18
November 2015
Mrs. Christina Nikolaidou and Mr. Nikos Kourniatis, two young Greek architects, talk over the creativity of their profession and their careers so far.
Christina Nikolaidou
Architect - Engineer
Ι.Ι. What’s your source of creativity?
C.Ν. 1) From the familiar, natural and landscaped environment (of the project)
2) From the modern architectural trends-practices.
3) Personal taste and style.
Ι.Ι. Which is your favorite project and why does it stand out?
C.Ν. I love using stainless steel in various architectural details, like balustrades, in buildings made of stone. Mixing traditional with modern elements or -to put it better- blending a natural material with a modernly processed material, is something I am really keen on.
Ι.Ι. Based on which criteria do you choose stainless steel for your projects?
C.Ν. 1) Aesthetics
2) Its tolerance to difficult conditions
Ι.Ι. Which and when was your first professional contact with stainless steel?
C.Ν. From the beginning of my carrier in A.N. Tombazis Architectural Office, where we used stainless steel and wire meshes in many projects – mostly in office buildings (staircases, balustrades, wire meshes etc). The majority of these constructions were in products of Ieronimakis Inox.
Ι.Ι. What would you advice a new architect that would like to use stainless steel in his projects?
C.Ν. To conduct a careful and properly detailed final study.
Ι.Ι. Tell us a few words about your cooperation with Ieronimakis Inox:
C.Ν. We really appreciate you! You’re such perfect professionals and even more perfect people and family! I appreciate you all much!
Nikos Kourniatis
Dr. Architect - Engineer NTUA
Ι.Ι. What’s your source of creativity?
Ν.Κ. I get inspired by geometry and perspective as well as from my deep conviction that things are pretty much always different from what the initial look may show.
The Optic Illusions, which I work in professional level, are a sector that raises the perception of a space and incites imagination. It makes people see things from another angle.
Ι.Ι. Which is your favorite project and why does it stand out?
Ν.Κ. I think it was some constructions with suspended bars, placed in a certain way so that the observer sees an optic message from a certain point. One of them was placed in “The Mall Athens” for the promotion of a series of related products of “IONIA” and the second one was placed in a VIP Personal Training studio. Both applications required absolute geometry that was accomplished in a very satisfying point.
Other constructions were cylinders with super mirror finishing for the optic reformation through mirage in their surface. This optic, geometric installation has to do with the reformation of a disfigured image through the cylinder. One of those was also placed in “IONIA” store in “The Mall Athens”. The second one, a similar installation, was in “Herakleidon” Museum. Some are still used in similar applications, for the Special Subjects of Perspective at the Architect Engineering school of N.T.U.A.
Ι.Ι. Based on which criteria do you choose stainless steel for your projects?
Ν.Κ. The basic criteria for choosing stainless steel is the possibility to produce a super mirror finishing, with perfect aesthetic result, as well as the absolute geometric accuracy when the construction is brought to life.
Ι.Ι. Which and when was your first professional contact with stainless steel?
Ν.Κ. My first work was a cylinder with super mirror finishing the was used for the shooting of “La Pasteria” restaurant video-presentation.
Ι.Ι. Do you believe that stainless steel will still exist in future projects?
Ν.Κ. I believe that stainless steel is a material that has great potential to evolve.
Ι.Ι. What would you advice a new architect that would like to use stainless steel in his projects?
Ν.Κ. Ι’d advise him …. To take advice from Ieronimakis Inox!
Ι.Ι. Tell us a few words about your cooperation with Ieronimakis Inox:
Ν.Κ. Magnificent! Working with someone is not evaluated just from the result, which was always perfect from every aspect, but also from the quality of human aspect that is priceless! Communication with people of Ieronimakis Inox team, from distance or face-to-face, has moral and respect! Plus, they have deep technical knowledge of their products and they always look for new ways to use their material. These make them capable to find solutions for the most particular technical issues. It’s important to bring up that Mrs. Eugenia Ieronimaki (Architect), has perfect perception of spaces and that’s obvious by the way she provides the best proposal on technical, aesthetic and economic level by truly understanding the issue’s complexity. Thank you very much for that. Without that kind of assistance I don’t think I would’ve managed to realize my projects.
