What I can see

The original building of the complex is located on Patission Street. The rest of the complex is the result of successive expansions, and therefore of different phases. The original building is modern, with neoclassical elements, and was designed by Kostas Kitsikis. It is one of the few examples of the German “Jugendstil” trend. The exterior is simple, the interior is functional and the top floor was added later. The entrance is framed with marble and is reminiscent of an arcade. The newer building was clad with metal elements and glass, materials that were heavily used in business spaces at the time. The twelve-storey tower in the centre of the complex stands out. At the northern end, there is a daycare building for the employees’ children, designed by Theodoros Patramanis.

What I can't see

These two mismatched buildings were built by the same architect about 15 years apart. The height of the tower is due to dictatorship’s regulations that allowed high buildings in the centre of the city, ignoring how important is for the Acropolis to stand out on the skyline. Today, renovation plans for energy, functional and architectural upgrading are being implemented.

Info

• Address: 98 3i Septemvriou St.

Bibliography