Center for Hellenic Culture 'Efklides'
Greek Colony, Jerusalem
Identity A unique buildling built by Dr. Efklides
for his family in the early 20th century in the Greek Colony of Jerusalem.
This historic building was saved from demolition by accident, and was restored
to serve as a Center for Hellenic culture in the heart of the Greek Colony
of Jerusalem. Other Greek institutions in the neighborhood include the Greek
Community Center on Yoshua Bin Nun street, and the General Consulate of
Greece on Rachel Imenu street.
Organization The restoration followed the existing historic
fabric of the building, making minor interventions where needed. For example,
upgrading of the electric and mechanical systems, replacement of floors
and wall tiles in bathrooms - which were damaged and replaced in the 1950s
with non-historic finishes, creation of a new kitchen, and replacement of
damaged doors to match the existing historic design. The result was meant
to feel as if it retained its historic flavor and finishes, as much as possible.
Regarding the design of the kitchen at one end of the main hall, a Greek
design invention was employed: borrowing the solution of a Greek cemetery
entrance gate at the Abu Tor neighborhood, the kitchen is hidden behind
a symmetrical arch which is skewed to accommodate the existing exit door,
in a false perspective manner - very similar to the solution at the Greek
cemetery gate.
Materials Concrete blocks, concrete decorative tiles, wooden
doors, sheetrock for the upgraded suspended ceilings, new classical-style
ceramic tiles and colorful mosaic for the bathroom walls and floor respectively.
The project was completed in 1997.