Studio

About

The architecture firm (Athens, 1989) emerged from the many years of collaboration of Theoni Xanthi with Gerasimos Zakynthinos and Thodoris Androulakis. Apart from private projects, a large section of its architectural study and practice has originated from awards in national and international architectural competitions.

The perspective of the office combines open large-scale design with the detail of matter, as manifested in architectural materials. In this context, the architectural concept bridges natural, social and cultural environments, and creates spaces for a modern human-centered way of life that promotes synergy and interaction.

In 2008, the office was entitled XZA-Architects. XZA-Architects have so far received many and important distinctions, as presented in numerous publications. In total, the office has received 32 awards and distinctions for architectural studies, either in competitions or for build projects. In 2005 the project Starting Area of the Classical Marathon Race won the “Dimitris Pikionis Award for Public Open Space and Landscape Architecture” and in 2007 it was selected as the official Greek participation in the Mies van der Rohe prize.

Since 2012, the office has been active also in Cyprus, winning several distinctions in architectural competitions. In 2017, Margarita Zakynthinou-Xanthi joined the firm, when it  received the first prize among 129 entries in the International Architectural Competition for the New Cyprus Museum.

Theoni Xanthi, the Leader Architect of XZA, is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture, Democritus University of Thrace, on the courses of Architectural Design, from 2001 to this day.

People

Theoni Xanthi

Co-Founder, Director & Lead Architect

Architectural office xza-architects (1989 – today).

Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture, Democritus University of Thrace, on the courses of Architectural Design (from 2001 to this day).

Teaching and research interests in public space and the exploration, through design, of the common ground between natural, urban and cultural environment.
She has carried various publications and lectures and has participated in workshops, conferences and juries aiming to promote dialogue regarding architectural education and practice.

Architectural Practice at xza-architects (1989 – today).

Employed at the Atelier 66 – D. & S. Antonakakis and Kiriakos Krokos architectural practice (1987 – 1989).

NTUA Diploma in Architectural Engineering. Degree in Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens (1989).

Primary and Secondary School in Patras.

Born in Patras (1960).

Gerasimos Zakynthinos

Co-Founder

Architectural office xza-architects (1989 – 2013).

Postgraduate studies at the Advanced Architectural Studies Department at the Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, U.C.L.. Master of Science at U.C.L in London (1990).

Professional Photographer with Babis Louizidis (1989 – 1991).

NTUA Diploma in Architectural Engineering. Degree in Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens (1989).

Primary and Secondary School in Athens (Moraitis School).

Born in Athens (1963).

Thodoris Androulakis

Co-Founder

Architectural office xza-architects (1989 – 2021).

Architectural Practice in Athens and Chania (1980 – 1989).

NTUA Diploma in Architectural Engineering. Degree in Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens (1978).

Primary and Secondary School in Athens.

Born in Athens (1954).

Margarita Zakynthinou-Xanthi

Creative Director

Architectural office xza-architects (2018 – today).

Temporary architectural practice at xza-architects for international architectural competitions:
– Cancer Institute Research Institute, Cyprus, 2018 (Distinction)
– New Cyprus Museum, 2017 (1st prize)
– Medical School, University of Cyprus, 2015 (3rd Prize)

Post Graduate Program: “Research in Architecture: Architectural Design – Space – Culture” (2022). Scholarships from Leventis Foundation and Foundation for Education and European Culture

NTUA Diploma in Architectural Engineering. Degree in Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens (2018). Distinctions:
– 1 of the 4 equal prizes in the architectural competition for students of mediterranean countries “Mediterranean Mimar Sinan Prize 2018” Instabul, 2018.
– Selection of our diploma thesis by a 3member jury to represent the School of Architecture NTUA in the  international architectural student thesis competition “Young Talent Architecture Awards (YTAA) 2018”, which is organised by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe.  Distinguished in the 28 shortlisted projects and exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Palazzo Mora, 2018.
–  Invitation from the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece to run a common exhibition “Bridging the past with the future. The Corinth Canal” with our diploma thesis and the historical archives for the Corinth Canal that possesses the H.A. of the NBG. Diomidi Hall, 2018.

– 1 of the 3 equal prizes in the student architectural competition “House Project in Naxos”. Naxos, 2016.
– 2nd Prize  in the pan-hellenic student architectural competition “Urban Sign”. Athens, 2015.

Primary and Secondary School in Athens (Moraitis School, 2011).

Born in Athens (1993).

Present & past team members (today – 2011)

Theodora Sakellariadi, Georgios Larios, Apostolos Giannaras, Melina Elia, Eleni Orfanou, Marietta Spyrou, Kosmas Varkarolis, Anthi Kosma, Gabriella Karabatsou, Melina Vlachou, Maria Papadaki, Irini Klidara, Andreas Constantinou, Alkmini Tzima, Sofia Kalea, Stella Makarona, Maria Kopanari, Natalia Papastoitsi, Fotini Salveridou, Spyros Yiotakis, Penelopi Pappa, Kyriaki Gardeli, Sofia Yiotaki, Panos Manolis, Alexandros Bertzouanis, Giannis Aggelakos, Katerina Myrizaki, Melina Kyritsi, Evi Karaviti.