Dimitris Isaias – Tasis Papaioannou

The Hellenic Institute of Architecture organized a new series of lectures by Greek architects entitled “HIA Lectures 2004”. This series aimed to broaden the understanding of the work of architects, and for this reason, prominent professionals were selected and invited to share their views on Greek architecture and their own projects.

Today, Greek architecture remains a pressing issue. The processes related to the practice of the profession, the inadequate implementation of architectural competitions, the relationship between architecture and the broader economic reality of the country, the role and capabilities of construction technology, the gradual transformation of architects into executors of pre-determined decisions made by construction companies, the issues surrounding the Olympic projects, the relationship between architecture and society, the problematic role of Greece’s artistic architectural and urban tradition, the connection between contemporary architecture and the reality of Greek cities, the matter of architectural education, the relationship between Greek and international architecture, the ineffective strategies for promoting architecture within Greece and abroad, and the role of architectural criticism — all these are issues that often do not support architectural research or the development of the overall quality of architectural work. Architecture in Greece today still raises unanswered questions — questions that have already been resolved not only in the West but even in many countries of the self-congratulatory so-called “Third World.”

The Hellenic Institute of Architecture’s lecture series sought to provide answers to these concerns. The architects who were invited, many of whom belong to the younger generation, aimed both to present theoretical positions on these matters and to articulate the principles that shape their personal approach to architecture within the built environment.

“From concept to built space”

DIMITRIS ISAIAS

He was born in Athens in 1952 and graduated from the School of Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in 1976. He has carried out studies for both public and private projects and has participated in architectural competitions. At the same time, he developed research activity on housing issues at the National Centre for Social Research (1984–1992). He served as an Assistant Professor in Design Studio Unit I at the School of Architecture of NTUA. Since 1979, he has maintained an architectural practice in Athens in partnership with Tasis Papaioannou.

TASIS PAPAIOANNOU

He was born in March 1953 in Athens. He studied at the School of Architecture of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), from which he graduated in 1976. He returned to the School in 1982 as a research associate and became actively involved in teaching building design (Ktiriologia) and architectural design studios. He has participated in major national architectural competitions, submitting proposals that have earned numerous awards. Since 1979, he has maintained an architectural practice in Athens in partnership with Dimitris Isaias.

Excerpt from the lecture:

Architectural space – living space – inevitably has a material dimension. As a bearer of meaning and symbolism, it is defined not only by its geometric characteristics but also by its materiality. Materials and the way they are used have a decisive impact on the quality of space and are an integral part of its symbolic character.

The presentation explored the process from the initial concept to the completed building, using drawings, sketches, and photographs of realized projects.