ATHENS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- During the past weekend, 95 private and public buildings here opened their doors and welcomed thousands of architecture enthusiasts with free guided tours as part of the 5th Open House Athens event.
This year, the list of participating buildings featured a large variety, including museums, office buildings, hotels and residences in the center of the city, as well as the suburbs.
From landmarks and historical monuments of the 19th century to ultramodern cultural centers and from former industrial spaces turned into luxurious lofts to 1930s art deco and Bauhaus constructions, every aspect of Athenian architecture was on the menu.
"Apart from its classical architecture, which is best known abroad, Athens showcases many different architectural styles: from neoclassical to modern buildings, and even more forward propositions," Renata Douma, communications manager of Open House Athens, said.
Such a forward proposition was the case of the "container home" at the northern suburbs of Athens. A pilot house built from a used shipping container presents a flexible solution of metal prefabrication with principles of bioclimatic design.
Architect Anastasia Spyropoulou explained technologically advanced materials for the insulation was critical in turning a metal box into an energy class A quality living unit. Manufacturers have already sealed deals with private owners, with plans to put larger units in the market.
Container homes are currently a growing worldwide trend, providing affordable housing solutions for overpopulated cities, but also for millennials with volatile working conditions.
In the city center, architect Alexandros Kanellopoulos, one of the 500 volunteers of Open House, welcomed us at the Rallis Residence: the institution's most visited venue for 2017.
The low, plain house stands out on the busy Panepistimiou street, with its bright yellow color. Surrounded by tall modern office buildings, opposite the intricate, imposing Athenian Trilogy (the National Library, the University and the Academy), Rallis Residence also stands out for its size and simplicity.
"It is a neoclassical building of 1835, that is the first years of Athens as the capital of the modern Greek state. It is one of the first buildings that give us an idea of what the city center was like at the time, and this why it is a listed building," Kanellopoulos explained.
The house was designed and constructed in the mid-19th century by Stamatis Kleanthis, celebrated urban planner and architect of his time. Its elegance is underlined by the white Greek marble, which is used both as a constructive and a decorative element. It served as the residence of Dimitrios Rallis, five times prime minister of Greece, and later as the headquarters of the National Student Union of Greece.
Open House, which started at London in 1992, is one of the most important institutions for the promotion of architecture. Today more than 41 cities around the world have embraced the project, encouraging the public to get better acquainted with their city's heritage.
