What I can see

It was a hotel that was associated with bourgeois Athens and was famous for its luxury. It consists of a semi-basement, ground floor and 5 floors. It has been built on a triangular plot, which the architect made clever use of. The eclecticism of the Ecole des Beaux-Art, art nouveau, the later style of art deco and traditional architectural elements, such as the erkers on the building’s main body (slight projection in relation to the surface of the facade) make a unique building. The curved corner is also in projection, with three openings per floor. The top two floors of the building are separated by cornices. The decoration is detailed and the materials used (e.g. marble, wrought iron) are expensive.

What I can't see

The architect Sotiris Mayasis was also the curator of the furniture. The uprising of the National Technical University against the dictatorship (1973) was photographed and the invasion of the tanks was filmed from the roof of the building. After World War II, the building underwent conversions, but today it belongs to the Ministry of Culture and has been restored to its original form. It has not yet been decided how it will be used. The idea of an underground connection with the National Archaeological Museum and its operation as a wing of the museum has been expressed, but the implementation of such a plan seems unlikely.

Info

• Address: 51 28is Oktovriou/ Patission & Averof St.

Bibliography