Athens is set to gain a new cultural landmark dedicated to the Greek War of Independence, with the abandoned former Athens Military Bakery in Goudi becoming the centrepiece of the new National Museum for 1821.
The historic complex, located beside the National Glyptotheque at the Alsos Stratou military park, also includes the former Public Power Corporation substation and the prison of the “Six”, which together will be transformed into a modern museum complex.
The project will move forward thanks to a major double donation from the “Antonios E. Komninos” Foundation, which has contributed around 100 works from its philhellenic collection and €12 million to restore the buildings and convert them into museum-standard facilities.
The new museum will operate under the authority of the Ministry of National Defence, while the National Gallery will oversee its administration and management. The National Glyptotheque, which already operates on the same site in two former royal stable buildings, also falls under the National Gallery’s authority.
The donation agreement was formally signed by Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, National Gallery President Olga Mentzafou and foundation president and donor Antonis Komninos.
The initiative began in February when shipping entrepreneur and collector Antonis Komninos donated approximately 100 works by Greek and international artists with links to philhellenism to the National Gallery. The latest €12 million contribution will fund the restoration of the 6,000-square-metre complex, which was built in stages between 1907 and 1930.
The former Military Bakery will play a central role in the museum. The listed industrial building, designed in an interwar architectural style influenced by European modernism, has remained abandoned despite receiving heritage protection from both the former Ministry of Environment and Public Works and the Ministry of Culture.
Years of neglect have left the building severely deteriorated, with extensive damage visible both inside and outside the structure.
Museum Content
The National Museum for 1821 will focus on the Greek Revolution, philhellenism and other European revolutions of the 19th century.
Its permanent collection will primarily feature works from the Antonios E. Komninos Foundation collection, which the National Gallery will make available to the new institution. The collection previously appeared in exhibitions at the Benaki Museum in Athens in 2021, marking the bicentenary of the Revolution, and later at the Tellogleion Foundation Arts Centre in Thessaloniki.
Among the highlights are important works such as The Death of Lambros Tzavellas by Ludovico Lipparini and The Daughter of Athens by Theodoros Vryzakis, alongside creations by renowned artists including British landscape painter Edward Lear and German historical painter Peter von Hess.
The permanent exhibition will also include historical artefacts, artworks and documents from the collections of the National Gallery and other public and private institutions.
Preliminary studies for the museum conversion have already been completed and will be finalised under the supervision of the National Gallery. The donor’s goal is for construction work to finish within the next two years.