Nikolaos Balanos

Νikolaos Βalanos (also Nikolaos M. Mpalanos, Greek Νικόλαος Μπαλάνος, * 1860 in Athens ; † September 22, 1942 ibid) was a Greek architect and building researcher .

Life

Balanos on the Parthenon frieze

Balanos studied at the Paris Bridge Building School and then returned to Athens, where, after working in the construction departments of various ministries, he became director of the technical service at the Ministry of Culture in Athens. The British administration in Cyprus commissioned Balanos with the design and implementation of the Cyprus Museum .

He became known through the anastilosis of buildings on the Athens Acropolis (the Propylaea , the Erechtheion , as well as the correction of the reconstruction of the temple of Nikes ) since 1899. With the anastilosis of the north side of the Parthenon (1922–1930) and parts of the south side (1932–1930) 1933) the main damage caused by the explosion of the Turkish powder magazine in 1687 could be repaired. Balanos was later charged with the fact that the iron clamps used were not protected against corrosion and consequently led to damage and had to be replaced; however, for his time, the use of this material was completely normal.

On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the University of Würzburg , Balanos was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Philosophical Faculty in 1932.

Publications

• Η αναστήλωση της βόρειας κιονοστοιχίας του Παρθενώνα ( The Anasilosis of the North Side of the Parthenon ), Athens 1925
• Τα μνημεία της Ακροπόλεως, αποτύπωση και συντήρηση ( The Monuments of the Acropolis ), Athens 1938