officetwentyfive architects

To this date, I still wonder what lead me to become an architect. My family background is completely irrelevant to this field. However, since a very early age, I was expressing myself through drawing and sketching. It was a combination of luck and my aptitude for expressing through sketching.

The practice was formed in 2003 by Thanasis Chrysomallis, Antonis Perpatidis and Manolis Vourakis. Since then, Office 25 Architects has developed a successfull approach on the market, expanding not only their workforce but their locus as well. The practice operates in a project-oriented network structure. At every project stage, we team up discussing, researching and drawing, to develop the concept of each project. The variety of projects that the practice undertakes has been a well-considered decision. It could easily switch from competition design projects to private housing developments which will be accomplished in the best possible timeframe, always with respect to the aesthetics of each work.

It is a way of expressing myself. Some people sing, others dance, I draw.

There is not one specific thing that we like to design. We work on different projects and what usually intrigue us is the scenario and the program

There is not only one. Many of them which are in our website www.o25.gr, used to be at some point our favorite.

I draw using black pens on thick/hard paper, a modeler and a renderer. As far as the materials are concerned, we use and combine natural materials on their raw form.

The factors I always take into account are: functionality, simplicity, budget and the creation of an impression/idea.

As far as design is concerned, innovative and new materials are very important. In our profession I consider to be very important the evolution of software.

It cannot be described in one word. However, I think that we always approach from the user’s point of view and the impression/idea we want to create.

I live in Thessaloniki, Greece. I don’t know how. It certainly affects our work but I can not explain how.

The most important thing for a designer is their portfolio. The companies, after having seen a lot of portfolios and doing a lot of research they should select one and give to him all the data he needs to create the project. If they do not like the initial designs they should reject him. We should never forget that the budget has a crucial part and we should be honest with it. Additionally, there should not be a state of vassalage or subordination between the designer and the client. There has to be a win-win situation.

Architecture, in a way, is a solution to a problem. The most important thing is to have facts and data right. The more the merrier. Then, we focus on research, design and the presentation.

Iphone, Arca lighter by Flos, Barcelona chair, Mac pro and Alessi coffee maker.

It is a job that occupies with pleasant moments of people life. Usually there is positive and creative spirit around it. Even the “problems” on it are usually creative. Also, working on a team is most of the times satisfying. A negative thing is that sometimes you do not earn enough money to buy what you design for others.

In the end of each work both designer and user must be satisfied.

I do not know. There are many skills that are important in different ways. I suppose all designers are keen on expressing themselves through their designs and sketches. Also it needs patient.

It is not specific. It depends on the project, the client, the architect and their collaboration.

How much does it cost? I heard this question in every possible way you can imagine. Polite, rude, direct or indirect.

Job experience is very important. All my previous jobs have given me some experience.

I honestly do not know. Design is not always fun. Sometimes it is so time – consuming and painful. However, if you are satisfied with the solution, you get a kind of satisfaction.

We have some plans for making projects in different parts of the world.

Office 25 architects are SHORTLISTED on dupont "CHANGING THE FACE" 2011 of Pushkinsky cinema international competition. “In every country, in every city there is building that has unique emotional meaning for the community. A building with an important public function, controversial design, a great location, problematic conditions makes it a perfect subject for a global brainstorm about its future.”