Dimitris Diamantopoulos

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.

DIMITRIS DIAMANTOPOULOS

He studied architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. From 1965 to 1967, he collaborated with Alexandros Tombazis and participated in numerous Greek and European events. Between 1971 and 1976, he worked on the first buildings of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA). From 1973 to 1992, in collaboration with other architects, he was involved in the renovation of historic buildings and the enhancement of open public spaces. Dimitris Diamantopoulos was the head of the team that designed the pedestrian zones around the Acropolis (Dionysiou Areopagitou – Apostolou Pavlou), from 1998 to 2001. He has received awards in many architectural competitions, most notably first prize for the Cultural Center of the City of Athens in 1976. He has also served as a member of the jury for numerous architectural competitions.

In the lecture, both built and unbuilt projects were presented, outlining a personal and collective journey (together with the architects of the office “Pleias”), in relation to the main conceptual axes, expressive vocabulary, and formative influences, from the 1970s to the present.