Maximos Mansion

The Villa Maximus (Greek Μέγαρο Μαξίμου, Megaro Maximou ) in Athens is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Greece.

Location

The Villa Maximus is located in the heart of Athens at Herod Atticus Street 19 ( Odos Irodou Attikou ), next to the Presidential Palace and the National Gardens.

Construction and land use history

The building was constructed in 1912 on behalf of Alexandros Micha Linos. Previously the site was a royal vegetable garden. After completion of the villa in 1924 by Dimitrios Maximos this ( 1873-1955 ) was acquired, an economist, Governor of the National Bank ( 1920-1922 ), Senator ( 1933-1935 ), Foreign Minister and Prime Minister of the transitional government (1947). After his death it came into the possession of the Greek State. From 1968 to 1972 during the military rule resided here the Viceroy General Georgios Zoitakis. In 1974, the architect Georgia Zoi and Aristodimos and Lia Matzourani were commissioned to remodel the vacant building as a guest house for high-ranking state guests. From the mid- 1980s it was at first only occasionally, used since the 1990s regularly as an official residence of the Prime Minister.

Building

The building was planned in 1912 by the architect Anastasios Chelmi, a graduate of the École Spéciale d'Architecture, but completed only in 1924 after the change of the owner. At this time of Neoclassicism in Athens was long gone, but still buildings of the Bank emerged sporadically even in a stylized classicism mostly for conservative clients, such as the building of Greece ( 1933-1938 ).

The neoclassical building has a total floor area of 2000 m². It is characterized by simple architectural lines. Also the design of the interior is simple, but impressive. Surrounded the palace is surrounded by a small garden.