Athens Club
The Athens Club was founded in 1875 in the standards of English clubs.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
1875 The club was founded. First president was the minister and executive director of the National Bank, Pavlos Kalligas.
1907 The club bought the building, after Michail Melas’ death.
1914 A little later, the club also bought the adjacent building from Melas’ widow, Natalia.
1917 During the National Schism, pro-royalists, who were the majority, deregistered the Venizelos supporters, who founded the Liberal Club. A few years later, the Venizelos supporters returned to the Athenian Club, but the Liberal Club continued to operate.
1923 The two houses were unitised according to the architectural plans of Ioannis Axellos, Anastasios Metaxas and Vassilios Kouremenos.
1969 Their demolition was decided.
1972 The club settled in the new building.
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
Today, we can see the new building of the Athenian Club, designed by Emmanuel Vourekas. It is a building of late modernism and the neo-historic elements are evident, such as the marble revetment, the symmetry and the arcades of the ground floor. These elements emerged for two reasons: The first is Panepistimiou Street and its very important neoclassical buildings, thus the architect respected their style and history. The second is related to the period of its construction. It was built during the dictatorship and the regime often forced the architects to make a “connection” with classical antiquity. The building has modern lines, soft volume plasticity and simple openings, which form vertical axes.
What I can't see
The Michail Melas (1833-1897) Mansion was located here and housed the Athens Club, which was initially housed on the ground floor of Vassilios Melas Mansion, in Kotzia Square. Famous and prominent personalities, such as politicians, military men, writers and professors gathered in the style of English clubs, in the then luxurious building on Panepistimiou Street, with its crystal revolving entrance doors and luxurious interior decoration. It was also one of the first buildings to have central heating. After World War I, the mansion was unitised with the adjacent house and during the interwar period, lectures and charity activities were held. In addition to the main hall (chat room), there was a library, barber shop, restaurant, fencing room, gym and card and billiard rooms. During World War II, it was commandeered by the Germans and after the war, by the English. Its demolition was decided during the dictatorship and the club settled in the newly built premises, a few years later. To this day, in order to become a member of the club, one must be a man, resident of Athens for at least 20 years and have noticeable economic activity.
Info
- Address: 11 Panepistimiou/ El. Venizelou & Amerikis St.
- Postal Code : 10564
- Phone: +30 210 3242611-3
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.athensclub.gr
Bibliography
Field observation by scientific editors
Makrogianni M., (1995), Ματιές στην Αθήνα που έφυγε, [Glances at Athens that is gone], v.1. Filippoti
