CARTECO - Architectural Materials & Design

DESTE Foundation, 8 Omirou Str., N. Psychico

PRESS RELEASE

The design hotel is a magnet attracting a new informed clientele as well as the most talented architects and designers in the world. The impressive hotels designed by Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio, Jean Nouvel, Rem Koolhaas και Herzog & de Meuron, have established what their designers consider the ideal residence. Within the Greek urban setting, a hotel undertakes a recuperative function. In a country where tourism retains a pivotal economical role, design hotels are just making their presence felt. Which hotel would embody the modern way of life,, which offering a new experience? How would a new hotel make its presence felt within the global design map? Can architecture contribute creatively in this much desired experience of the hotel, which until now has been served by moving into the pre-existing buildings design furniture Can architecture contribute creatively in this much desired experience of the hotel, which until now has been served by moving into the pre-existing buildings design furniture?

These are the questions addressed by the young architects participating in the Invisible Hotel exhibition (in alphabetic order): Andreas Angelidakis, Yannis Aesopos, Iro Bertaki+Christina Loukopoulou+Kostis Panigiris, Panos Dragonas+Varvara Christopoulou, Thanasis Hohlidakis, Eleana Horiti, Eleni Kostika, Stella Mermiga+Vangelis Ravanos, Panos Nikolaidis + Errica Protestou, and Nikolas Travasaros.

Invisible Hotel presents 10 virtual projects designed by the best Greek avant-garde architects. The projects will be represented with digital renderings and animations (walkthroughs). The exhibition is supported and organized by Carteco,(www.carteco.gr) one of the biggest companies of hotel equipment and architectural materials in Greece for the last 20 years. Diathlasis (representing iGuzzini) co-organizes the exhibition and undertakes the lighting installation. The catalog’s production is sponsored by the bookstore Papasotiriou. The press conference is sponsored by the hotel Semiramis. Curator of the exhibition is architect Memos Philippidis.

Two judging committees will evaluate the proposals of architects, granting rewards. The members of the Greek Committee are (in alphabetic order): Stavros Andreadis, President of the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE), Harry Bougadellis Architect, Stelios Dimou Architect, Kostis Georgiou Painter/Sculptor, Babis Ioannou Architect, Dakis Ioannou Businessman and International Art Collector, Nikos Ktenas Architect, Dimitris Potiropoulos Architect, Alexandros Tombazis Architect, Tasos Zeppos Architect. The members for The International Architectural Committee includes the architects: David Chipperfield, Roman Delugan, Juergen Mayer and Joel Sanders.