4th Biennale of Young Greek Architects

The Biennale of Young Greek Architects, organized for the fourth time by the Hellenic Institute of Architecture, has become an institution in the architectural scene of our country as well as one of the few opportunities for a meaningful dialogue about the future direction of architecture in Greece.

The timing of the exhibition, taking place immediately after the Olympic Games, provides an opportunity for a broader discussion—not only about the future, but also about the present, and especially about what we have all increasingly observed in recent years: the ongoing devaluation of architecture and the role of architects in our country.

Thus, the Hellenic Institute of Architecture decided to enhance the role of the selection committee by inviting five prominent theorists as well as practicing architects to reflect on the submitted material and to select the projects for the exhibition. As a result, the exhibition presents a dual function that the visitor is invited to interpret: on the one hand, the five texts written by the jurors, and on the other, their selections.

The task of the colleagues was undoubtedly difficult because no strict rules were established in the call for proposals, nor was a specific topic given. Thus, the broad range of the 117 submissions does not lend itself to a clear classification or identification of trends, and this is reflected in all five texts. In other words, it is not possible to determine what the current trends in Greek architecture are.

On the other hand, we must not forget that Greek architects do not work in isolation or detached from broader influences. In an era where information is more than abundant and access to it is very easy, the young architect is bombarded with images that become dominant, while at the same time, the design tools available to them offer endless possibilities for producing virtual and visually appealing spaces. But could this trend, which we also observe in the works of the exhibition, be an expression of an escape from a reality that is so disappointing for young architects?

This atmosphere of confusion that seems to prevail among young architects is further intensified by the broader picture presented by the international architectural scene. When a building is praised by critics on the one hand but condemned by its users on the other, or when a globally renowned name is established not through built work but through captivating proposals, the very essence of Architecture itself is shaken.   

All the above issues, as well as concerns related to the notion of continuity or discontinuity in Greek architecture, and the phenomena observed in Greek urban development, are addressed both in the texts of the jurors and in the submitted proposals. And I believe they will serve as a starting point for the dialogue we aim to foster.

I would like to once again thank the five esteemed colleagues – Yannis Aesopos, Aristides Antonas, Andreas Giakoumakatos, Kostas Manolidis and Panagiotis Tournikiotis – for their significant contribution to the exhibition. Without them, the Biennale would have lost its meaning .  I must also thank the Municipality of Athens, the company Bright for its generous sponsorship, as well as for the design and installation of the exhibition’s lighting, and the Technopolis organization for all the support they provided in the co- organization of the exhibition, especially for granting us the use of the venue.

Finally, I would like to thank the member of the Board of Directors of the H.I.A., my colleague Katerina Giamalaki, for the design of the exhibition, and the staff of the H.I.A. for the overall organization and the editing of the catalogue.

Professor Emeritus Nikos Kalogeras 
President of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture

Design and Curation:
Giamalaki Katerina 

Organizational support:
Foutrou Iro

Collaborating Organization:
Municipality of Athens 

Sponsor:
Bright Special Lighting

*Photographs: X. Akriviadis