Porto Heli Vacation Houses Complex, German Design Awards 2020, Potiropoulos+Partners Greek Project
Vacation Houses Complex in Porto Heli
19 Feb 2020
Porto Heli Vacation Houses Complex
Architects: Potiropoulos+Partners
Location: Greece
Vacation Houses Complex Porto Heli
The architectural practice POTIROPOULOS+PARTNERS was awarded the “Winner: prize of the German Design Awards 2020
in the “Architecture” category
for the project “Active Materiality – Vacation Houses Complex in Porto Heli”
The “Winner” prize of the German Design Awards 2020 is awarded by the German Design Council to innovative projects that promote design and shape the landscape of contemporary architecture internationally.
The architectural practice “Potiropoulos+Partners” was awarded the “Winner” prize in the “Architecture” category of the German Design Awards 2020, for the project “Active Materiality – Vacation Houses Complex in Porto Heli”. This project won the first prize in an invited architectural competition between four Greek and international architectural firms launched by the developer – a multinational group that operates in the real estate sector – in order to select an architect.
As for the architectural concept, the design uses the geomythological approach to make a connection between the Lernaean Hydra myth and the natural features of Argolic topography. According to one interpretation, the Hydra symbolizes the hydrology of the particular geographical area, whereas the battle of Hercules with the beast stands for man’s attempts to cure the ills emanating from local phenomena, such as the harmful presence of the Lerna marshes might have been.
In his drawing “Hercules Killing the Hydra”, Raphael Lamar West accurately captures the intense effort with which man confronts nature. Besides the mythological aspect, one could also identify a conjunctural similarity between the “forms” in West’s drawing and the project area’s topography.
The architectural “idea” renders, on both a pragmatic and semiotic level, on one hand the curvilinear nature of the terrain of the Place, and on the other the historical metaphor, by setting the building volumes in place and coordinating their “movement” as if they were life-size carved stones, an integral part of the natural environment. At the intersection of historical memory and the idiom of the landscape – as embodied in the proposed design – an architecture is created that can mobilize the senses, revive emotions, unfold the promise of a life experience in a “theatrical” way. Formulating an architecture intimate and yet unexpected, precise albeit inventive, narrative and simple still, primordial and contemporary at the same time.
The “German Design Awards” are bestowed by the German Design Council. The aim of the Council is to identify and present design trends that can shape the future of architecture and design. Each year the jury, made up of well-known personalities, awards the most innovative proposals from a multitude of high-quality projects from around the world. Launched in 2012, the “German Design Awards” are among the most prestigious competitive institutions in the field of design.
About Potiropoulos+Partners
Innovative and inventive architecture, based on creativity, research and respect for the natural environment, is the design staple of Potiropoulos+Partners. The firm creates high-quality projects for its clients through a design that seeks out new ways of thinking and expression, while charging its architectural compositions with multifaceted and imaginative intentions.
The office was founded in 1989 by Dimitris Potiropoulos and Liana Nella-Potiropoulou and has been established as one of the most important architectural offices in Greece, based in Athens and London. Today, with 30 years of experience, and with the participation of their son Rigas Potiropoulos, this creative team of talented architects addresses the global market, providing complete design services in every scale of architectural and urban planning.
Distinctions:
Potiropoulos + Partners has been repeatedly distinguished in national and international architectural competitions and has been honored with numerous awards, such as the 1st Prize for the Natural History Museum in Samos, 3rd Prize for the Technical Chamber of Greece Complex in Maroussi, 2nd Prize for the New Acropolis Museum in collaboration with Studio Daniel Libeskind, 1st Prize for the renovation of the “Ekmetzoglou” building complex in Volos, a distinction for the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, et. al.
Furthermore, Potiropoulos+Partners are the recipients of the “Architizer A+” award for the “German School of Athens Kindergarten” in 2016, and the “Beach Front Villa – Navarino Residence” in 2017. The former project was also nominated for the 2015 Mies van der Rohe Award. More recently, other projects have been awarded by the prestigious German Design Council the “Special Mention” and “Winner” prizes in the 2018 German Design Awards, as well as the “Winner” prize in the 2020 German Design Awards.
The projects “Βeach Front Villa – Navarino Residence”, “Touristic Development of Luxury Suites in Kavouri” and “German School of Athens Kindergarten” were distinguished in the 2018 World Architecture Community Awards. Finally, the project “Mykonos White Boxes Resort” won the Bronze Prize in the 2018 A’ Design Awards, one of the most significant design awards internationally.
Vacation Houses Complex in Porto Heli images / information received 190220
Location: Porto Heli, Greece
Contemporary Greek Architecture
Greece Buildings
Greek Architecture Designs – chronological list
Another Greek building design by Architects Potiropoulos+Partners on e-architect:
White Boxes Resort, Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece
image from architects office
White Boxes Resort Mykonos
Greek Architect Studios design firm listings on e-architect
Grace Santorini Hotel
Design: Divercity & Mplusm
photo : Erieta Attali
Grace Santorini Hotel in Greece
Mykonos Villa Renewal, The Cyclades, Greece
Design: GM Architects with Greek architect Andreas Vassilaros
photograph courtesy © GM Architects
Mykonos Villa Renewal
New Acropolis Museum
Design: Bernard Tschumi Architect
Acropolis Museum building
Olympic Tennis Centre, Athens Olympic Sports Complex
Design: Potiropoulos D+L Architects
Olympic Tennis Centre Athens
Residence, Larissa
Design: Potiropoulos D+L Architects
Larissa Residence
Website: Ios Island Cyclades
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