Anecdotal observations - Building blocks of Greek architecture

With the exception of museums and governmental buildings, nearly all basic contemporary Greek architecture is based on the cube:  a slab of concrete, rebar reinforced columns, and a slab ceiling which overhangs the lower cube and with the rebar sticking through the "roof".

There may be multiple rooms or floors working off the same cube design (see above), but we have seen hundreds of empty open structures like these.

Comparing them against houses and commercial buildings in use, it seems clear that the eventual owner can design any interior walls, exterior windows and doors, and add handrails to stairs or balconies.  Thus, the standard floor to ceiling opening can house a garage door, a series of decorative and/or display windows, sliding doors, or a fill of concrete wall.

(6x6x2 design filling in second floor openings for windows and doors)

(an eight cube design - 2x3, with 2x1 on top)

(a series of upper and lower level cubes in both directions)

Many residences may leave part of the house unfinished, usually the roof, but it could also be the entire second floor.

(first floor commercial businesses; second floor/roof unfinished)

In other European countries, we are aware that taxes are not paid until the construction is finished.  We think this may be the reason why they are left "unfinished".  This is not to say that we haven't seen our fair share of stone cottages with corrugated steel roofs weighed down with rocks, and wonder whether these are "finished" or merely grandfathered into some kind of historic construction.

We have also seen only about a half dozen "for sale" signs, although we have probably also seen at least a half dozen "ReMax" signs.  Obviously, the concept of an "open house" would be a bit redundant, at least for new construction.

Perhaps we'll explore this more in a few years.  For now, we have enjoyed chatting with ex-pats from Norway and South Africa.