Topio 7 & Giorgos Papagiannopoulos (BLOD)

26.03.2024

The Hellenic Institute of Architecture, as part of the 20th lecture series of Greek Architects titled “Lectures & Dialogues,” held the fourth event of this series on March 26, 2024, at the restaurant of the Benaki Museum on Piraeus Street. The event was recorded by BLOD, and the lectures along with their accompanying presentations are available at the following link:

https://www.blod.gr/lectures/dialekseis-dialogoi-topio-7-giorgos-papagiannopoulos/

The Lectures of Greek Architects have historically been an iconic institution of the HIA, as over the past twenty years, significant creators have been invited to present their work. The presentation of the diverse facets of architectural work, along with their critical analysis, has been a lasting characteristic of this initiative. The simultaneous presentation of the work of two architectural firms, followed by a dialogue between them and with the audience, is seen as an opportunity to spark public discussion about architecture, its relationship with institutions, and the processes of its production and critique, as well as its multiple manifestations in both private and public spaces.

The overall coordination of the lecture series, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the H.I.A., was undertaken by Anastasios Kotsiopoulos (Architect, Professor Emeritus at AUTh), Dionisis Sotovikis (Architect), and Sofia Tsiraki (Architect, Professor at NTUA).

In the fourth lecture of the series, participants were:

TOPIO 7 (Katerina Andritsou, Panita Karamanea, Thanasis Polyzoidis)

LANDSCAPES OF COEXISTENCE: BETWEEN NATURE AND CONSTRUCTION

Landscape design refers to the composition of spaces and urban systems with nature as a partner, aiming to create sustainable landscape-structures where nature and humans coexist equally and equitably. By employing hybrid strategies between the natural and the constructed, bioclimatic habitats of resilience are developed, integrated into both the urban and natural landscape. In these creations, the starting point and source of inspiration is the specific site itself, including its socio-cultural context and biological character. Through the exploration of a place’s unique spatial identity and spirit, sustainable landscapes are produced — offering a variety of experiences, flexibility of uses, and, at the same time, respect for the processes and cycles of nature. In the lecture titled “Landscapes of Coexistence: Between Nature and Construction”, the core philosophy and design principles of topio7 will be presented through a selection of award-winning architectural competition entries.

GIORGOS PAPAGIANNOPOULOS

PATHS

The lecture focuses on the presentation of an architectural journey that spans from small-scale projects to large public buildings. The starting point of this journey is the speaker’s early student steps in architecture. Key milestones along the way include encounters and collaborations with individuals who shared common interests, as well as references, memories, and realizations that emerged within a broader reflection on architectural practice and the relationship it establishes with place and people.
The journey also follows paths that run parallel to architecture — for example, those leading into the realm of painting. The road appears to remain constantly open to new explorations.
The direction remains steady: a vision for an architecture that, to the extent that it can, brings people closer together through the shared inhabitation of a small private or large public space.

topio7_architecture and landscape, based in Athens, is composed of Katerina Andritsou, Panita Karamanéa (Associate Professor of Architecture and Landscape), and Thanasis Polyzoidis, all of whom are architectural engineers (MArch, NTUA Athens) and landscape architects (MLA, ETSAB UPC, Barcelona). The team is engaged in various types of landscape-urban and architectural design projects, with broad participation and awards in both national and international architectural competitions. They also actively take part in exhibitions and publications in Greece and abroad.
For topio7, the symbiotic relationship and osmosis between the man-made environment and the natural landscape is a fundamental component of the creative and design process. Their design approach seeks compositional solutions that bridge ecosystems and architectural structures, aiming to create sustainable habitats for both nature and the city. The team’s research focuses primarily on designing with nature itself and its processes, and on integrating each project into its specific context by exploring the site’s distinct characteristics, scale, and atmosphere, across a range of spatial scales. The inclusion of time as a design factor, landscape ecology, bioclimatic design, and the creation of hybrid environments involving interactive digital technologies all contribute to the formation of integrated systems for the 21st century.

Katerina Andritsou, MArch “Architectural Design, Space, Culture” (NTUA), works on large-scale urban design and landscape architecture projects, as well as public building studies in Greece.

Panita Karamanéa conducts research on architecture, urban design, and landscape in both Greece and Barcelona, while also teaching in Athens, Chania, and in the Landscape Architecture Master’s Program in Barcelona.

Thanasis Polyzoidis is involved in a wide range of redevelopment studies for both public and private projects. He received the 40UNDER40 European Award in 2018 and has served as a jury member in architectural competitions in Greece and abroad.

Giorgos Papagiannopoulos was born in Athens in 1972. He holds a Diploma in Architecture from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), graduating in 1998, and is a PhD candidate at the Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.Th.). Since 2002, he has been teaching Architectural Design Studios at the Department of Architecture at D.U.Th., where he currently serves as an Assistant Professor. Since 2000, he has run an architectural practice focusing on both private and public projects, including residences, public buildings, and interior design of various scales. He has received First Prizes in National Architectural Competitions and has both individual and collaborative work. Several of his projects have been awarded and realized, such as the Town Hall of Georgioupoli in Crete (constructed in 2010). He was awarded First Prize in the Pan-Cyprian Architectural Competition for the Building Facilities of the Department of Biological Sciences and the Common Teaching Spaces 03 at the University of Cyprus, which is currently under construction. He actively participates in conferences and symposiums, and has published articles in academic journals and newspapers. In parallel with architecture, he also practices painting. He is a member of TCG (Technical Chamber of Greece), SADAS-PEA (Association of Greek Architects), and the Local Planning and Architectural Committee of Xanthi (EPAE Xanthi).