ARCHITECT ALEXANDER
PAPADIAS
Selected Works 2000-2013
ARCHITECT
ALEXANDER PAPADIAS
alexpapadias@gmail.com / tel.+306976550814/ http://archinect.com/people/cover/21188316/alexander-papadias
CV - Portfolio Date of Birth Citizenship
August 13th,1973 Greek, US
EDUCATION
Diploma in Architecture Aristotle University Thessaloniki (1997) Master in Architecture (MArch) The Bartlett Faculty of Architecture University College London (1999)
PhD in Architectural Theory National Technical University Athens (2012) Languages
Current position Marital Status PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Collaborations
English/ Cambridge Proficiency French/ Certificate de la langue francaise Freelance Architect& Adjunct Lecturer @ University of Cyprus Married, 2 children
Member of the Greek Architects Charter (POA) Member of the Technical Council of Greece G.P. Architects Cyprus (2012) Karouzos Group (2009-2010) CVZ Hellas (2001-2006) Andreadis-Tsiomis Studio d’Architecture (2000-2001)
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SELECTED ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS
PUBLIC Cyprus (2012) @ G.P.Architects
Mandria Square
The centre of this is rural community is a square only in name. It is currently a passage, a way through. This proposal invents the square by unifying street and pavement and expanding to the building line. This project is based on smooth transitions. The gradually increasing spacing of the pavement, seamlessly dissolves the solid street surface to greener areas, avoiding strict boundaries that would fragment the space.
Cyprus (2012) @ G.P.Architects
Lemba Square
This project is all about bringing together the people of this scattered community. It is about demolishing boundaries and creating an inviting public space without intimidating boundaries. Therefore the sites’ topology is used to sculpt a small theatre and to mark the beginning of a walkway towards the Stone age settlement that is the local attraction. In this empty space currently used as a parking lot, an outdoor exhibition space is created to accommodate the works of an adjacent Art school, a much needed playspace, and a cafÊ.
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New Acropolis Museum International competition
Athens (2001)
@Andreadis-Tsiomis Studio d’Architecture & Wilmotte et Associés
Participation in the core design team for this high profile closed competition to provide a space for the Parthenon marbles but also for all findings from the slopes of the Acropolis. Our proposal focused on the manipulation of natural light, and how that could be used to better enhance the viewing experience.
Athens (2001)
Ancient Athenian Agora archaeological site
@Andreadis-Tsiomis Studio d’Architecture
Participation in the architectural team for the design of the archaeological site of the agora, focusing on the pedestrian routes and the highlighting of the numerous monuments. A project based on creating and managing space through subtle interventions.
Foundation of the Hellenic World building complex
Athens (2000)
@Andreadis-Tsiomis Studio d’Architecture
Participation in the design team for the master plan of a proposed cultural center in the industrial zone of Piraeus. The project called for the integration of a theatre, a multimedia hall, a museum and office spaces in the fragmented sub-urban industrial fabric.
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RESIDENTIAL Athens (2008-09) with Andreas Angelidakis
Residential building, Metaxourgeio
Conversion of a 1970’s industrial warehouse building in the center of Athens to a workspace - residential complex. The goal of the project was to emphasize the 3-dimensionality of the building. This was achieved by inserting the white cloud layer, whose soft geometry, bulged in all directions, and baring the rest of the building to its structural frame to further dramatize the distinction.
Athens (2008-09) with Andreas Angelidakis
Residential building, Metaxourgeio
Office building conversion to residential complex in the center of Athens. Steel frames emphasizing the view to the square at the heart of the emerging metaxourgeio area were inserted in the place of existing linear windows. An accordion effect was achieved through the implementation of folding steel blinds.
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Athens (2009) with Andreas Angelidakis
Luxury residence in Antiparos Island
This house using elementary volumes and avoiding rigid order recreates the complexity and spontaneity of traditional settlements.
Luxury private residence construction supervision
Athens,Ag.Marina (2007) supervision
700sqm seaside single family residence. The project completely re structured an existing 1960’s summer house to a modern luxury villa. I drafted the construction drawings, (concept by ArcTeam Architects) and headed building supervision till final completion.
Athens,Acropolis (2006) design & supervision
Restoration- remodeling of apartment
The apartment is in a 1928 art-deco building at the foot of the Acropolis. Being owned by a state agency, there were very tight restrictions regarding interventions. Therefore we focused on restoring the ornate mosaic floors and decorative ceilings and limited our interventions to easily removable elements.
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Athens,Artemis (2010-11) design & supervision
Private residence in east Attiki
Design and construction of energy efficient private residence in Artemis. The double “L� design creates a shell that blocks the street, and opens up to the backyard, effectively connecting the living room with the terrace and the garden. Passive and active energy systems such as heavy insulation, solar cells, biological wastewater treatment and geothermal heating-cooling are integrated in the house.
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Athens,Filothei (2007) design & supervision
Residential remodeling
The project called for the complete transformation of the house. An steel frame extension was added to the kitchen in order to accommodate a dining area. The corridor was converted to a display space for the owner’s manga collection. Great care was given to detail. Custom steel hardware, luminaires etc. as well as furniture, were designed. For the floor, in the wet spaces and corridor custom encaustic tiles were used to create a domestic warm feeling.
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Athens,Halandri (2007) design & supervision
Residential remodeling
The project called for the unification of two adjacent apartments into one. Key to the development of the project was the clear distinction of private and public spaces and the connection of the living area to the covered veranda, a space that in Greece is used throughout the year.
Athens, (2002) design & supervision
Flat remodeling
Minimal budget remodeling of small apartment in the centre of Athens. The main feature of the project was the curved wooden ceiling in the living – study area, that apart from creating a cave – like ambiance, also served to neatly conceal the shutters’ unit and to incorporate the bookcases lining the walls.
