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Park of the Koundouros’ Villa - Operator: CHANIA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC BENEFIT ENTERPRISE FOR CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT - CENTRE FOR MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURE
- Address: 2 Iroon Polytechneiou Street (View Location on Google Maps)
The residence of Manousos Koundouros (who served as member of the Greek parliament) was built by the engineer Michalis Savvakis and is located at the far end of Iroon Polytechneiou Street just above the sea.
It is a detached house built in 1909. The main features of the residence are a small balcony on its northern side and the fact that when seen from above it is wider in its western part. There is a small tower in the northwest corner which is considered a trademark element in Savvakis’ buildings. Savvakis also built the Courthouse-Regional Administration building and the Despotiko (the residence of the Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas).
The reception areas and the study are located on the ground floor and the private rooms on the first floor. The influence of western architecture on Michalis Savvakis’ works becomes evident by the design of the stone carvings that envelop the circular plaque which features the date of construction of the residence.
The exterior plasters with the straight dark lines produce a warm brick red/ochre colour tone. The doors of the patio are among the most beautiful in the city with elaborate entwined railings and there is plenty of free space around the residence where palm trees have been planted.
Manousos Koundouros was one of most reputed politicians of Crete and pioneered the 1895 Revolution.