Hellenic Ministry of National Defence Inaugurates METLEN’s Landmark Bioclimatic Façade Symbolizing Modernization and National Pride

Hellenic Ministry of National Defence Inaugurates METLEN’s Landmark Bioclimatic Façade Symbolizing Modernization and National Pride

(IN BRIEF) METLEN has completed and inaugurated the new bioclimatic façade of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence at the “Papagos” military camp in Athens, designed by artist and professor Kostas Varotsos. The 13,500 m² façade, constructed with Greek aluminum from METLEN’s “Aluminium of Greece” plant, blends energy efficiency with symbolic design, reflecting Greece’s modernization and national pride. The project also features a unique white architectural concrete staircase and redesigned green surroundings. The ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, emphasized the initiative’s national significance. As part of the wider “Redevelopment of the HMOD Surrounding Area” project, which includes the Ark of National Memory honoring 121,692 fallen soldiers, METLEN’s contribution underscores its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and patriotic duty.

(PRESS RELEASE) ATHENS, 31-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Hellenic Ministry of National Defence unveiled its striking new bioclimatic façade, a landmark project funded and implemented by METLEN, underscoring the company’s commitment to projects of national, cultural, and social significance. The inauguration ceremony, held in the courtyard of the Ministry within the “Papagos” military camp, marked the official handover of the redesigned façade and surrounding area of the historic building complex.

Designed by world-renowned artist and Professor Kostas Varotsos of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and executed by ELEMKA S.A., a METLEN subsidiary through METKA ATE, the façade spans 13,500 m² and features vertical white aluminum louvers. These louvers, crafted from Greek aluminum sourced from Greek bauxite and produced at METLEN’s “Aluminium of Greece” plant, combine aesthetic refinement with functional bioclimatic performance—enhancing natural shading and energy efficiency.

During the ceremony, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that the project symbolizes the modernization of the Hellenic Armed Forces, calling it a reflection of Greece’s broader transformation. Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias described the new façade as a “mirror of Hellenism,” representing both Greece’s enduring heritage and its forward-looking vision.

Evangelos Mytilineos, Chairman and CEO of METLEN, highlighted the company’s patriotic motivation behind the project: “This was not merely a donation but an act of national duty — a tangible tribute to our Armed Forces. Through this work, we strengthen our infrastructure, our sovereignty, and our peace. It is both symbolic and practical — a contribution to Greece’s progress and resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.”

The new façade complements the broader “Redevelopment of the HMOD Surrounding Area” initiative, which also includes the “Ark of National Memory”, another METLEN donation inaugurated earlier this year. The Ark, also designed by Varotsos, honors the 121,692 fallen soldiers who gave their lives for Greece. The Ministry’s main building — the strategic “mind” of the Armed Forces — now faces the Ark, symbolically connecting national remembrance with the nation’s defense command.

The project also introduced a monumental central staircase made of white architectural concrete — the first of its kind in a public Greek space — along with expanded green areas and modern lighting. Completed on schedule and without interrupting the Ministry’s daily functions, the project demonstrates METLEN’s precision engineering and technical excellence.

Reflecting on his inspiration, Professor Varotsos remarked, “I was given 121,000 names of fallen soldiers. I wanted them not to rest in darkness but to rise toward the light — to remind us all how valuable peace is, something the army understands profoundly.”

By delivering this emblematic bioclimatic façade, METLEN reaffirms its role as a pillar of Greek industry, combining sustainability, innovation, and artistry to contribute to Greece’s defense modernization goals under the Agenda 2030 framework.

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SOURCE: Metlen Εnergy & Metals