Aris Konstantinidis

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Aris Konstantinidis ( Greek Άρης Κωνσταντινίδης , born March 4, 1913 in Athens ; † September 18, 1993 in Athens) was a functionalist architect who became known as the head of the Xenia program for the construction of tourist infrastructure. Despite the modern design language of his buildings, Konstantinidis saw himself primarily as a continuation of the Greek tradition, which he understood less formally (in the sense of a style) than functional. Kenneth Frampton therefore saw him as an early and important representative of critical regionalism , even if Konstantinidis himself rejected this label. The architect advocated a “ rationalism tied to the specific location . He also conveyed a feeling for the value of the everyday ”( Fabio Reinhart ).

In this sense, Konstantinidis advocated the integration of his buildings into the landscape, for climate-friendly building (e.g. shadow zones between inside and outside) and the use of materials (especially stone) and colors (ocher, Siena) traditionally used in Greek architecture , Black, white and blue) and relatively small dimensions. His weekend house for K. Papapanayotou in the Athens coastal suburb of Anavyssos is an important example of post-war modernism in Europe and at the same time a valid interpretation of 'timeless' Greek building.

Konstantinidis saw his role models - in the sense of ' timelessness ' and 'truth' - primarily in anonymous, sometimes ephemeral buildings, such as the barracks that were built by refugees from Asia Minor on the outskirts of Greek cities in the 1920s , or the attached canopies of cafes and taverns. On the other hand, he rejected style architecture in the sense of an external appeal to tradition , as well as architectural internationalism . Above all, Konstantinidis took a sharp stand against the classicism of the 19th century, which he viewed as a falsification of the Greek tradition.

For Konstantinidis, buildings were primarily "containers of life" in which a free life should be able to develop in harmony with nature. In this sense, his hotels were also very spartan and accordingly came under criticism.

Life

Aris Konstantinidis was born in Athens in 1913. His grandfather was the cyclist Aristidis Konstantinidis . From 1931 to 1936 he studied at the Technical University of Munich , after which he returned to Athens, where he worked in town planning and in the building ministry, from 1955 to 1975 he was responsible for the construction of social housing and from 1957 to 1967 head of the Xenia- Program of the Greek Tourist Board EOT. At the same time he realized numerous projects for private clients.

After the junta seized power in Greece in 1967, he resigned in protest, accepted a visiting professorship at the ETH Zurich and became a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences . The University of Thessaloniki later awarded him an honorary doctorate. In 1993 he committed suicide in Athens.

Buildings (selection)

Archaeological Museum of Ioannina

Fonts

  • 1947: Two hamlets on Mykonos ( Δυο «χωριά» από τη Μύκονο )
  • 1950: The old houses of Athens ( Τα παλιά Αθηναϊκά σπίτια )
  • 1953: chapels on Mykonos ( Ξωκλήσια της Μυκόνου )
  • 1972: Container of Life or the Problem of a True Architecture ( Δοχεία ζωής ή το πρόβλημα για μια αληθινή αρχιτεκτονική )
  • 1975: elements of self-knowledge. For a true architecture ( Στοιχεία αυτογνωσίας. Για μιαν αληθινή αρχιτεκτονική )
  • 1978: True contemporary architecture ( Σύγχρονη αληθινή αρχιτεκτονική )
  • 1987: About architecture (Για την αρχιτεκτονική)
  • 1987: sinners and thieves or the rise of architecture ( Αμαρτωλοί και κλέφτες ή Η απογείωση της αρχιτεκτονικής )
  • 1989: Prolegomena ( Τα προλεγόμενα, από τα βιβλία που βρίσκονται στα σκαριά )
  • 1991: The miserable topicality - The Golden Olympiad - The Acropolis Museum ( Η άθλια επικαιρότητα - Η χρυσή ολυμπιάδα - Το μουσείο της ακρόπολης )
  • 1992: experiences and events. An autobiographical tale ( Εμπειρίες και περιστατικά. Μια αυτοβιογραφική διήγηση )
  • 1992: The architecture of architecture. Diary notes ( Η αρχιτεκτονική της αρχιτεκτονικής. Ημερολογιακά σημειώματα )
  • 1992: Aris Konstandinidis: Projects and Buildings ( Αρης Κωνσταντινίδης: Μελέτες και κατασκευές )
  • 1993: The God-built ( Θεόκτιστα ), photographs (posthumous)

obituary

  • Sokratis Georgiadis: Obituary for Aris Konstantinidis, “… the beautiful, simple values ​​of architecture” . In: Bauen + Wohnen (Swiss edition) . tape 81 . Verlegergemeinschaft Werk, 1994, p. 64 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kenneth Frampton: Prospects for a Critical Regionalism . In: Perspecta . Vol. 20, 1983, pp. 147-162 .
  2. ↑ Documentary by Ilias Giannakakis, Άρης Κωνσταντινίδης - δοχεία ζωής ( Πορτρέτα και διαδρομές ελλήνων αρχιτεκτόνων ).
  3. ^ Weekend house L. Eftaxias, Elefsina, 1939–40
  4. ^ Workers' Housing Complex (OEK), Nea Philadelphia, 1955–57
  5. ↑ weekend house K. Papapanayotou 1961-62
  6. ↑ Apartment house 30 Karaoli-Dimitriou St, Filothei, 1971–73
personal data
SURNAME Konstantinidis, Aris
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Κωνσταντινίδης, Άρης (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek architect
DATE OF BIRTH March 4, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Athens
DATE OF DEATH September 18, 1993
Place of death Athens