Neoclassical and eclectic buildings of Old Xanthi
This route is about 3 km, about 80 minutes and of moderate difficulty. It starts from Antikas Square and ends at the border of the old town with the modern city to the west. Through this route, the visitor has the opportunity to get to know the practice of neoclassicism and eclecticism, as expressed in about 50 buildings of old Xanthi.

Neoclassicism appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries and is strongly influenced by the principles governing the architecture of classical antiquity. The buildings are distinguished for the simplicity of their geometric forms, the Doric detail, the simplicity, the absolute symmetry, the dividing lines of the vertical spreads and the pilasters with false capitals at the corners.

Eclecticism, on the other hand, is the architectural style of the 19th and 20th centuries, in which a variety of elements from various eras and styles are selected and used, in a single building. The eclectic buildings in Xanthi are influenced by neoclassicism (e.g. absolute symmetry, verticality), while individual elements are influenced by Art Deco (e.g. strong decorative mood), central Europe (e.g. turret roof configuration or turret development), English Baroque (e.g. the use of red brick) and Romanesque style (e.g. arched openings and curved arches).

55. Shop and house of Alexiou – Kokori

Brief documentation:

The building on the corner of Orfeos and Filippou Amiridis streets was constructed at an unknown date, initially to function as a shop on the ground floor and a residence on the first floor. It belonged to Thomas Alexiou (1925-2001), who also served as MP for Xanthi. The Alexiou family was engaged in confectionery. The building was resold by the heirs of the family in 2000 to new owners and operates as a café-bar, one of many in this area.
It is located on Orfeos Street, which is one of the most central and busiest streets in the traditional settlement of old Xanthi.
It is a two-storey tiled building with a scholarly urban style and neoclassical elements, which are particularly distinct in the frames of the windows on the upper floor.
Initially, the ground floor housed a pastry shop, while the first floor was the owner's residence.
The windows of the first floor are covered with shutters of French type, while the iron construction of the ground floor with the decorated cast iron columns is also interesting.


Category of thematic interest:  ARCHITECTURAL / HISTORICAL INTEREST


History:

The building was constructed at an unknown date, to function as a shop on the ground floor and a residence on the first floor. It originally belonged to Thomas Alexiou (1925-2001), who also served as MP for Xanthi. The Alexiou family was engaged in confectionery. The building was resold by the heirs in 2000 to new owners and operates as a café-bar, in one of the most central streets of old Xanthi.


Elements of architecture:

It is a two-storey tiled building with a scholarly urban style and neoclassical elements, especially in the frames of the windows on the first floor.
Initially, the ground floor housed a pastry shop, while the first floor was the owner's residence.


Description of other elements:

The windows of the first floor are covered with French shutters, while the iron construction of the ground floor with the decorated cast iron columns is also interesting.


Purpose - Use: Residence, Commercial space


Characterization: Institution of the Ministry of Culture, Decision DILAP/C/1895/30606, Government Gazette 483/87


Dating (period): Unknown


Year of construction: Unknown


Location of the monument: 41.143021634440586, 24.887428179541114


Bibliographic references:

•    Katsari-Vafiadis, J. Ed. 2023. "History and recording of the neoclassical buildings of the traditional settlement". Xanthi: Municipality of Xanthi, p. 91


 Address: Orfeos 6


Visitable: Yes

 

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