Petrās Architecture

The architectural office Petras architecture was founded in 2013 in Athens by Tsampikos Petras and has distinguished itself, beyond its built work, for its important distinctions in national and international architectural competitions. The office develops contemporary technologies in relation to traditional design techniques and seeks the evolving spatial experience through the simplicity and clarity of materials, bioclimatic design, economy, and respect for each place, contributing to the creation of culture.

S.M.: The office was founded in Athens, at the most difficult time of the economic crisis, when opportunities for built work -especially for young architects- were minimal. What kind of decision was that, and with what prospects?

T.P.: During the financial crisis, I realized that a young architect had two main options to start his professional path: either to seek employment in architectural offices abroad until things improved in Greece, or to remain in Greece and claim projects through European and international competitions. The modern era of the internet, along with our European identity at that moment, made it possible -unlike in previous times when such an endeavor would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible. Both options had their pros and cons, and both paths presented difficulties. I chose the second route and made a decision -perhaps more out of persistence than out of a specific strategy- not to abandon my country and to participate from Greece in competitions abroad, as an act of creative freedom within an adverse environment. The initial aim was to secure a monetary prize to generate some income, while at the same time creating freely within a more progressive architectural culture, expressing our personal architectural vision.

In the end -at least for us- things turned out unexpectedly well: we began receiving successive distinctions and awards (the office has more than 25 distinctions and 7 first prizes), secured external cash flow, and entered, almost without realizing it, into a competitive arena of continuous creation, design, and development. We became familiar with large-scale design and complex building programs, through which we gained substantial design experience. The awards also brought publications and recognition, and gradually, property owners in Greece began to approach us with new projects, as the situation was indeed improving. Today, some of the first-prize projects we won are being completed, while at the same time we are designing and implementing more than 20 private projects, both small- and large-scale.

S.M.: You adopted BIM for project organization very early. How did you make that decision, and what advantages has it given you?

T.P.: Indeed, from the beginning of the office we introduced design through BIM, precisely because the team was initially very small and we had to find a way to produce a large volume of design information in a short time and at the lowest cost for competitions. The decision came as a response to that first need, and as time passed, we increasingly exploited the BIM logic of design. This was facilitated by the free time available during the early period and our proficiency with 3D design tools. With BIM, we now have a much better overview of three-dimensional space, the structure, and the building systems, the ability to explore multiple alternative solutions, simultaneous teamwork on a project without communication delays, and a significant reduction of design errors in studies and construction drawings. All the above allow us to compose and design with great efficiency.

Today, after at least 10 years of working with this technology, we have fully standardized the design process at all study levels, we have incorporated point-cloud technologies for better understanding of the relationship between the building and its environment, and while we are a team with a core of about 10 people, we have at least double -if not more- the productive capacity. This allows us to remain competitive and available for any interesting competition that may be announced, despite the daily workload of ongoing projects.

S.M.: A major part of your activity is architectural competitions, with an emphasis on those held abroad. Where do you believe the competition framework in Greece falls short, and what could be improved compared to your experience in other countries? Looking ahead, what incentives can an architectural office have to participate in such a process, which is -at least initially- unpaid?

T.P.: I believe that competition prizes and study fees must be increased significantly and immediately, so that architectural competitions become truly attractive to a wider number of architects, and in some way the implementation of projects must be ensured, so that participation has real meaning. I also consider it a disadvantage that calls for very important public projects in Greece are not opened to the European or international scene.

Translated briefs and the presence of international jurors could attract creators from abroad and raise the level of the organization, while the opposite has been happening for years across Europe. Many of the great architectural offices we see today around the world -offices that nobody knew years ago- emerged and soared through distinctions in architectural competitions. I think that says it all.

Read the full interview in ek issue 275 | March 2023.