Elias Constantopoulos

The Hellenic Institute of Architecture organized a new series of lectures by Greek architects titled “HIA Lectures 2005–2006”. The aim of this series was to broaden public awareness and understanding of the work of architects. To this end, prominent professionals were selected and invited to share their views on Greek architecture and present their own work.

Greek architecture today remains a subject of ongoing inquiry. Several issues continue to shape and, at times, hinder its development: the processes surrounding professional practice, the limited implementation of architectural competitions, the relationship between architecture and the broader economic realities of the country, the role and potential of construction technology, the gradual transformation of architects into executors of pre-determined choices made by construction companies, the legacy of the Olympic projects, architecture’s relationship with society, the problematic role of Greece’s artistic architectural and urban tradition, the relationship between contemporary architecture and the realities of Greek cities, the issue of architectural education, the connection between Greek and international architecture, the lack of a coherent strategy for promoting architecture both within Greece and abroad, and the role of architectural criticism. These are issues that often do not support design research itself nor the development of the overall quality of architectural work.
Architecture in Greece today still raises questions that remain unanswered—questions that have already been addressed not only in the West but also in many countries of the so-called “Third World.”

The Hellenic Institute of Architecture’s lecture series aimed to address these questions. The architects invited, many of whom belong to the younger generation, sought both to express theoretical positions on these matters and to articulate the principles that underpin their own personal design philosophy within the context of the built environment.

“Architecture + other related fields”

ELIAS CONSTANTOPOULOS

He studied architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College in London, between 1975 and 1981. Since 1986, he has maintained a design office in Athens, primarily focused on the design of residences, professional, exhibition, and commercial spaces, as well as printed materials and objects. He is also a member of Do.Co.Mo.Mo. Greece, the Hellenic Secretariat of Industrial Design, and the International Creators’ Organization (Japan). He was the editor of the magazines ‘9H’ (London, 1980–90), ‘Design’ (Athens, 1991–95), and ‘70X100’ (Athens, 1987–88). He has published more than 50 articles on architecture, art, and design in Greek and European publications.

The talk presented realized projects from 1987 to 2005. The title of the lecture, “Architecture and Other Related Fields”, reflects the wide range of works showcased, from architecture and interior spaces to the design of furniture, objects, and printed materials. This broad spectrum, which architects are often called upon, and frequently strive, to realize, stems from the nature of architectural education. Architects are taught to first analyze the data of a problem and then to synthesize them into forms, addressing both large- and small-scale issues. The differences between design categories are thus approached through a general methodology, which is then adapted to the qualitative characteristics of each category. So, while architecture is the shaping of livable space, architects often move across various fields of design.