Nikos Georgiadis – Anamorphosis architects

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.

“Anamorphosis: architectural theory and practice”

ANAMORPHOSIS ARCHITECTS

Anamorphosis Architects was founded in 1992 by Nikos Georgiadis, Panagiota (Tota) Mamalaki, Kostas Kakogiannis, and Vaios Zitonoulis. Based in Athens, the Anamorphosis team is involved in practical design across a wide range of fields, including architecture, urban planning, advertising, video production, and graphic design, while also engaging in theoretical research and experimentation.

The lecture presented the key positions of the conceptual framework of “Anamorphosis”, as developed through the research and design work of the architectural office Anamorphosis Architects.

“Anamorphosis” is both a theory of experiential space and a design methodology. It is grounded in the conceptual framework of the psychoanalytic, active object (as opposed to the psychological one), draws upon the timeless Greek spatial condition, and formulates a contemporary critical spatial thought in contrast to established international currents (such as Deconstruction, the Fold, and Global Communicational Pragmatics) and their corresponding architectural ideologies. As an expanded spatial theory, Anamorphosis explores and extends architectural inquiry into a broad spectrum of design fields, including urban design, buildings, interior space, objects, graphic design, advertising, and multimedia. It enables a holistic approach to composition: a “total design”.

The lecture showcased projects by Anamorphosis Architects developed with a diagnostic approach and in critical dialogue with specific architectural trends.

The aim of the presentation was to highlight critical issues concerning the evolution of contemporary architecture and to create a framework for productive discussion