The building is a sample of neoclassical architecture, it is listed and was built in 1877. The site is located in the junction of Kalamiotou and Athinaidos streets in the center of Athens. It is a two-storey building with a basement. During its early life, stores were based at the ground level, while the first floor was used as a residence. The main entrance and the staircase, leading to the first floor, are placed in the center of Athinaidos façade.

On the ground floor, two open-plan spaces were created that enclose the main staircase. These two spaces communicate with their auxiliary rooms at the basement level, through independent stairs. Towards modernizing the building and enhancing its functionality, an elevator was placed next to the core of vertical circulation. The plan of the first floor is similar to the one of the ground floor.

From a construction perspective, the columns of the ground floor and the wooden beams of the first floor, which were preserved, were both reinforced with metal parts. Ground floor and first floor slabs are both composites with light-weight concrete. Light reinforcement was applied on the roof framing, which mainly remained intact. The roof was entirely isolated and it was covered with new Byzantine type tiles. Additionally, a part of the roofing is mechanically moving, so that the heating-cooling system units are protected and it allows them to ventilate properly.

The old clumsy staircase was replaced with a new one, constructed with a metal frame and wooden treads. Identical materials were also used for the other two stairs, which lead to the basement. The masonry on the back of the central staircase was revealed and the mortar joints were restored.

 On the ceiling of the first floor a “secco painting” was unveiled and preserved.

Great emphasis was given on the restoration of the façades. The construction of the ornaments, the selection of the wooden framings and the preservation of the marbled balconies and their decorated railings were implemented meticulously. The small part of the old metal canopy that remained, served as a guideline for a reproduction that was covered with translucent panes. 

Project details

Architectural design, supervision, project management:  Giorgos Tziviloglou, Nikolas Chatzistamoulos

Structural design: Panos Vafiopoulos, Dionysis Koumouras

E/M design: Gerasimos Petratos

Topographical design: Yiannis Fragakis

Study of the preservation of works of art: Vassilis Petropoulos, Spyros Tsimas

Photos: Nikos Daniilidis