The largest and most beautiful fountain of the Parikia aqueduct, located across from the entrance of the mansion, was built by Ruler Nikolaos P. Mavrogenis in 1777.

The exterior of Takis Dimitrakopoulos’ neoclassical house which was built on the grounds of the former Mavrogenis Residence in 1884, and designed along the lines of academic neoclassicism.

The garden provides access to the main entrance of the house which features a double door whose inner panels are decorated with stained glass inserts.

The facade viewed from the well-kept verdant courtyard surrounding it. Neoclassical elements are prevalent.

Sober decorative elements and their combinations are suggestive of the owner’s refined taste.

Agios Nikolaos’ chapel to the left of the entrance at the eastern end of the courtyard; the old well is visible to the right. The remnants of the original building erected by Ruler Nikolaos P. Mavrogenis.

The interior aspect of the courtyard entrance looking out into Lohagou G. Gravari Street.

The old well dating back to the era of Ruler Nikolaos P. Mavrogenis.

Ancient relief embedded into the masonry around the well.

At the southern end of the courtyard, an old washing trough, on the left the small homestead.

The entrance of the residence and the main corridor leading to the rooms on the ground floor. The floor is laid with old tiles and the ceiling is painted with neoclassical motifs.

The staircase leading to the main corridor of the upper floor, also decorated with neoclassical motifs.

Part of the main corridor on the upper floor with the old wooden floor, the Art Deco seat furniture, the paintings on the wall and the elegant portmanteau.

The main hall of the mansion on the upper floor showcasing original antique furniture and household objects dating back to the 19th c. The walls are decorated with paintings, with the large gilded mirror presiding over the room.

One of the entrances leading to the main hall from the main corridor and an antique gramophone, still in working order.

All the bedrooms are on the second floor, afford magnificent views over the garden, and are bathed in the sunlight. The furniture and household objects are authentically antique and very well-preserved. The walls are decorated with paintings including works by the current owner.

The ground-floor space that has been converted into an art studio by the owner, Susan Daboll.

Α new addition to the home accommodates modern-day needs.

Detail of the corridor ceiling on the ground floor.

Parikia’s emblematic neoclassical mansion

Text: Avgi Kalogianni | Photos: Vaggelis Fragkakis

DIMITRAKOPOULOS RESIDENCE


Almost halfway along Lohagou G. Gravari Street, which is lined with most of the neoclassical buildings of Parikia, rises the imposing Dimitrakopoulos Residence. A building that you can hardly pass by without pausing to admire, even though it is located in one of the busiest and most commercial parts of the city. The neoclassical Dimitrakopoulos Residence – the former Mavrogenis Residence, along with the fountain of the same name that stands directly across from the entrance, form an ensemble that comes from a bygone era, having a life of its own impervious to the activity taking place all around it.

The Dimitrakopoulos Residence, boasting an exquisite blooming garden that invites you to peer through the outer iron gate – an oasis of peace and quiet amidst the hustle and bustle of summer-time Parikia, a well-kept colourful exterior, and marble corbels upholding the balcony with the elegant iron railing, is one of the finest examples of academic neoclassicism on the island of Paros.

The building is of special interest as its history is closely intertwined with the three great aristocratic families of the island – the Mavrogenises, the Dimitrakopouloses and the Crispises – while being an architectural gem due to its original design and its time-defying durability. This is owed to the meticulous renovation undertaken by Takis Dimitrakopoulos, a descendant of the Society of Friends’ member, Panagiotis Dimitrakopoulos. Takis Dimitrakopoulos has recently passed away leaving the house in the care of his wife, Susan Daboll.

This neoclassical mansion was built by Panagiotis Dimitrakopoulos, Takis’ grandfather, on the grounds of the former Mavrogenis Residence, which he had bought from Markos Matsas-Mavrogenis in 1875. The original edifice was torn down by the new owner and in its place was erected the present structure in 1884, as indicated by the inscription to the right of the entrance, which would serve as a residence for him and the family that he was to start after his marriage to Ekaterini Crispi.

Looking closely at the building’s plans, one may readily see that the rules of neoclassical architecture have been observed to the letter, not only in the exterior aspects of the house, but also in the layout of the interior spaces. Externally, we find all those refinements that typify neoclassical buildings, namely the plaster reliefs in the form of vertical pilasters or horizontal cornices, the marble corbels with the floral carvings, the balconies with the iron railings, the tiled roof as well as their signature warm colours that make them stand out in marked contrast to the surrounding traditional white-washed Cycladic houses.

On the ground floor, according to the original design, at least, were reception hallways, the kitchen, as well as auxiliary spaces, while on the first floor, the bedrooms were arrayed on either side of a central corridor.

A reasonable question that arises after the study of this residence in particular, and the neoclassical houses of Paros in general, is that of who the architects behind these mansions were, and what the island was like at the turn of the 20th century, when most of them were built.

At that time, Paros projected an image of prosperity, with merchants, sailors and politicians, as well as leading landowners from the old-time Venetian aristocracy seeking to show off their social status through their private homes. We know that, at that time, several public works were being carried out, and that the supervising engineers were also commissioned to design and construct a number of private residences during their stay on the island.

A prominent figure during the decade 1847-1857 is that of the renowned architect and urban planner Stamatis Kleanthis who was then active as an entrepreneur exploiting the marble quarries.

Hence, the current image of the island’s capital is the result of the harmonious blending of the neoclassical architecture of the 1900s with the traditional Cycladic architecture. Declared a listed historic settlement thanks to Nikos Zafeiropoulos, Superintendent of Antiquities of the Cyclades in the 1960s, Parikia largely preserves its authentic character, which must be further conserved at all costs.

Sources: G. Triantafyllos, “A visit to a mansion house of Paros,” Pariana, No 146. Emm. Marmaras & Ir. Panagiotopoulou, “Neoclassicism in the architecture of Paros,” Society for Cycladic Studies Yearbook, Volume XV, 1994.