OTE: The history of telecommunications in Greece through emblematic buildings

The architectural plans of the Administration Building in Maroussi, YMA-NYMA on Patision Street, Pyrgos Thessaloniki and many other emblematic buildings of the OTE Group are presented to the public for the first time through the album “From recording to the unexpected: Archive of OTE Building Studies” .

Through the plans of important architects and engineers for constructions innovative for their time, the album includes 500 plans of important OTE buildings from 1930 to 2000 that marked the history of architecture and were identified with the history of the country’s telecommunications. The album is available to the public at electronic form but also a printed collector’s edition.

“Telecommunications have changed radically and rapidly. In our country this development is inextricably linked to the OTE Group and its people. The architectural plans of OTE buildings, documents of great historical value, which were kept for years in its” sanctuaries ” “They are published for the first time to the public. This publication is dedicated to all the people of the OTE Group, who for seven decades have been working with faith, passion and commitment to create a better world for all.” states in his message the President and CEO of OTE Group, Michalis Tsamaz.

The scientific and historical study of the entire Telecommunications Archive of OTE Building Studies, which includes more than 90,000 building plans, the publication of the album and the digitization of 3,000 plans, are a legacy for the future. It is part of the cultural heritage of Greece, the history of telecommunications and OTE in our country.

The task of studying, processing and presenting thousands of designs was undertaken by a special scientific team. The aim of the publication was to record the most valuable buildings of the Organization and to highlight the high scientific level of the relevant studies that were prepared. This is an excellent presentation of plans & buildings that are landmarks of Greece, representative examples of modernism, postmodernism, traditional and historical settlements.

In the final result of the album, the archival material is utilized in combination with bibliographic research, oral interviews-testimonies of OTE engineers and external collaborators of engineers, specialist scientists, University Professors and OTE people.

The OTE Building Design Archive, which is available to the public and researchers, enriches the rich archival collection of the Telecommunications Museum, which aims to preserve and disseminate the history of telecommunications.