The show that aired on Saturday, March 22, 2025, included a brief tribute to the renowned architect of Mytilene, considered by many as one of the most important in contemporary Europe.

The report featured the great-granddaughter of Argyris Adalis, Konstantina Sevastou.

Watch an excerpt from the show:

As the show excerpt is only in Greek, a transcription of the excerpt is also available.

Takis Sarantis (journalist): Let’s go to Mytilene, which is characterized by its mansions. These wonderful buildings, the beautiful houses that exist there, are all creations of Argyris Adalis. Our colleague Dimitra Lachouri has provided us with images and a report from there, and I think it is very interesting. [music]

Konstantina Sevastou (great-granddaughter of A. Adalis): Welcome to his house in Akrotiri, known as the Tower. It is the treasure of my life, as are some other buildings that adorn our city. Argyris Adalis, a native of Mytilene, born to parents who came from Ayvalik, was born in Mytilene and studied in Germany.

He apprenticed near Ziller, and when he was already working and studying, Hanssen recognized his positive qualities and then took him to work with him at the library of Athens. Later, he returned to his homeland where he began to create by building all these structures, which to this day are the hallmark of our city, our island.

Behind are the portraits of the family, his own, which is a work of the Ithacan, and his wife.

Stratis Frantzescos (Architect Engineer): We are in the most emblematic building of the city and the greatest work of Adalis. In addition to the magnificent temple of Agios Therapon, which began to be built during the Ottoman rule, he has also studied many buildings. The construction was done with funds from the sultanate, which still exists in the list of philanthropic establishments of the Metropolis of Mytilene.

Efi Yalousi (Loriet Hotel / A. Vournazou’s country house): We are in one of the most stunning mansions in Greece. It has been described as a masterpiece, specifically a masterpiece of the architect Adalis, who truly did a stunning job both internally and externally.

Of course, there were the funds of the time in 1880 brought by the then merchant (Achilleas Vournazos) from Odessa, who could afford such an expensive construction. It was a fortunate coincidence.

Alekos Kiourellis (retired educator/researcher): Both Mytilene, which had Adalis during this period, and Adalis, who had Mytilene, were very lucky. Mytilene had reached its economic peak from 1850 to 1912. It had become wealthy.

So, it needed someone to invest this wealth in beautiful buildings and churches. Agios Therapon belongs to Adalis, the central high schools (then called the high school of Mytilene) are Adalis’ work, the town hall on the waterfront is Adalis’ work. So, it needed someone to breathe life into all of this.

Takis Sarantis: Wonderful mansions from a beautiful island, Lesvos.