Old National Printing House

What I can see

The former Royal Printing and Lithographic House and later National Printing House (1863) was a building of early neoclassicism, but during its later renovation, eclectic elements were added. So today, we see the version after its repair and additions of 1932. The floor plan preserves the Π-shape of the ground floor’s original design, and meanwhile, the later eclectic design is evident, thanks to the neoclassical door frame, the frieze decoration and the decoration of the second floor with red surfaces. Today it remains unused and time wears it out.

What I can't see

It was one of the first public buildings of the Greek state and was probably designed by Joseph Hoffer. The State Bookstore was also housed here, during the reign of Otto. The building had a Π-shaped plan, and in the middle of the ground floor, a smaller second floor existed. Stadiou Street did not exist, as it was a stream, and in front of the printing house there was a wooden bridge connecting the 2 sides of the stream. At the end of the 19th century, and after the building had been repaired with a new design, the press of the time spoke of “the great ugliness of the National Printing House”. During most of the 20th century, it housed the Court of First Instance of Athens, as a result of which the building underwent many additions. These have been removed today.

Info

• Address: Stadiou St.

Bibliography