Ethniki Insurance Company Building

The building’s history begins in 1894, when the insurance company “Ethniki” bought the Rosels residence on Korai Street and established its headquarters there.

In 1934 it was decided to erect a new, modern building that would meet the company’s needs, and the distinguished architects Lykoudis, Axelos and Kriezis undertook to draw up the design according to the specifications given to them by “Ethniki”. Construction began in 1936 and within two and a half years a modern building was delivered, in line with the ideas prevailing in Europe at the time (central heating, lifts, central plumbing and – unprecedented by Greek private-sector standards – an air-raid shelter). During the Occupation the building was requisitioned by the German troops and various German military services were installed there, among them the notorious Kommandantur (garrison headquarters).

The air-raid shelter in the basement was turned into a prison and a prisoner-transfer unit, mainly for Greek patriots sentenced to death. After the Liberation the building was requisitioned by EAM, later by the British and finally by the government, which installed the electricity distribution company there.

After the building was handed back, the owning company carried out extensive renovation and maintenance work, and the basement was converted into a Place of Historical Memory in honour of the Greek patriots who suffered in the detention cells of the German occupiers.