The polykatoikia 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.