Draft:Mela Megaron

Mela Megaron (Greek : Μέγαρο Μελά) is a neoclassical building located on Kotzia Square, in Athens center.

It covers the entire building block surrounded by Aiolou, Sofokleous, Streit and Kratinou streets. The main entrance is located on Kotzia square, facing the neoclassical building of Athens City Hall.

History
The Megaron belonged to the Greek Vasileios Melas (died 1884), a merchant active in Odessus and London, that bought the building block at the northeastern corner of then name Ludovikou Square (nowdays Kotzia Square) and assigned the architecture design of the two-storey building to the famous German Architect Ernst Ziller. The building was completed by 1874 by the contructor Michael Perros, and at the time it was the largest privately-owned building in Greece.

Mela Megaron first operated as a hotel, named "Grand Hotel d' Athènes", with its usual clientele being Greeks visiting Athens from abroad. Starting 1881, it housed Athens Stock Exchange for a short time period.

Following the death of Vasileios Melas in Paris 1884, Mela Megaron passed according to his will to the Melas Pre-School Association, a founfation still active to this day, with the indent of building and maintain pre-school facilities. During the years 1900 - 1973, Mela Megaron housed the headquarters of the central Athens Post-Office.

In 1974, Mela Megaro was declared a listed building by the Greek Ministry of Culture, as a latest-era monument and since 1979 it is leased and used by the National Bank of Greece.

Special architectural features of the building, are the four corner turrets, its elegant ground floor central patio, the ornamental Caryatids, as well as the circular reliefs with Hermes' busts.

Links

 * Old pictures of Mela Megaron
 * Vasileios Melas Foundation.