35. Daniel Mansion – Multiplex of Art and Thought
Brief documentation:
The building was built in the late 19th century by Isaac Daniel. Daniel was of Jewish origin and came to Xanthi from Serres, to work first as a pharmacist, then as an insurance agent of the Union de Paris company and as a tobacco merchant.
Daniel stayed in this house with his wife Sol until his death in 1924, while the latter continued to reside there until 1927. The 2nd floor of the building was rented by Georgios Hadjidakis, father of Manos, until 1930. In the early 1930s the mansion was taken over by the Greek state after being confiscated due to inheritance tax debts. Until World War II, the building housed public financial services.
During the Bulgarian occupation of 1941-1944 it was used as the headquarters of the Bulgarian army based in the region. After 1945 the building housed the local Garrison and the Conscription Service. In 2000 the building was granted to the Local Government, restored and today houses the Multiplex of Art and Thought dedicated to the memory of the famous composer born in Xanthi in 1925, Manos Hadjidakis.
The Daniel mansion occupies a total area of 1,492 square meters and was therefore known as "the Big House" or "la Grande Maison". It consists of a semi-basement, elevated ground floor, first and second floor, with two distinct functions: the residence, which is accessed from the main entrance, and the commercial use, with shops and offices, on either side of the main entrance.
The Daniel mansion is a typical example of eclectic architecture, a dominant trend of the time. The exterior of the building is characterized by the use of red bricks and ceramic elements, such as capitals, corbels and cornices, which give lightness.
Inside, the building is decorated with frescoes in all areas and with important ceiling paintings, created by artists, probably of French origin.
Category of thematic interest: ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST
History:
The building was built during the last decade of the 19th century, by Isaac Daniel. Daniel was of Jewish origin and came to Xanthi from Serres, to work initially as a pharmacist. However, it quickly took advantage of the favorable business climate created in the region by the rapid economic growth and became active in various fields, such as life and fire insurance as an insurance agent of the Union de Paris, banking and tobacco trade.
Daniel stayed in this house with his wife Sol until his death in 1924, while the latter continued to reside there until 1927. The 2nd floor of the building was rented by Georgios Hadjidakis, father of Manos, until 1930. In the early 1930s the mansion became the property of the Greek state after a confiscation and auction that took place due to debts from inheritance taxes. During the following years until World War II, the building housed public financial services, such as the local branch of the Tax Office.
During the Bulgarian occupation of 1941-1944 it was used as the headquarters of the command of the division of the Bulgarian army based in the region. After 1945 the building housed the local Garrison and the Conscription Service. In 1957 there was a fire in the building, which was damaged. In 2000 the building was granted to the Local Government, was restored and today houses the Multiplex of Art and Thought dedicated to the memory of the famous composer born in Xanthi, Manos Hadjidakis.
Elements of architecture:
The Daniel mansion occupies a total area of 1,492 square meters and was therefore known as "the Big House" or "la Grande Maison". It consists of four levels, with semi-basement, elevated ground floor, first and second floor. The building served two distinct functions: the residence, which is accessed from the main entrance, and the commercial use, with the shops and offices, which extend on either side of the main entrance, on Konitsis Street and on the Venizelos side.
The Daniel mansion is a typical example of eclectic architecture, a dominant trend of the time. The exterior of the building is characterized by the use and plot of exposed red bricks and other ceramic elements, such as capitals, corbels and cornices, which give lightness to the robust ensemble.
Description of other elements:
Inside, the building is decorated with elaborate frescoes in all areas, both in shops and residential areas, as well as very important ceiling paintings. The style of the frescoes shows that they have been created by skilled and experienced artists, probably of French origin. Particularly important are also the marble floors in checkerboard layout, in the central corridor of the ground floor, as well as the marble staircase that leads from the ground floor to the first floor.
Purpose - Use: Residence, Commercial space, Administrative building, Cultural site
Characterization: Preservable, Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/218/9600, Government Gazette 165/95
Dating (period): Late 19th century
Year of construction: Late 19th century
Location of the monument: 41.140697146693434, 24.88659082633329
Bibliographic references:
• Vasilis Aivaliotis, Xanthi sweet stepmother, PAKETHRA, Xanthi 2007
• The Daniel mansion "Grande Maison" Multispace of Art and Thought "Manos Hadjidakis" (Maria Doussis), Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace – Regional Unit Xanthi, Xanthi 2014
• Eirini Vrachlioti, "Branding of buildings with historical heritage. Case study "House of Manos Hadjidakis" in the old town of Xanthi", unpublished diploma thesis in the framework of the postgraduate program Management of Cultural Units of the School of Social Sciences of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), Athens 2020
• Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: Municipality of Xanthi, p. 150
Address: Eleftheriou Venizelou 17
Visitable: Yes