Thessaloniki is a city with a vast ancient, Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish past and an increasingly extroverted and modern present, as reflected in its architecture. Anyone coming to Thessaloniki on the final weekend of the month, on 26 and 27 November will get the chance to enjoy taking an architectural tour – completely free of charge – in some of the city’s most important buildings and spaces.
A community of architecture fans Thessaloniki will be transformed into an open-air museum as part of Open House Thessaloniki. It’s not by chance that in 2019 (in 2020 there was no tour at all, while in 2021 there were only walking tours outdoors due to the pandemic) the tours had over 50,000 attendees. “We started in 2012, in the midst of the financial crisis and the year marking a century since the city’s liberation,” says Renata Douma, architect and communications officer of Open House. Douma was studying in London when she and some Greek friends came across the Open House concept (the initiative was originally launched in London in 1992). Finding it fascinating, they decided to introduce the event to Greece, launching it first in Thessaloniki and later in Athens.
Now, for one weekend every year, public and private buildings are opened to architecture aficionados who get to visit them for free. Accessing the city inside and out. This year’s Open House in Thessaloniki will be based around showing, as in earlier years, some of the city’s most historical landmarks, such as Bezesteini, the famous villas in the Exochi district and more, including modern buildings, hotels, houses and even the Toumba Stadium. “The special thing about Open House is that people can even enter private buildings, from old and modern or renovated houses to professional offices and hotels. And of course, people have the opportunity to see buildings housing a museum or agency from a very different perspective via the tour,” says Duma.
Tours are conducted by over 500 Open House volunteers, many of them architecture students. “The event was embraced by the public right from the start,” Duma says, “and over these 10 years, we have seen a growing number of people interested in learning about the history, and especially “micro-history”, of the city. Architecture is certainly one way to make that happen. At the same time, in recent years, after overcoming the great economic crisis, we also see important architectural developments in the city, such as renovations of houses and changes in the use of particularly interesting buildings. Thessaloniki has all the potential of becoming the leading metropolis in the Balkans and architecture can greatly contribute to this,” he concludes.
The next date for the Greek Open House is scheduled in Athens on 9 and 10 April 2023.
Top recommendations for places not to miss seeing at the Thessaloniki Open House 2022:
Villa Hafiz Bay
Mansion of the Countryside Quarter, built in 1879. Since 1948 it has housed the Centre for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind.
Neoclassical building on Plouto street
Residence built in 1933. Renovated in 1998, it currently houses commercial premises. Pipergias Constructions office will open, housed on the ground floor.
Fath Mansion
Preserved building housing the Philoptochos Brotherhood of Men of Thessaloniki. The Art Hall, winner of the A’ Design Award competition (Interior Space and Exhibition Design category), and the Museum, designed in 2010-11, will be open to visitors.
Conservation house in the settlement of Uziel
One of the 28 detached houses in the preserved settlement of Uziel, built in 1928 and restored in 2019.
Levi’s lodge – Menexe
Office building built in 1928, also known as the Maison Bourla. The offices of SYMVOLI Conference & Cultural Management, on the 3rd floor, will be open to visitors.
Monastery Synagogue
Jewish synagogue built in 1927 and renovated in 2016.
Villa Mordechai
Perhaps the most imposing eclectic building in the Countryside Quarter. It was built in 1905 and today it houses the 5th district of the municipality of Thessaloniki.
Modiano Market
The renovation of the closed historic food market, almost a century old, has been completed.
Open Walks
Themed walks guide us to aspects of the city less known, but of particular interest, both architecturally and historically. This year, the walks will take place on the same weekend as the main event, complementing the tours of the buildings. The tours are free of charge and no reservations need to be made. Attendees are welcomed to each group on a first-come, first-served basis.
For your accommodation trust the Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki
If you’re visiting Thessaloniki to admire the city’s architectural past and present, the Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki is a wonderful choice for a place to stay. Offering everything you would expect from a five star city hotel with all the amenities of a wellness city resort, is in itself a reason to visit the city. It has comfortable rooms, an elegant lounge and impeccable service. What makes it even more special are its large, lush gardens with a walking path, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and the Harmonia Spa with personalised programmes for a true wellness experience, and the Osteostrong centre with its innovative methods of strengthening the musculoskeletal system. Even if you live in Thessaloniki, it’s well worth visiting the hotel for a rare gastronomic experience. Ambrosia restaurant has a menu curated by executive chef Apostolos Altanis that offers the best of traditional Greek cuisine with a creative twist.
Chic entertainment at the Regency Casino Thessaloniki
Don’t miss out on visiting the Regency Casino Thessaloniki, where the live events and other surprises such as exciting cash draws are just some of the reasons to go. The Regency Casino also offers some excellent fine dining options at Alfredo’s and cocktails at Ian’s Lounge Bar, with its wide range of classic and innovative drinks. If you want quality food with unlimited refills for just 14 euros, visit La Terrasse restaurant.
Greek song nights at Vergina Theatro
Right next to the casino is an oasis of musical entertainment. Every Friday and Saturday popular Greek singers Kostas Makedonas and Penny Baltatzi perform at the Vergina Theatro with a vibrant program that usually gets audiences dancing and singing along.
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