In the light of socio-economic organization of the city of Volos and the parameters that have contributed to shaping its particular urbanization, is approached the degree of correlation of local groups with the architecture of the Modern in the period since the early 30’s to the late 60’s.
The city of Volos constituted a purely urban centre during the inter-war period. The intense process of urbanization was a phenomenon directly related to social and economic changes. The rapidly growing economy of the city, through its commercial and industrial activity, led to the emergence of a dynamic group of bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie was strengthened and reinforced while claiming leadership in the social hierarchy and local developments. The economic and social dynamism is reflected in the intellectual and cultural movement and interest in issues of art, literature and education. The anxious bourgeoisie is in contact with the broader current developments making itself a carrier of innovation and modernity.
The architecture is conscripted to express social recognition and differentiation from previous economic oligarchies through the establishment of a new identity. The prevailing bourgeoisie is trying to enforce standards, raise its ideals and be synchronized with the broader mainstream of leadership. These reasons lead to the adoption of the newest currents and prevalence of the Modern with the simultaneous recession from the standards of academicism or historism that characterized the architecture of previous period. Renowned architects move standards in Volos as these are shaped in Europe or Athens and apply the principles of modern architecture. The effect of other currents of the period (art-déco, art-nouveau, regionalism, hellenism), the survival of classicism (neoclassicism, eclecticism), as well as the particular preferences of architects and owners are the factors of adoption of different versions of Modern. The individual mind can integrate more or less innovative elements or indicate transition processes. In the early postwar decades, given the recession of the city and the controlled reconstruction after the earthquakes of 1955, the Modern survives in the form of postwar Modernism through its acceptance mainly in public architecture and later the architecture of blocks of flats.
The work is based on a bibliographic search, research in archives and fieldwork. An attempt is made to record the named architectural production of Modern in Volos, covering the period 1930-1970 with a borderline of the earthquakes of 1955. Registration concerns either existing or demolished buildings or backlog of studies. The categorization is based on typological criteria (public buildings, buildings of public use, residence) and morphological (pure modern, art-déco – modern, classical modern, traditional modern). Issues of typology and morphology are approached, as well as the role of the architects regarding their projects and customers.