In the present study is investigated the historical and sociopolitical context through which the new city of Volos was created in relation to the architectural production from its liberation in 1881 until the prevalence of modernism by the end of 1930s.
Enlightenment and liberalism of that age are spread from the repatriated merchants from Pelion region and consist the starting point for the development of the new city. As a result of the continuous growth of trading and the initiatives taken from its greater area residents; Volos evolved into a powerful industrial city of the beginning of 20th century. Urbanization and the socioeconomical transformations have resulted in an emergent middle class that had a sound presence through the active participation in the local and social hierarchy whereas it focused in sectors of cultural expression, education and art.
The architectural standards of Academism are deployed from the official state and change dynamically the view of the then Ottoman prefecture; while the upper class that initially adopts neoclassicism is afterwards looking for new standards due to its wish for social distinction and projection. The modern waves of that age like eclecticism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and idioms from the local tradition of other countries (regionalism) will enrich the architectural repertoire of the greater area, while the local architectural tradition will diminish in an effort to relieve from the Ottoman past until the emergence of the movement “Return to the roots” during the decade of 1930.
This study was based on research of bibliography, public and private data and insitu surveys. It is attempted to record the architectural production of the examined period that concerns demolished or existing buildings. The classification is done according to the type of each building (typology) and its morphological characteristics (morphology) in public or publicly operated buildings and houses.