The Documentation Centre for Neo-hellenic Architecture was founded in April 1995 with the aim of filling a gap which existed in the field of archives devoted to neo-hellenic architecture. The Documentation Centre is the only organised archive of its kind. It includes information relating to the evolution of civic architecture in the Greek State was until then scattered throughout various private and public collections in Greece and abroad, and remained largely unrecorded, except for a few references in studies and publications. Therefore it was recognised that the collection and classification of documents concerning the architecture and history of buildings and open spaces in a systematised archive was essential in order to facilitate research into the original appearance and evolution of modern Greek cities. This need was especially pressing given that the surge of contemporary urban growth rates has frequently resulted in the alteration and destruction of urban centres. For Athens in particular, the creation of such an archive was crucial, for few examples remain from the multitude of buildings which formed its historical shape.

The aim of the Documentation Centre is to collect, record and classify written, iconographic and oral information concerning recent Greek architecture, urban design and topography. including drawings, models, maps, engravings, photographs, manuscripts and letters.

The collection is focused on the period from the creation of the modern Greek State (1828) until the present day and comprises original archival material and copies from private or state collections in Greece and abroad. A significant amount of information has been gathered from Greek architects and civic engineers, as well as from foreign architects who lived and worked in Greece. The recorded material constitutes a data bank open to all individuals undertaking research into the history of architecture.

Holdings are particularly strong for the architecture of the 1930s. A large number of drawings either in the form of organised archives of the architects of the modern movement [Nikolaos Mitsakis (1899-1941), Kyriakoulis Panagiotakos (1902-1982), Alexander Dragoumis (1891-1977)] or in the form of isolated architectural works [Vasilis Douras (1904-1981), Panos-Nikolis Tzelepis (1894-1976), Ioannis and Stamos Papadakis] are already stored at the Documentation Centre.

One of the most remarkable aquisitions of the Centre is the archive of the well known greek architect Alexander Nikoloudis (1874-1944), a graduate of the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and professor at the National Technical University of Athens. Other archives or parts of collections which have been aquired through donations and loans include the following: Ioannis Antoniadis (1890-1977), Athanasios Demiris (1887-1965), Leonidas Bonis (1896-1963), Nikolaos Chatzipanagiotis, Vasilis Kassandras (1904-1973), Rennos Koutsouris (1901-1998), Ioannis Kremezis, Emmanouel Lazaridis (1894-1961), Ioannis Liapis (1922-1993), Ioannis Lygizos (1904-), Anastasis Metaxas (1861-1937), Dimitris Thymopoulos (1919-), Soula Tzakou (1928-), Marika Zagorisiou (1921-, Nicolaos Zachos (1875-1941), Vasilis Zoulias (1911-1992).

A valued offer are the drawings of the Xenia hotels in Delos, Paros, Tinos, Andros, Chalkidiki, Kalambaka, Larisa, Kartero, Mykonos, Olympia, Poros, Epidaurus and Goumenitsa commissioned by E.O.T. (the National Tourist Organisation) to Aris Constantinidis (1913-1993).

Other noteworthy acquisitions include the drawing for the conversion of the venetian fort of "Bourtzi" in Aegina into a prison by Stamatis Kleanthis (1797-1862) and Eduard Schaubert (1804-1868) [posibly the only drawing by these architects to have survived, apart from their Plan for the City of Athens], a plan of the Panathenaic Stadium by Anastasis Metaxas, Ernst Ziller's watercolour of the Stadium as well as the drawings for his private residence on Mavromichali str. and a model of Karolos Koun's Art Theater designed by Spyros Bonanos (1912-2000).

© 2000, the Benaki Museum
Home page - The Museum - Collections - Exhibitions/Events - Archives - Education
Information - Publications - Library - Museum shop - Site Map

You can help:
The Documentation Centre for Neo-hellenic Architecture is actively involved in acquiring material with the intention of creating as complete a record as possible, for the benefit of future generations. If you possess, or knowof any material, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Benaki Museum Documentation Centre for Neo-hellenic Architecture Odos Kriezotou 3 10671 Athens Tel.& fax: +301-362-8164
e-mail: DCNA@benaki.gr

The collection is open, by appointment only, on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10:00 and 13:00 h.

Photographic reproduction of the Centre's materials is carried out in accordance with the laws concerning intellectual property and copyright.