Mastrominas Architecture, an award-winning architectural firm, was founded in 1984 in Kos by Ilias Mastrominas. After studying at the Polytechnic University of Milan and the School of Architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mastrominas established the firm, which currently has a second office in Athens. The firm has extensive experience in designing hotels, luxury residences, and office buildings. Their design philosophy is distinguished by its minimalist expression, emphasis on functionality, and the incorporation of elements of traditional Greek architecture in a contemporary style.
S.M: You began your studies at the Technical University of Milan and completed them in Thessaloniki. What skills did you acquire in Italy, and how did you initially perceive architecture within the Greek context? What do you consider to be the milestones in the evolution of your design approach?
I.M: In 1977, when I went to Milan, Greece was seeking a new path into democracy and modernization. As students, we were highly politicized, full of dreams, and eager to learn and progress. Milan offered me the rich culture of northern Italy, exposure to art and culture, and formative influences that unconsciously shape my design approach. In the extensive library of the Faculty of Architecture, I discovered the masters of the modernist movement -Le Corbusier, Mies Van der Rohe, Alvar Aalto, and others- who profoundly influenced me.
Dimitris Fatouros and his lecture at the School of Architecture in Milan inspired me to return to Greece, where I discovered Pikionis, Crocus, and especially Aris Konstantinidis. I read all of Konstantinidis’ books, striving to deepen my understanding of his work. The way he elevated Greekness through modern architecture, the simplicity of his style, and above all, the “truth” that reflects the architect’s soul, captivated me. From then on, achieving this in my own work became my daily goal.
My professional journey began with a collaboration with the late Sotiris Kouki, a hotel architect known for his work throughout Greece. Under his guidance, I learned about hotel operations and the organization of a large architectural office. The next phase of my career was my partnership with ISV in 2004. In 2005, I moved to Athens to work with them, and together we founded ISV+M, a real estate agency. At the same time, we worked together on the design of hotels in Kos and Patmos. I am deeply grateful to them and want to express my appreciation.
S.M: You established your first office in Kos, focusing on the tourist sector through large hotels and residences. Was this choice inevitable?
I.M: Borrowing Aris Konstantinidis’ definition that “residences are containers of life,” I would say that “hotels are containers of joy.” They provide visitors with a refuge from the stress of everyday life and the hustle of urban centers, allowing them to connect with nature. My interest was sparked by the rapid tourist development of Kos in the 1980s, during which accommodations were built haphazardly to meet the overwhelming demand. This prompted me, as a student at the Architectural School of Thessaloniki, to choose a course focusing on hospitality buildings.
I was fortunate to train under Professor Xanthippe Hoepel. The coursework was more demanding than a typical university thesis; we spent months working from morning till night on projects for a city hotel and a resort. Our team excelled, and our project was presented to the next year’s students. Upon graduation, my professor, who was then a shareholder in the largest architectural firm in Thessaloniki, “Tzonos-Hoepel-Hoepel” -with Panos Tzonos being another excellent professor- offered me a position in their office. Thus, Kos was not an inevitable choice; it was my love for the place that made me start an office there. In retrospect, I believe that accepting the position at my professors’ office would have saved me considerable time and effort in achieving the milestones I have reached.
S.M: When and why did you decide to move to Athens, and how much knowledge exchange occurs between the two offices?
I.M: Working in Kos, I had the opportunity to design hotels from a very young age, many of which were quite large, with capacities of up to 1,200 beds. I am very grateful for this experience. However, my love for architecture led me to Athens twice -first through my collaboration with ISV, and later to establish my own firm. My office in Athens is staffed by young architects and interior designers, and my goal is to pass on my extensive experience to them. In turn, they enrich our work with a diverse range of ideas, approaches, and trends.
The Kos office provides us with projects from the island, which are primarily developed in Athens, where our main team is based. The exposure to new ideas, products, technologies, and construction materials is more direct in Athens, and this integration is crucial to our design process.
Read the full interview at the 272 | November 2022 ek issue.