ATHENS – A design to turn the center of the anarchist stronghold of Exarchia modernistic, atop a new metro stop that has met fierce resistance, saw an attack on the architecture firm by a group calling itself Anarchist.

That left broken windows Tense Architecture office in the Polygono district of Athens earlier this month, the group claiming responsibility in a post on the Athens Indymedia website.

The company had won the competition for the design of Exarchia Square. The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) School of Architecture and Engineering deplored the attack and architects warned of a spread of violence.

The post said the architect’s office “is nothing more than an illustrative alibi for the various cops who have anchored in recent years in its corners, ensuring a smooth transition to the ‘new era.’”

Exarchia is a kind of beatnik version of anti-establishment groups and anarchists who often clash with riot police and are opposed to the gentrification of the area that’s known for its coffee shops, tattoo parlors and leftist rallying points.

The NTUA issued a statement of support to the office and Tilemachos Andrianopoulos, NTUA assistant professor and founding member of the Tense Architecture office.

“We stand by and support our colleague. The attack and the threats against him are an attack against all members of the NTUA School of Architecture,” read the resolution following an emergency meeting of the school’s Dean’s Office.