THE MAIN BUILDING
The Benaki Museum is housed in one of the few neoclassical buildings which has withstood the aesthetic changes of post-war Athens. It is located in a particularly attractive setting in the historic centre of the city, exactly opposite the greenery of the National Gardens and the grounds of the Presidential Palace, and near related institutions such as the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Byzantine Museum of Athens.

	Το αρχικό οικοδόμημα, 1910 H επέκταση του 1930 Η προσθήκη Ε. Βενιζέλου - Δ. Κυριαζή, 1965 Η πτέρυγα Ε. Σταθάτου, 1968-73 Η νέα πτέρυγα του Μουσείου Μπενάκη

The Benaki Museum occupies a composite architectural grouping which has undergone many changes throughout its history:
 

1867-1868

The original core of the architectural grouping is built, comprising a much simpler and differently laid out house than the present structure.

1910

The property is bought by Emmanuel Benakis upon the permanent establishment of his family in Athens.

1911

The building is extended through the addition of a ballroom and service quarters designed by the well-known architect Anastasios Metaxas, who was also responsible for the restoration of the Panathenaic Stadium.

1930

Another wing is added to the building by Anastasios Metaxas in order to meet the requirements resulting from its transformation into a museum.

1965

The exhibition space of the Museum is enlarged by the architect E. Vourekas in order to house the historic heirlooms of Eleftherios Venizelos on the ground floor and the Damianos Kyriazis Collection on the first floor.

1968

A new extension is made to the basement by the architect E. Vourekas in order to house the Eleni Stathatou donation.

1973

The Stamatios Dekozis-Vouros Foundation funds the addition of a new wing occupied by lecture rooms, spaces for temporary exhibitions and a cafe.

1989

Work begins on a major expansion of the Museum space through the construction of a five-storey wing with three basements located on the west side of its grounds, exceeding the height of the additions of 1968 and 1973, and planned by the architect A. S. Kalligas.

1997

The work on the new wing is completed, doubling the Museum's available space to 7000 m2 on five integrated interior floor levels and two basements.