NEW BOOK: Athens‘ Polykatoikias 1930-1975

This book explores the architectural formation of Athens' most distinctive building type: the polykatoikia, which was the unchallenged residential ideal of all social classes for almost fifty years, and which today is usually associated only with the anonymous mass architecture of the post-war period. It comprehensively discusses the architectural concepts developed by Greek architects for the polykatoikia type. 76 landmark apartment buildings from 1930 to 1975 are presented with recent photographs, redrawn floor plans and brief explanatory texts. The collection offers an amazing range of innovative proposals, including designs by Dimitris Pikionis, Aris Konstantinidis, Constantine Doxiadis and George Candilis. The chronological arrangement shows the constant evolution of the Polykatiokia model, from the Modern Movement beginnings in the1930s to the iconic Polykatoikias of the 1960s. Additional chapters reflect on the architects' ongoing struggles over this housing model and explore the emergence of key architectural polykatoikia features and their impact on domestic and urban coexistence.

The book draws attention to a largely unknown architectural heritage of a city often visited only for its antiquities. As basic research, it brings together previously unpublished material on innovative approaches to modern residential architecture in Athens and makes it available for future investigations.
Published in English, the book is aimed at an international audience. It is addressed to architects who deal with urban housing models and, beyond that, to all those who live or have lived in Athens and love this city. The book offers them a fundamental insight into the architectural development of the building type that has become the epitome of Greek urban life.

The work on the book has so far been carried out with a lot of personal time and bearable private financial expenses. We have now found a renowned publisher for the publication in the Kettler-Verlag Dortmund. Fortunately, part of the printing costs will be borne by the Greek G. A. Leventis Foundation. In order for "Athens' Polykatoikias 1930-1975" to be published in autumn, the remaining printing costs still have to be financed, for which we need your support!

The entire financial support will be used for the printing costs of the book. Should we raise a higher amount, the support will also cover the translation costs, which have so far been financed from private funds.