A&S Architects

A&S Architects is a multidisciplinary architectural office based in Athens, founded by Anna Assana and Nikolaos Siapkaras. The firm’s dynamic and established team has an extensive portfolio of public and private works, including a significant number of sports facilities in Greece and abroad. Their approach is characterized by continuous evolution and the pursuit of new boundaries in architectural creation. Through a comprehensive range of services -from initial concept and design to management, supervision, and construction- the office integrates architecture with landscape design, engineering, interior design, and consultancy, delivering innovative, functional, and sustainable solutions.

S.M.: One of your original activities was the publication of an “encyclopedia” of construction details. How has conventional construction in Greece evolved since then, and what is coming next?

Nikos Siapkaras: The preparation of a manual with construction details -at a time when there was no access to anything similar, and material production companies had not yet developed their technical departments or support for designers- was born partly out of our need to experiment with new materials and innovative technical solutions, and partly from our general view of architecture and the completeness of a proposal. Every design must first of all include all stages and scales of design, from a master plan to a 1:1 detail. Every detail and every technical solution plays a significant role in construction -in delivering a quality project, it is a key compositional decision.

In our projects, compositional principles are built upon a fundamental structural rule. The smallest detail and the overall form and scale derive from the same spirit, the same intent for a pure composition. Construction quality and the processing of materials acquire fundamental importance because they imbue both the parts and the whole with a spiritual intensity. A detail is a conception: both space and materials are chosen with criteria of sustainability, circular economy, energy awareness, and the health and well-being of users.

S.M.: What is your experience with Building Information Modeling, and how has this technology influenced the way you design and implement projects?

N.S.: We were fortunate, working on projects outside Greece, to come into contact very early with all the advantages that this technology offers, and to realize that it represents a holistic approach to the digitization of projects -from design and construction to their operation and maintenance- and not just a simple 3D design tool. The digital 3D model provides a visual representation not only of the building’s form but also of its materials, systems, and functions.

What is particularly interesting, and should make us reflect, is that while in Greece there is much discussion about educating engineers in BIM and about the financial tools available to design offices to support the digital transition, worldwide the introduction of virtual and augmented reality -as well as artificial intelligence- is redefining architecture and can lead to unprecedented efficiency, innovation, and sustainability.

As projects evolve, artificial intelligence will play a critical role in management and execution. The enhancement of BIM with AI capabilities will provide real-time updates and proactive file maintenance, ensuring accurate design and project monitoring. One of AI’s potential benefits is that it can help streamline workflows and enable businesses to become more efficient. This could be especially valuable for smaller offices. We believe that every new technology must ensure that architects have more quality time for study, design, and research.

S.M.: What has been your most demanding office project to date? Do you believe that recent changes in the working environment are permanent or temporary?

Anna Assana: A particularly demanding and at the same time timely project is “P.180-186”, because on the one hand it addresses a major issue: the management of the existing building stock and, in particular, the insertion of a completely new use at every level. On the other hand, it is a large-scale project that was designed, licensed, and implemented in a very short timeframe -less than two years- managing to respond to a highly demanding building program and schedule without the slightest compromise in construction quality, ultimately delivering the first public building in Greece with LEED Gold certification, both energy-efficient and sustainable.

The project concerns the transformation of the Athens Heart shopping mall into a sustainable and pioneering office complex, alongside the addition of a new independent five-story building, totaling approximately 26,500 m². The excellent organization of the project at all levels, the use of technology, and the flawless and continuous collaboration between designers, project manager, contractor, and client formed the foundation for its success.

As for the second part of your question, we believe that in the near future architecture will be further shaped by the introduction of virtual and augmented reality as well as the integration of artificial intelligence. Imagine working from home in an unprecedentedly realistic experience that simulates physical presence in the office as closely as possible. This would represent a huge innovation -not only in the way we design, but also in the working reality itself, as well as in social and professional relationships. We believe that soon this different experiential reality will need to be analyzed and incorporated into the design of offices and, more broadly, of public and private spaces.

Read the full interview in ek issue 296 | April 2025.