Spain is in Athens: Shaping Spaces

A Spanish Perspective on Contemporary Architecture & Design

In a groundbreaking initiative for Greece, ek magazine was selected by the Spanish Embassy in Athens and ICEX (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) to oversee the complete curation of “Shaping Spaces: A Spanish Perspective on Contemporary Architecture & Design”.

Organized under the umbrella of “Spain is in”—an international campaign by ICEX promoting Spanish interior design worldwide—the event took place on June 4th at Aigli Zappeion. It offered a unique opportunity for invited architects to engage directly with 14 leading Spanish companies specializing in furniture, lighting, tiles, textiles, and other interior design elements.

Moving beyond the framework of a conventional trade show, ek magazine implemented a carefully curated, invitation-only format. The event combined product showcases with a keynote lecture, focused presentations, and a relaxed networking cocktail in an informal, creative atmosphere.

The evening opened with a welcome address from Jorge Domecq Fernández, Ambassador of Spain to Greece, who highlighted the significance of such outreach initiatives for professionals in both countries.

At the heart of the program was a lecture by renowned Spanish architect Fran Silvestre, who presented completed projects alongside the design philosophy of his firm—a philosophy that merges precision in design with technological innovation to create a continuous spatial experience. Silvestre emphasized clarity, simplicity, and dialogue as core elements of his architectural language, shaping both the aesthetics and structure of his work.

The lecture was followed by three panel discussions featuring representatives of the participating companies. Each panel focused on a distinct sector, with presentations on product identity and interactive discussions moderated by Stavros Martinos, member of the ek magazine editorial team.

The first panel, dedicated to residential spaces, included Jan Joncheere (LuxCambra), Juan de Dios Pérez Ramos (OgoFurniture), Clara Altaba (RS Barcelona), and Marcos Rioseco Castroa (a·emotional light).

The second panel explored contemporary workspaces, featuring Ivan Gimenez Soler (EcoCero), Santos De Arpe (Actiu), Veronique de Keyser (Viccarbe), and Irati Diez Olazabal (Akaba).

The third panel, focused on hospitality design, brought together José Manuel Basso (esPattio), Sheila Maestre-Arenas (Naturtex), Gerard Gonzalez Bezos (Ramon Soler), Guillaume Thomas (Vertisol), and Sandro Tothill (LZF Lamps).

More than 120 distinguished architects, interior designers, and developers attended the event. After the presentations, they had the opportunity to explore the exhibits and engage in direct dialogue with company representatives about products and projects of interest.