The seventh edition of Material Matters, organized by ek magazine, was successfully held on 16 June at the Banquet Hall of Megaron the Athens Concert Hall. Dedicated to the design and construction of architectural façades, Material Matters Vol. 7: Facades — Metal, Wood, Glass & Cladding brought together leading architectural practices to reflect on the façade as a technical, spatial, material and cultural interface.

The event was moderated by architects Ariadni Vozani, Professor at the National Technical University of Athens and Editor-in-Chief of ek magazine, and Stavros Martinos, member of the magazine’s editorial team. Invited speakers were asked to present two of their own projects and one work by another architect, through their own critical lens, within a ten-minute format.

The evening opened with Natassa Lianou and Ermis Chalvatzis of LC Architects, who presented the projects Orbit and Antenna Group at the level of detailed design, while pointing to the potential of glass-fibre reinforced concrete in contemporary façade design. Nikolas Travasaros of Divercity Architects then focused on the relationship between visibility and bodily movement, through an office building on Syngrou Avenue and the new Mitsis N’U Piraeus Port hotel, using the Institut du Monde Arabe by Ateliers Jean Nouvel as a reference.

Matilda Beraha of Arid offered a reflective exploration of the façade as boundary, presenting the Veil building in Kypseli and a shipping company headquarters on Alimou Avenue, while drawing parallels with related works in New York and Paris. Dimitra Katsota of Buerger Katsota Architects highlighted the façade as part of the public realm through the work of Alison and Peter Smithson, before bringing this line of thinking into the design of the new University of Nicosia facilities at Ellinikon and an office building nearing completion on Kifisias Avenue.

Anargyros Mougiakos of ISV Architects addressed the façade as a sculptural construction composed of successive standardized elements, drawing on examples from 1950s American modernism and two corresponding applications in specialized buildings in Athens. Fotini Gouveli and Niki Katsaragaki of A&S Architects brought the importance of the “fifth façade” to the fore, through an office building on Pireos Street and Education City in Doha, using COBE Architects’ The Silo in Copenhagen as their reference project.

Eraclis Papachristou of Eraclis Papachristou Architects discussed the challenges of designing tall buildings through two recent projects in Limassol, focusing on the importance of views — but also of a broader architectural vision — in relation to tactility and material presence. Ivy Nanopoulou and Eri Nikoloudi of TPA – Thymio Papayannis and Associates selected two projects separated by almost sixty years: the OSE Building on Karolou Street and the “Odysseas” Hellenic Maritime Heritage Park, currently under construction in Faliro Bay. Their presentation traced the continuity of the practice’s thinking through a creative reading of place, landscape and history, with Frank Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris serving as their reference building.

Loukas Bobotis of Bobotis+Bobotis Architects presented his private residence in Athens and the One Floreasca complex in Bucharest, taking as a point of reference the renovation of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in Rome.

The evening concluded with the keynote lecture by Doriana Mandrelli Fuksas and Massimiliano Fuksas, who presented an impressive panorama of their work, ranging from interior design to large-scale building complexes and public spaces. The participation of the internationally acclaimed Studio Fuksas gave this year’s edition particular weight, opening a direct dialogue with the Greek architectural community and confirming the high quality of the presentations that define the Material Matters series.

The event was held under the auspices of the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Commerce of Athens, the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Commerce of Thessaloniki, and the Hellenic Institute of Architecture. Material Matters Vol. 7 was honoured by the presence of the Ambassador of Italy to Greece, H.E. Paolo Cuculi.

