Prelude Modern architecture in Athens

the apartment building built between 1917–1919 alexandros metaxas petros giannaros.

the term πολυκατοικία (polykatoikia, literally multiresidence ) used in greek denote every apartment building. 1 of first, if not first, apartment buildings in athens built in 1917–1919 architect alexandros metaxas in eclectic style petros giannaros on philellinon , othonos streets, adjacently syntagma square. fact building 1 of first ones built reinforced concrete, unexpectedly, asymmetrically higher adjacent ones. caused fury , led 2 royal decrees, 1 in 1919 , 1 in 1922 in end set height buildings according width of street lay on, maximum height of 26 metres wide streets.

the changes took place in greek society after defeat of greece during greco-turkish war of 1919–1922, , ensuing population exchange between greece , turkey created different housing needs population, revealed how important construction sector greek economy, , influenced, result, legal framework of polykatoikia. in 1929, 2 important laws concerning apartment buildings took effect. law horizontal property (οριζόντια ιδιοκτησία) made possible many different owners own 1 apartment building, each owning 1 or more apartment units. theoretically, each apartment corresponds percentage of original plot. important effect of law practice of αντιπαροχή (antiparochi, literally supply in exchange ). antiparochi, owner of plot, can t afford build apartment building himself, makes contract construction company latter build apartment building keep ownership of many apartments contract states. although during interwar period practice of antiparochi limited, construction of apartment buildings financed solely original owners of plot, antiparochi became common method financing construction of apartment buildings 1950s onwards.

later in 1929 came effect first general building regulation. importantly, not did regulate height , surface area of buildings, introduced innovations use came characterize modern style of buildings of era, such bay windows, or erkers (έρκερ), known in greek after german term.

conservatism between 1900–1930

papaleonardou s apartment building, designed in 1925 kostas kitsikis, incorporates art deco elements creating eclectic style. in building lived maria callas between 1937–1945.

during first 2 decades of 20th century, greek architecture failed follow international trends, art nouveau and, lesser extent, art deco, or produce architectural style consistent features act successor greek neoclassicism. result, buildings in athens can characterized art nouveau scarce. tumultuous changes , poor economic state of greek society must taken account when studying period. architects of period built in athens conservative , late in adopting other non-classical european styles, altering them , mingling them classical motifs, creating eclectic style.

the building of bank of greece, designed in 1933 in conservative simplified classical style.

during last part of period , under influence of anastasios metaxas s work (1862–1937), public buildings built in so-called simplified classical style (αφαιρετικός κλασικισμός), similar stripped classicism . such buildings include classical ornamentation albeit in lesser degree; art deco ornamentation becomes more common. such buildings, imposing façades, emit grandeur , austerity. important building of style bank of greece on panepistimiou street built between 1933–1938 team of architects led nikolaos zoumpoulidis, kimon laskaris, , konstantinos papadakis. although relatively lightly decorated, every ornament classical in style , façade reminiscent of greek parliament, designed in 1834. other buildings athens university of economics , business on patision street designed in 1926 anastasios metaxas, , general accounting office of greece on panepistimiou street designed in 1928 emmanouil lazaridis incorporates art deco elements.