Xenia (Hotel)

The Xenia (Greek Ξενία ) Hotels and motels were in Greece under the Xenia program, which was founded in 1950 Greek National Tourism Organization ( ΕΟΤ, Ελληνικός Οργανισμός Τουρισμού ) built.

• 2.1 Today

History

The EOT maintained a building department that dealt with tourist facilities, such as preserving the architecture of abandoned residential towers in Mani and their conversion into a hotel complex. 1950 all new construction projects have been assigned to a new department that oversaw the program Xenia. Model of the program was the state's school construction program of the 1920s, when under the architect Patroklos Karantinos were realized over 4000 schools in classic modernist style. Technical Director of the new program was from 1950 to 1958 the Greek architect Charalambos Sfaellos, from 1957 led Aris Konstantinidis, the planning staff and elected a team of young architects for the design and construction of the houses. The staff also Dimitris Pikionis, who designed the hotel in Delphi (1951-1956) belonged.

Preference of tourist places such as archaeological sites, islands, mineral springs, but also in major thoroughfares approximately 50 hotels and motels emerged during this period in the country. It was accompanied by numerous other infrastructure projects, such as road construction, tourist kiosks, museums, cable cars, etc. that were matched. It represented a significant contribution to the development of tourism and for the economy at national and local level and developed into the largest purchasers of public buildings after the Second World War and the Civil War.

The Xenia program developed a model for the private construction of hotels, resorts and country pubs. Thus, it was from the 1970s already fulfilled its task and the EOT could be limited to its function of indirect tourism promotion and advertising. The hotels were rented and occasionally sold. Unprofitable stores like the motels were closed. The last few years, many objects were made to meet requirements of local authorities. Overall, still some 40 objects from the Xenia program in the portfolio of state tourism property company Eteasa SA

Resonance

While the architectural features were praised rather in international journals, so appreciated the visitors the comfort of the hotel:

Karl -Heinz Krause wrote about the hotel in a report of a journey from 1983: The [ Xenia ] hotels we stayed in were not cheap, but we had comfort. One must let the Greeks, their tourism keep a sharp eye. There is not here the confusion of southern countries. The hotel classes agree, prices are fixed and posted everywhere apparent.

Hermann Korte about an encounter with Norbert Elias: I still see myself in 1969 with him and friends in Samos at the very posh hotel " Xenia " terrace to sit and explain with a wagging finger, that no theory is any good, that does not lead to the liberation of the working class

Beverly Beyer and Rabey EA enrolled in Passport to Europe 's small hotels & inns Xenia hotels Throughout Greece can be counted Usually on for simple but clean and comfortable accommodations, even if theyhave been later sold to private firms. This one meets all the standards, including a restaurant the night double room with bath in Xenia Skiathos specified in this source $ 20.

Valerie Strong looks in her work " In Those Days " nostalgic return: The government had led with the Xenia hotels, models in good taste and sensitive location. Each had its own character DEPENDING on the site; They Could be built into a mountain top, nestled into an orange grove, or alog a stretch of a beach. They were intimate and beautifully appointed Individually, most featuring local crafts, and run with personal service

The American writer RB Weber wrote about a hotel, the collection of poetry: Poems from the Xenia Hotel. The Finnish type designer Emil Bertell has baptized a font Motel Xenia.

Architecture and Meaning

The hotels are outstanding examples of Greek architecture history of the postwar period.

The planning of a new object started with a topographical survey of different plots in one place. This was followed by preliminary drafts, who devoted themselves each a priority. The selection criteria were, inter alia, the inclusion of the landscape, the relationship of interior to exterior space as well as the simplicity and clarity of form. Was also taken into account is a privileged use in the warm season: flaps for ventilation of rooms on different ceiling heights, large shaded porches, landscaped pergolas etc. It is characterized by the combination of local building materials and construction methods such as stone walls with the use of standardized prefabricated components.

The buildings stand in contrast to the poorer lovely large buildings of the International Style were drawn up at the same time by large chains such as the Hilton in Athens (1963) and served as a model for smaller projects. You can apply as a predecessor of critical regionalism.

The hotel offered a contemporary four-star standard, had a fine restaurant and a tourist office. Unusually for public buildings, works of art have only rarely been placed, one of them a sculpture of Klearhos Loukopoulos in the garden of 1962 built Motels in Olympia

Today

In the past three hotels were demolished. The Municipality of Chania discovered irregularities in the building permit ( the hotel is illegally due in part to an already existing at that time archaeological field) and could force the Ministry for demolition so, in Heraklion and Ioannina was also demolished. The latter was the only large project of the architect G. Vokou and single building with over 100 rooms. Built a 500 - bed hotel facility.

The package tourism expected mainly a post-modern to neo- rustic design of the accommodation, hence there is also no Findings of the travel literature. So Dirk Schönrock criticized Dumont Guide the location of the hotel in Navplio and referred to as " concrete block ". Many hotels were remodeled to adapt to these needs. The hotels in Messologi and Poros (now Poros Image Hotel) were converted beyond recognition, which expands on Kos, Patmos and in Larissa. In the maintained original condition, the hotel drama and operated in Sfakia, Crete and under the original name. The 1960 built on Mykonos Xenia hotel was restored and is listed under the name Theo Xenia as a design hotel. Similarly, although less expensive hotel in Serres (today: Phillipos Xenia Hotel).

Had arisen even in the aspect of tourism promotion, the locations of the hotels, so economical operation at many locations is not possible. Xenia motel in Amnissos, the holiday village Xenia in Paliouri, Halkidiki and the hotel is on Andros are dilapidated and deserted, as was the hotel in Vathy on Samos, where the city wanted to acquire the building, but without success. One of the houses were sold or given with the condition of conservation practice conservation, including one ( today used by the fire brigade ) of two in Olympia., In Volos, Arta in cities The building in Arta is intended to serve as a "museum hotel " after restoration.

Numerous Greek architectural theorist and historian have drawn attention to the importance of the program. The professor of architecture Dionisis Ziva from Athens has even made ​​an inventory of all construction projects of the EOT. 2004 called the Association of Greek Architects ( ΣΑΔΑΣ ) the competent minister Vasso Papandreou and Evangelos Venizelos to become " urgent for these monuments of the history of tourism in Southern Europe " to care. Seven houses are listed buildings, for nine other through the process. A seminar at the Technical University of Athens dedicated to the hotels