Platinum Sponsor: Elval Colour
Gold Sponsor: F|Nous
Silver Sponsor: Voutsadakis
Bronze Sponsor: E-dreams
Stage Design Sponsor: Rouchotas
Cocktail Event Sponsor: Dipo-Interwood
Sponsors: AkzoNobel, Alumil, Etem, Europa, Ilicon, Mipeco, Nolte Kitchens, VasGlass, Vitex
Supporters: Anegersi, Diodos, Domiki Papanikolaou, Gratalum, Koligas Wood Essence, Knauf, Saint-Gobain Glass, Textures & Tiles
Hospitality Sponsors: Electra Rhythm Athens, Inn Athens
Wine Sponsor: Zacharias Winery

 

 

  

Gold Sponsor: Marmyk Iliopoulos

Silver Sponsor: GEBERIT

Sponsors: Apticon,  el greco,  Halo,  Textures and Tiles,  Vitex

Supporters: Dionyssomarble,  Furniture Gallery,  HUB Lighting & Innovation by Kafkas,  Hatzaki Marbles,  John Papagiannoulis Bros,  Kolligas Wood Essence,  Pnevmatikos Marble,  Prodea,  Xalkis sa

Cocktail Event Sponsor: Kanelli

Media Sponsor: NEWS247

 

The 6th architectural event of the “Material Matters“ series, organized by ek magazine, will take place on Friday, May 16th, at the Athens Concert Hall, Banquet Hall.

The event is sponsored by the Hellenic Institute of Architecture.

The event is fully booked

The goal of the Material Matters events is to highlight the significance of a range of contemporary and traditional materials and their applications in architecture, through the theoretical approaches and works of Greek architects. Based on the history of each material and its construction or expressive characteristics, the presentations focus on its potential use in contemporary terms, as shaped by economic and technological developments.

Material Matters Vol.6 is dedicated to a family of materials with enduring importance for Greek architecture: Marble and Stone.
The ancient Greeks highlighted the timeless beauty and durability of marble, creating world-renowned monuments. The use of the vast variety of Greek marbles, as well as other local stones, contributed to the creation of a unique architectural identity that reflects the relationship with the natural environment, particularly in traditional architecture.

In the modern era, marble and stones continue to add prestige, aesthetics, and authenticity to both small and large-scale projects.
Ten speakers from the fields of architecture and design will analyze the role of marble and stones in architecture, both in their own works and in selected works by other architects, through engaging 10-minute presentations.

 

Speakers:

– Dimitris Tsigos | Omniview Design
– Stella Pieri | Pieris architects
– Niki and Zoi Moskofoglou | On entropy
– Dionysis Sotovikis | Workshop Dionisis Sotovikis
– Labrini Lyrou | Desypri-Misiaris Architecture
– Eleni Tsigarida | Etsi Architects
– Vangelis Bonios | Studio Bonarchi
– Natasha Deliyianni – Yiorgos Spiridonos | React Architects
– Panos Iliopoulos | Board Member of the Marble Businesses Association
– Giannis Giannoutsos | Assistant Professor, NTUA

 

Gold Sponsor: Marmyk Iliopoulos

Silver Sponsor: GEBERIT

Sponsors: Apticon,  el greco,  Halo,  Textures and Tiles,  Vitex

Supporters: Dionyssomarble,  Furniture Gallery,  HUB Lighting & Innovation by Kafkas,  Hatzaki Marbles,  John Papagiannoulis Bros,  Kolligas Wood Essence,  Pnevmatikos Marble,  Prodea,  Xalkis sa

Cocktail Event Sponsor: Kanelli

Media Sponsor: NEWS247

 

The event is fully booked

Architectural Event on Colour

The architectural event “Material Matters Vol. 5: Colour“, organized by ek magazine under the auspices of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture, concluded successfully on May 27, 2024, at the atrium of the Benaki Museum, Pireos Street. The event attracted numerous professionals from the fields of architecture and design, who explored the importance of color in architectural design through thematic presentations.

The event was opened by Athanasios Tsoumalakos, General Manager of Eastern Europe and President and CEO of Ideal Standard Greece, representing the Platinum Sponsor. He was followed by Spyros Katopodis, Commercial Director of Elval Colour, the Gold Sponsor.

