King Ludwig I of Bavaria commissioned the building so that his son Otto I and his wife Amalie could move into accommodation in Athens that was appropriate for the royal couple. During a four-year construction phase, the building was constructed in the neoclassical style from 1834 to 1838 by the court architect Friedrich Gärtner. The result was an imposing yet simple ochre-colored building that stands out not least because of the porch on its main front supported by Doric columns. The Greek Parliament has been meeting in this impressive building since 1935.