Historic Alexandros Soutsos residence in Athens moves to restoration tender

The property in question is the Alexandros Soutsos Residence, located at 47 Stadiou Street, which is set to acquire a new cultural purpose as the home of the Theatre Museum’s Archive and Library.

By ministerial decision dated 6 November 2026, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni approved the tender documents and the launch of an open competitive tendering procedure below the EU threshold for the selection of a contractor.

The contract, entitled “Structural Stabilisation, Restoration and Conservation of the Modern Monument at 47 Stadiou Street, Athens, and Its Adaptive Reuse as the Theatre Museum Archive and Library”, constitutes the first sub-project of the wider initiative. The project forms part of the Integrated Territorial Investment for the Culture Sector and is funded through the Attica Programme under the 2021–2027 NSRF.

The total budget of the initiative amounts to €9 million, covering the broader restoration and adaptive reuse programme.

The intervention concerns a listed modern monument with a total surface area of 1,974 sq m, comprising a basement, ground floor, ground-floor mezzanine, first and second floors, and an attic. The design provides for the restoration of the building’s original architectural character, alongside the structural reinforcement works and adaptations required to meet contemporary operational standards.

Key interventions include the structural stabilisation of the building, the restoration and conservation of historic structural and architectural elements, energy efficiency upgrades, the installation of modern electromechanical systems and comprehensive fire protection measures. Particular emphasis is placed on accessibility for people with disabilities, with provisions for appropriate adaptations, ramps, platform lifts and signage systems.

The works will need to balance the requirements of heritage conservation with the demanding operational needs of a modern archival and exhibition facility.

How the Building’s Spaces Will Be Used

According to the comprehensive museological and exhibition design study, the library stacks will be accommodated in the basement and the new mezzanine level. This arrangement is dictated by the enhanced structural load-bearing requirements arising from the weight of the collections.

The remaining floors will accommodate a reading room, educational programme rooms, digital collections facilities, administrative offices and supporting spaces.

A permanent exhibition is also planned, complementing the Library and Archive and serving as a precursor to the larger Theatre Museum exhibition scheduled to open at the Pireos 260 complex.

The property’s adaptive reuse will also require the installation of appropriate digital equipment to serve researchers and visitors and facilitate the presentation of archival material.

A Property with a Two-Century History

The Soutsos Residence forms part of the historic architectural frontage of Stadiou Street, one of Athens’ most important commercial thoroughfares since the mid-19th century. The property belongs to the Alexandros Soutsos bequest, administered by the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum.

Successive alterations to the building to accommodate commercial uses had caused significant problems with its structural integrity. Commercial operations were permanently discontinued in 2012, while subsequent damage caused by the 2018 earthquake and the fire of May 2020 further deteriorated its condition.

The restoration process had already entered the study and design phase several years earlier. The Ministry of Culture provided €1.3 million in funding for the preparation of the restoration study, while the museological study outlining the property’s new use was completed in 2026.