The Vallianeion Hall, a historic landmark building in Athens, will reopen to the public in 2026, following maintenance and restoration work on the coffered ceiling of the iconic Reading Room and the Prodomos, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The coffers of the building were intact until the start of the work last July. Before the process began, there was extensive collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and studies on their structure and construction materials. The interventions involve the reinforcement and restoration of areas with cracks and losses, the cleaning of surfaces and painted decorations, as well as the local color restoration of selected areas. The site remained closed from the end of 2023 for the safety of visitors and the smooth progress of the repairs.

The results of the interventions carried out so far on the coffered ceilings are impressive, as they have restored and highlighted the original form and aesthetics of this unique decorative element.

Each intervention is carried out with respect for the authenticity and unique character of the monument, as the National Library of Greece is responsible for the preservation, protection, and promotion of its historical collection. The aim is for this project to be the catalyst for the overall restoration of the monument and its historical identity.

The Vallianio Building, the historic headquarters of the National Library of Greece, is an architectural “gem,” part of the neoclassical “Athens Trilogy” along with the main building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Academy of Athens building.

It was designed by Theophilos Hansen, under the construction supervision of Ernst Ziller, and completed in 1902 thanks to a donation from the Vallianos brothers. The Megaron has been declared a monument by the Ministry of Culture and combines historical memory with the architectural heritage of our country, constituting a “living” part of Athens’ identity.

The project is being implemented by the National Library of Greece with the support of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, and in particular the Directorate of Technical Services, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, specifically the General Directorate of Restoration, Museums and Technical Works, the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, the Service of Modern Monuments and Technical Works of Attica, Eastern Sterea and the Cyclades, as well as the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments, which is supervising the work. The work was undertaken, following a public tender, by a specialized maintenance company, after approval of the relevant study by the Central Council of Modern Monuments of the Ministry of Culture.