Nikos Kalogirou

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.

“Dwelling and Place: implementations in the wider area of Thessaloniki, the dialogue with the environment, culture, and time”

NIKOS KALOGIROU

He was born in 1951 in Veria. In 1975, he received his degree in Architecture from the Faculty of Engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). He continued his studies at the postgraduate level in Paris, focusing on the History, Geography, and Demography of Populations and Social Groups (DEA, EHESS, 1976), Urban Planning (Certificate, 1976; Diplôme de Formation Supérieure, 1979, CRU), and Urban and Regional Analysis (DEA, University of Paris I, 1977). In 1979, he was awarded a PhD from the University of Paris 1 – Panthéon – Sorbonne. His dissertation focused on the investigation of urbanization in the peripheral settlements of Thessaloniki. He is a professor in the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Engineering at AUTH, where he has been teaching since 1983. Over the years, he has taught Building Construction, Spatial Organization (Human Geography), History of the City and Urban Planning, Housing, and Urban Design. He has supervised numerous diploma theses and doctoral dissertations. Between 1991 and 1993, he was a visiting professor at the postgraduate school of the Architectural Association in London. He has published numerous articles in scientific journals, as well as in the proceedings of Greek and international conferences. He has authored and edited books on architecture and urban planning. He has also presented his views in the daily and periodical press, on television, and on the radio, where he hosted a regular program about architecture and the city. His research and applied work spans the fields of architectural design, urban design, urban planning, and the reuse of building complexes and structures. He has worked on numerous private and public projects, including housing, cultural facilities, university buildings, urban studies, and restoration projects. His applied work has been published and presented in specialized journals and exhibitions. He has also participated in the organization and curation of architectural exhibitions. His work has been recognized with awards and commendations in architectural competitions.

His presentation focused on selected recent studies and implementations related to housing, which were undertaken under his personal responsibility or with his participation in Thessaloniki and the broader surrounding area. The presented examples revolve around a critical issue: the design of new housing in locations imbued with both older and more recent historical memories.