Athens’ Polykatoikias 1930-1975: Formation of a Typology
From Friday, February 7, 2025, to Saturday, March 1, 2025, the Goethe-Institut Athen will host the exhibition “Athens’ Polykatoikias 1930-1975. Formation of a Typology.” This event explores the polykatoikia, a building type that played a key role in shaping modern Athens during the 20th century.
© Dimitris Kleantis
The term “polykatoikia” refers to a multi-storey apartment building that became the dominant housing model for all social classes. It symbolized the city’s transformation into a modern metropolis. Over time, this architectural form evolved into an integral part of Athens’ urban identity. The exhibition highlights its impact and how it reflects the city’s aspirations for communal living.
Heyden Street 30, 1936 © Dimitris Kleantis
Visitors will discover a remarkable collection of photographs and architectural designs. These showcase key features of polykatoikias, such as floor plans, entrances, and balconies. Additionally, the exhibition pays tribute to Greek architects who helped establish this building style. Their work provided the foundation for the post-war mass production of apartment buildings.
This exhibition is based on the book “Athens’ Polykatoikias 1930-1975,” published in 2023 by German architect Kilian Schmitz-Hübsch and Greek photographer Dimitris Kleantis.
Athens’ Polykatoikias 1930-1975
Author: Kilian Schmitz-Hübsch
ISBN: 9783987410703
Contemporary Athens is defined by the polykatoikia, the urban apartment block that reshaped the city into a modern metropolis during the 20th century. For nearly forty years, this building type was the dominant residential model across all social classes. However, by the late 20th century, the polykatoikia had become associated with the rapid mass production of the postwar era, leading to dense urban living and often challenging conditions in the city’s core.
About the Authors
- Kilian Schmitz-Hübsch, born in 1968 in Bonn, studied architecture at the Berlin University of the Arts. After working with Oswald Mathias Unger and Rave Architekten in Berlin, he founded his own architectural firm in Bingen in 2004. From 2008 to 2014, he served as an assistant to Professor Alban Janson in the chair of “Grundlagen der Architektur” (Foundations of Architecture) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. He has organized exhibitions focusing on various residential typologies and is the co-editor of the architectural book titled “Unerkannte Räume” (Unknown Spaces), published by Jovis, Berlin in 2015. Schmitz-Hübsch is also the author of “Athens’ Polykatoikias 1930-1975”, published by Kettler, Dortmund in 2023. Since 2016, he has participated in numerous award juries within architectural competitions. Beginning in 2024, he will serve as a lecturer in Interior Architecture at the Fashion and Design Academy of Wiesbaden.
- Dimitris Kleanthis, Dimitris Kleantis (born 1985 in Athens) studied political science at the University of Piraeus, criminology at Panteion University of Athens, and photography at the International Center of Photography in New York. Since 2012, he has worked as an independent photographer in Athens, focusing on architectural photography and photojournalism. His work has been showcased in both group and solo exhibitions across various cultural institutions, including the Benaki Museum, the Hellenic-American Union, and the Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos.” Additionally, his photographs have appeared in several magazines and other print and digital media, such as Wallpaper *, VICE , Conde Nast Traveller, and the newspaper Kathimerini, as well as Athens Voice. Dimitris Kleantis is credited with the photographic material for the publication Athens’ Polykatoikias 1930-1975 (Kettler, Dortmund, 2023). His images also accompany Marina Warner’s recent book Temporale (Sylph Editions, London, 2023).
Exhibition Details
📷Exhibition Title: Athens’ Polykatoikias 1930-1975: Formation of a Typology
📅 Dates: Friday, February 7, 2025 – Saturday, March 1, 2025
📍 Location: Goethe-Institut Athen, Omirou 14-16, 100 33 Athens
📍 Venue: Lower Foyer
🕒 Opening Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 8 AM – 10 PM
- Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday: 8 AM – 1:30 PM
🗣 Language: English
🎟 Admission: Free Entry
📞 Contact: +30 210 366 1014 | kultur.athen@goethe.de
Source: Goethe-Institut Athen
