Bank of Greece

What I can see

The Bank of Greece building belongs to the late neoclassical order and was designed by Aristotelis Valvis. It is one of the few examples of neoclassicism, in a city where eclecticism prevailed. Despite its neoclassical style, art deco elements are also evident, which can be seen mainly in the openings. Built of reinforced concrete, it has Corinthian columns on all sides, pediments on the main entrance and the smaller side entrances, and a projecting propylon, without a pediment, on the rear side. On Venizelou Street, the characteristic clock stands out.

What I can't see

Reinforced concrete made the building lighter. It was founded on piles with the Franki method to avoid problems from underground water. It was built to house the National Bank of Greece, but eventually housed both the NBT and the Bank of Greece branch. The luxury inside is impressive and the alabaster hemispherical dome stands out. After the fire of 1917, many banks were built in the area and this building is an example of reconstruction architecture. An explicit commitment to the construction of the building was the use of neoclassical or neo-Byzantine order, which confirms the use of architecture in the service of forging national identity and connecting modern Greece with ancient Greece. The Bank of Greece is the most powerful financial institution in the country with a strong influence in the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean region. However, due to the economic crisis that erupted in 2009, its influence has shrunk considerably.

Info

• Address: Mitropoleos & I. Dragoumi St.

Bibliography