The first speaker was Marika Mavroleon of A&M Architects, who discussed the psychological significance of color in design through examples from her office and other architects. Following her, Katerina Apostolou of AKA Apostolou Colakis Architects spoke about the geometry of color. Petros Tavaniotis of Betaplan presented various color applications in healthcare and welfare buildings. Katerina Kourkoula and Hannes Livers Gutberlet discussed the use of color in selected projects, while Minos Digenis of Minos Digenis Arquitectos analyzed how color contributes to creating experiences from an architectural to an urban scale. Giannis Karachalios of Plaini and Karachalios Architects explained the rules of applying color in his office’s projects. Miltos Kontogiannis of Studiomateriality highlighted the importance of architectural color from the perspective of branding and communication. Maria Tsaftari of Urban Soul Project reviewed recent buildings and interior designs of her office, and Vana Krimnioti presented a series of journal notes on architecture and space, focusing on colors and their multiple connotations. The event concluded with a presentation by the keynote speaker, Dimitris Antonakakis, who, through carefully selected projects, showcased intriguing aspects of his research on color in architecture conducted by Studio 66, offering invaluable insights to attendees.

The event was curated by Ariadne Vozani, Editor-in-Chief of ek magazine and Professor at NTUA, and coordinated by Stavros Martinos, architect and member of the magazine’s editorial team.

 

Platinum Sponsor: Ideal Standard
Gold Sponsor: Elval Colour
Silver Sponsor: AkzoNobel
Bronze Sponsor: Neokem
Sponsors: Halo Architectural Lighting, Textures and Tiles,  Kraft Paints-Bioclima
Supporters: Fibran, Nea Polis, Prodea, Roche Bobois, Sigma Coatings, Terra Creative, Tselentakis, Verdi, Vitex
Cocktail Event Sponsor: Kanelli
Media Sponsor: NEWS247
Beverages and Spirits Sponsor: Vergina

Architectural Event on Colour

 

The 5th architectural event of the “Material Matters” series, organized by ek magazine, will take place on Monday, May 27, 2024, in the atrium of the Benaki Museum (138 Pireos Street).

The aim of the “Material Matters” series is to highlight the significance of various contemporary and traditional materials in Greek architectural and construction practices. Through theoretical approaches and built works of Greek architects, the events focus on exploring the history and characteristics of each material and their application in the evolving landscape of architecture, influenced by economic and technological advancements.
Material Matters Vol.5 is dedicated to a key feature of spatial configuration in architecture: Colour.

The application of color in architecture significantly impacts our perception of space by enhancing depth, intensity, and the significance of specific surfaces, volumes, and details. Historically and in the modern era, color serves as an architectural component that imbues a particular atmosphere, durability, and greatly enhances each project’s expression.

Ten speakers from the fields of architecture and design will delve into the role of color in their work, delivering engaging 10-minute presentations.

Speakers:
– Dimitris Antonakakis | A66 Architects
– Katerina Apostolou | AKA Architects
– Minos Digenis | Minos Digenis Arquitectos
– John Karahalios – Elisavet Plaini | Plaini & Karahalios Architects
– Miltos Kontogiannis | Studio Materiality
– Katerina Kourkoula – Hannes Livers Gutberlet | en route architecture
– Vana Krimnioti
– Marika Mavroleon | A&M Architects
– Petros Tavaniotis | Betaplan
– Maria Tsaftari | USP

 

Platinum Sponsor: Ideal Standard
Gold Sponsor: Elval Colour
Silver Sponsor: AkzoNobel
Bronze Sponsor: Neokem
Sponsors: Halo Architectural Lighting, Textures and Tiles,  Kraft Paints-Bioclima
Supporters: Fibran, Nea Polis, Prodea, Roche Bobois, Sigma Coatings, Terra Creative, Tselentakis, Verdi, Vitex
Cocktail Event Sponsor: Kanelli
Media Sponsor: NEWS247
Beverages and Spirits Sponsor: Vergina