The inauguration ceremony for the new, state-of-the-art bioclimatic façade of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence took place yesterday in the courtyard of the Ministry, a landmark donation by METLEN. In line with its long-standing commitment to supporting projects of high social, cultural, and national significance, the company funded and implemented the complete redesign of the façade and surrounding area of the historic building complex of the Ministry, located at the “Papagos” military camp.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined the importance of this initiative, stating: “In this new image of the Ministry and the camp surrounding it, one can see reflected the ambitious and bold transformation — the necessary modernization of the Hellenic Armed Forces.” You can read the Prime Minister’s full speech at the following link: https://www.primeminister.gr/2025/10/29/37234
For his part, Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias emphasized: “The new façade of the Ministry of Defence is not only an architectural creation but also a grand mirror. It reflects the uninterrupted continuity of Hellenism — its history and its journey toward the future.” You can read the Minister’s full speech on the website of the Ministry of National Defence: “Presence of Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias at the unveiling ceremony of the new bioclimatic façade of HMOD.”
The project, designed by internationally acclaimed artist and Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Kostas Varotsos, was implemented by ELEMKA S.A., a specialized company of METKA ATE, a subsidiary of METLEN. Utilizing advanced equipment and adhering to the highest quality and safety standards, the project was completed under the supervision of METLEN’s experienced engineers.
The new façade, covering an area of 13,500 m², features vertical white aluminum louvers that combine high aesthetic value with bioclimatic design, providing natural shading and improved energy performance.
It is worth noting that the louvers were made of Greek aluminum, produced from Greek bauxite and manufactured at METLEN’s “Aluminium of Greece” plant.
Evangelos Mytilineos, Chairman and CEO of METLEN, stated: “METLEN did not simply make a donation. We responded to an obvious patriotic duty and are deeply honored to have had the opportunity to pay tribute to the Ministry of National Defence, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, and the General Staffs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, in a tangible, practical, yet deeply symbolic way.With an intervention of high aesthetic and functional value at this historic and emblematic building, we reinforce the Armed Forces — their infrastructure, their systems, and above all their people. In doing so, we strengthen our national power and sovereignty, our deterrent capability, and the protection of our national territory. We safeguard peace and stability in our region. This is the essential prerequisite, together with democracy, social cohesion, and inclusion, for Greece’s progress and the prosperity of its people — in a volatile, uncertain, and dangerous world that has lost many of the certainties we once took for granted.”
The project also includes a monumental central entrance staircase made of white architectural concrete — the first of its kind and scale in a public space in Greece — and a complete redesign of the surrounding area, featuring enhanced greenery and modern lighting. The works were completed on time and to the highest technical standards, without disrupting the Ministry’s daily operations, which is a testament to the precision and reliability of METLEN’s construction expertise.
Professor Kostas Varotsos commented: “I began by creating a monument. I was given in my hands 121,000 names of fallen soldiers — those who gave their lives so that we could be here. I didn’t want to place them in a tomb; I wanted them to hover toward the light. I wanted it to remind everyone how precious peace is — something only the army truly understands, because it knows the meaning of war.”
The delivery of the new façade forms part of the broader “Redevelopment of the HMOD Surrounding Area” project, which also includes the Ark of National Memory — another emblematic METLEN donation. The new bioclimatic façade of the Ministry’s main building, housing the strategic command center — the “mind” of the Armed Forces — faces the Ark of National Memory, symbolically bowing to the 121,692 names of those who fell in service to the Nation.
The “Ark”, also designed by Professor Varotsos, was inaugurated last March and stands as a monument of honor and remembrance for all who sacrificed their lives for their country. The project forms part of the “Agenda 2030”, the strategic modernization framework for Greece’s Armed Forces and the Ministry’s infrastructure.
Through the donation and construction of the new bioclimatic façade of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, METLEN reaffirms its role as a pillar of Greek industry, actively supporting projects of national importance that combine innovation, technical excellence, and lasting social impact.
