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Architects Directory 2009

 

Divercity Architects

Greece

BIOGRAPHY AND PRACTICE

Divercity were founded in 2004 in Athens by Nikolas Travasaros and Demetra Karabelia. In the following four years, Dimitris Travasaros, Christos Dimitroukas and Christina Achtypi joined as partners, and today the practice has offices in Greece – Athens and Patra - and London. The partners combined their studies in Greece and the UK, while Dimitroukas holds an engineering degree. The team finds inspiration in all forms of culture, not just the architectural world; they cite Hussein Chalayan's fashion, Enki Bilal's comic books and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. "We understand architecture as a multi-sensory language", the partners say, "and we try to uncover a meaning in every project, usually through spatial narratives".

THE HOUSE

The practice based their design for the Envelope House on a number of standard prefabricated components, which allowed for different layout configurations to provide the user with an extra level of freedom, flexibility and involvement. The house can also respond to various site conditions. Technologically informed by various non-architectural industries, like automobile and aerospace manufacturing, the house can be adapted to the ever-changing needs of the fast-paced contemporary lifestyle. Furthermore, the design represents a structural experiment. "Why should one build an independent structural frame with a solely supporting role when the components can incorporate this themselves?" Divercity ask.

THE FUTURE

In a world of constant changes and fluctuations, Divercity believe that future architecture is bound to overcome traditional boundaries and become a basis for new creation; they also try to explore as much as possible new technologies and architectural innovations. The team has several smaller and bigger projects in the pipeline, including a number of private residences, as well as hospitality projects in the Greek islands.

www.divercityarchitects.com