, revoked the listing of the ornate Art Deco building "to allow an unimpeded view of the Acropolis (from the new museum)."

It added that demolition of the 1930 building _ and of an adjacent house owned by Oscar-winning composer Vangelis Papathanassiou _ would allow the plot to be excavated "to reveal antiquities whose existence is considered highly likely."

But residents, who have launched an international e-mail campaign to save the pink-marble faced structure, vowed Wednesday to challenge the decision in court.

Architect Nikos Rousseas, whose office is in the four-story building, said the decision came "very unexpectedly" at a time when public attention was focused on the devastating forest fires that ravaged southern Greece and killed 66 people.

The dispute, which has pitted architects and conservationists against archaeologists and culture ministry officials, is overshadowing the opening of the new $179 million museum, set for early 2008 after a delay of more than two decades.

The two buildings _ which stand between the new glass-and-concrete museum and the ancient citadel _ will not be automatically demolished, as they are both still listed by the Ministry of Public Works. But Voulgarakis' decision is expected to ease the way for that listing to be revoked too.