Atelier of the painter Nikos Nikolaou in Aegina
Atelier of the painter Nikos Nikolaou in Aegina
The residence / Atelier of the painter Nikos Nikolaou (1909-1986) in Aegina, has been recently renovated and will be open to the public soon.
The painter Nikos Nikolaou and his wife Angela settled in Aegina in 1964, and their home became a regular haunt for art lovers and intellectuals.
Renovation work began in 2019, with the refurbishment of the house and grounds and the creation of five guesthouses. Recently the studios were included in the list of the 10 best hotels in Greece for 2020, according to Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
The renovation was carried out with respect for the history of the painter and his wife, retaining the atmosphere of warm hospitality for which the house was famous.
Starting from the front room—originally the painter’s first studio and later his sitting room—and based on the photographic records and the family’s memories, the idea was to restore the various objects and artworks in their original place and thus reconstruct the atmosphere in which Nikolaou lived.
The art collection belongs to the family of Angela Nikolaou, Theodore, Christina, Daphne and Philippos Zoumboulakis.
The project was supervised by the architectural firm of Theodore Zoumboulakis (https://www.zoumboulakisarchitects.gr/el/).
The surrounding space is instrumental in the feeling of serenity that visitors get from the very first moment. Pistachio, fig and olive trees and rosemary bushes swathe in scents and colours the main residence and the outbuildings.
Guesthouse residents have access to all communal areas and can enjoy the sunset sitting on the stone benches where the Aegina ‘gang’ used to meet every afternoon: Nikolaou, Moralis, Kapralos, Elytis, and others.
The sculpture “Aegina” by Yannis Moralis (donated by Peggy Zoumboulaki) was placed across the way from the Nikolaou estate, as a reflection of the close friendship between the two men but also as a landmark of a neighbourhood with the houses of several major artists.
The atelier of the painter Nikolaou is open for visits every Saturday 18:30-19:30 during the summer months.
Atelier Nikolaou – Nikolaou Residence
39 Nikou Kazantzaki Street, Plakakia, Aegina
Tel: +30 6981 870416