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Athens,Ellhnicon (2010) @Karouzos Group
Seaside luxury apartments
Participation in the design team for a 3.500sqm luxury residential complex in Athens-Ellinikon area. 12 large apartments with separate swimming pools and large outdoors spaces.
Cyprus (2012) @ G.P.Architects
Private residence in Cyprus
Two story house in Ahelia village near Paphos. Emphasis was given on the optimal use of orientation and passive solar systems, to maximize minimize overheating during the almost tropical Cyprus summer
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Cyprus (2012) @ G.P.Architects
Housing complex
Complex of five independent residences in Paphos. A project balanced between maximizing the seaside view and maintaining the privacy of each unit.
Cyprus (2012) @ G.P.Architects
Retirement village in Cyprus
Participation in the design team fo the first such retirement village in Cyprus. The complex comprises of 200 housing units plus communal amenities such as shopping area, visitors hotel, restaurants, a bar, a sport center and a clinic.
Cyprus (2012) @ G.P.Architects
Musician’s residence in Cyprus(2012)
Apart from a central piano area required to have a full view over the sloping landscape to the sea, principal concerns were the adaptation to the extreme summer conditions and the landscape. Therefore, we proposed that the house have a green roof, and merge with the terrain. A shaded corridor was wrapped around the main glass volume. Wooden slat panels filter and control the sunlight on the outer perimeter, allowing natural ventilation and cooling.
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Athens, (2012) design & supervision
Shipping container mountain cabin
The objective of this project was to construct an affordable seasonal prefabricated housing unit. Apart from the obvious financial benefit of prefab in general, starting with an existing shell, reduces cost further. The plan is to develop a small mountain resort in Parnassos consisting of 8-15 such units.
Athens, (2013) design & supervision
Concrete tube cabin
Another take on the holiday cabin, based on precast concrete tubes. It is a sustainable low-energy, non-intrusive building. These cabins are to be used as satellite units around a central hub housing common spaces and facilities.
RETAIL / RECREATION Giantes restaurant
Athens, (2010) design & supervision
Design and supervision of Giantes restaurant in Exarhia. The main asset of the site was the open courtyard, with the acacia trees, which was a literal oasis in the overcrowded center of Athens. The project brought the inside out, making this the main dining area. An glass pavilion with an opening roof was created to maximize contact with the exterior even in winter.
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Athens, (2006) @ CVZ Hellas
Media Markt Thivon Av. Project Architect and head of construction supervision. Extensive remodeling of an existing 8000sqm industrial building in Thivon Av. to accommodate Media Markt electronics store). Elaborate structural alterations were made, such as deepening the foundations to allow for a second parking level.
Thessaloniki, (2003-04) @ CVZ Hellas
City Gate mall and cinema multiplex
Project Architect and head of construction supervision team of large (36.000sqm GLA ) retail project on the west entrance of the city. The project comprised of two levels of retail stores, a hypermarket and a recreation level, with 7 cinema screens, a bowling alley and food court. The design goal was to create an illusion of perpetual uninterrupted motion through the shopping corridors, as well as to allow as much transparency and visual contact, while adhering to the strict local fire regulations. Construction was complicated as well: , due to unusually high underground water level, construction of the four underground levels was made top to bottom. While the lower levels were concrete, the recreation level had steel frame. Under a very tight deadline, constant architectural support was required throughout the construction period.
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Carrefour hypermarket
Athens, (2001-02) @ CVZ Hellas
Participation in the design team for a new 10.000 sqm Hypermarket in the former industrial area of Elaionas. Later on in the project, I acted as project architect, coordinating both design team and on site supervision.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH PhD Thesis
Symbolic systems in Design, Fictional iconography and design practice in the 20th century My thesis has focused on the theoretical analysis of fictional design as a symbolic system, and its’ relation to the symbolic systems of architectural and product design. This analysis called for the construction of a consistent parallel history of fictional illustration in relation to aerospatial design practice and theory through the analysis, collection, organization and filing of the illustrated material. The symbolic vocabulary of fictional design was defined and the associations of fictional symbols to those belonging to the fields of applied aerospatial design, architecture and industial design were examined. A transference of the fictional symbolic content and a consequent re – association to the concept of technological progress was discovered, that affected both architectural and design systems. The process of creation of a new symbolic field was demonstrated, from the assembly of morphomes from other fields of design to the evolution through the parallel processes of internal evolution and of independently evolving external associations and finally the introduction of new primal symbols. Thus, assignment of meaning, in design symbolic systems becomes a constant, liquid and dynamic process leading to the accretion of meaning through relation to other signs and systems, references and connotations. This constant evolution is characterized by distinct, and often co-existing, bubbles of normalcy, based on arbitrary rules and beliefs that combined with the available illustrative means and techniques lead to consistent design traditions. In the last part of the thesis I investigated the mechanisms of interaction of symbolic systems and scientific or other practice. In effect, practice constitutes the reality that the symbolic systems interpret and produce, whereas expectation is formed by both fictional and plausible but not (yet) realized theoretic design. Expectation emerges as fertile ground for interaction, evolution and osmosis of different design fields. Based on these theoretical conclusions, a model representing the dynamic interaction of different symbolic systems of design through the continuous shifting of dominant fields was created, that can be used as a theoretic tool for future analysis and a unified approach to design.
Teaching experience
Sustainability in Building Construction Post Graduate course in UCY The approach to sustainability in construction in this course is through the implementation of design and manufacturing methods from other industries. Rather than simple energy efficient design, the course is focused on the Life Cycle Assessment of buildings, introducing students to the potential environmental benefits of standardization, modularity and Design for Disassembly as well as biotic and smart materials, that are already in use in other industries (e.g. automotive and aerospace).
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