Exploring Elefsina Pilot Sites Series 2: Iris, Greece's First Modern Paint Industry
© John Kouskoutis
Iris, Greece's first modern varnish and paint industry, was founded in 1925, emerging from the initiatives of a member of the influential "Zürich Circle". In 1924, Menelaos Sakellariou decided to establish his own enterprise in Greece and chose Eleusis due to several factors that had also attracted other entrepreneurs: a well-developed transportation network, affordable land, availability of workers, and, most crucially, an abundant supply of the essential raw material -resin- from the extensive pine forests of Magoula and Mandra. The factory produced nearly everything on-site, except for the pine resin, which came from outside the compound's walls. The company had its own machine shop, refinery, equipment repair shop, laboratories for chemical analysis, and product development facilities. Iris even managed to create two lines of plastic-based paints (Plastex and Durolac), which gained considerable popularity. The company also owned a fleet of trucks, enabling efficient product distribution, contributing to its success, especially between 1925 and 1950.
The post-war era initially brought further growth for the company, with its innovative paints finding buyers both in Greece and the Balkans. However, over time, increasing competition forced Iris to cease operations in the late 1970s.
A Historical and Architectural Legacy for Eleusis
Only three buildings remain from the fifteen that once stood at the factory's peak. The oldest building, constructed around 1925, is a single-story structure with three large rooms used for resin production. The second building, made of reinforced concrete, served as a warehouse and retail outlet for the factory’s products. The third is a three-story building that housed the production of innovative paints during the war years. While the rest of the area is now home to modern social housing and eucalyptus trees, the site is still dominated by the factory’s 35-metre-tall chimney. The chimney and the two oldest factory buildings have been designated as protected landmarks, as they represent significant examples of industrial architecture from the interwar period.
Iris Today Following Its Renovation
As part of the Eleusis 2023 European Capital of Culture programme, Iris was included in the city's infrastructure development initiatives and has been transformed into a modern cultural space with multiple functions, intended to leave a lasting legacy for Eleusis. It was inaugurated in December 2023 with the large-scale installation "Terracotta Army of Eleusina" by Chilean visual artist Juan Santoval, marking a new chapter in the building’s history.
The perception of Iris among Eleusinians, both as a historical monument and as a renovated cultural venue, varies greatly. For some, it was merely an indifferent site, passed by without a second glance. For others, it represented an incomplete restoration disconnected from its historical significance and the surrounding area. Now, however, it serves as a living testament to the city’s industrial past and cultural future -a place that evokes nostalgia and admiration while inspiring hope and optimism. Many residents hold personal connections to the site, as relatives once worked there, imbuing Iris with shared memories that contribute to the personal and collective identity of the community.
Located on Eleusis's waterfront, a historically contested area, Iris's future is closely tied to broader urban development plans for the port area. As one local put it, "I personally like that area. If they fixed up the harbour a bit, added some greenery, nicer cafés, and generally cleaned up the area, it would become more lively".
