Studio

About

The architectural firm (Athens, 1989) was established based on the long-standing collaboration of Theoni Xanthi with Gerasimos Zakynthinos and Thodoris Androulakis. In 2008, the practice adopted the name XZA–architects. Today, the office is led by:

    • Theoni Xanthi, Co-Founder & Partner, Lead Architect
    • Margarita Zakynthinou – Xanthi, Partner
    • Nikoletta Zakynthinou – Xanthi, Partner

The practice’s philosophy is rooted in:

    • the exploratory interplay between the natural, urban, cultural, and technological environment

    • highlighting the intermediate space as a realm where the collective meets the individual, and the public converges with the private

    • developing open environments -both conceptual and spatial- that foster collective life within the benefits of the Mediterranean climate, serving as a response to modern life’s individualism and individualized passivity

Supported by numerous valuable collaborators, the firm boasts 37 years of presence. It has engaged with studies and projects ranging from private commissions to extensive public works. A defining characteristic of the practice is that a significant portion of its work stems from winning entries and implementations of architectural competitions.

In total, the firm’s portfolio has earned 33 awards and distinctions in Greek and international architectural competitions for both design studies and completed projects, and has been featured extensively in publications, exhibitions, and academic symposia.

In 2005, the project “Design of the Classic Marathon Starting Area” (1st Prize in the nationwide architectural competition, 1992) received the 1st Prize for Public Open Space and Landscape Architecture “Dimitris Pikionis,” and in 2007, it represented the Greek nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Awards. In 2017, the firm won 1st prize in the international architectural competition for the “New Cyprus Museum” (out of 129 entries), a project currently under construction. Since then, the practice has also been active in Cyprus.

More recent accolades include 1st prizes in the competitions for the New EYDAP Headquarters Building (2022), the regeneration of the public space at Alexandras Metro Station (2023), and the design of Kolonaki Square (2023). The firm’s recent work also encompasses the completion of the construction of the New Town Hall and Cultural Center of Chalandri (1st prize in the 2001 architectural competition).

People

Theoni Xanthi

Co-Founder & Partner, Lead Architect

Architectural Engineer N.T.U.A.

Professor of Architectural Design, Department of Architecture, D.U.Th.

Theoni Xanthi, Lead Architect of XZA, is a Professor in the Department of Architecture at the Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.Th.), where she has been teaching Architectural Design since 2001.

She established the architectural practice XZA-Architects in 1989, maintaining an uninterrupted professional presence to this day. Parallel to her practice, she pursues an extensive and systematic academic career, teaching in the Architectural Design Sector at D.U.Th. since 2001. From 2022 to 2025, she also taught in the Postgraduate Program at the School of Architecture of the National Technical University of Athens (N.T.U.A.).

Both her teaching and architectural work serve as fields of research and continuous feedback on issues regarding public and common space, the open building as an intermediary environment within the landscape and the city, as well as social demands. Through publications, lectures, and active participation in symposia and conferences, she contributes significantly to fostering dialogue on architectural education and contemporary practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerasimos Zakynthinos

Co-Founder

1989 – 2013: Architectural office XZA-Architects.

1990: MSc in Architecture, The Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London (UCL).

1989 – 1991: Professional Photography in collaboration with Babis Louizidis.

1989: Degree in Architectural Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (N.T.U.A.).

Primary – Secondary Education: Athens (The Moraitis School).

Year & Place of Birth: Athens (1963).

Margarita Zakynthinou – Xanthi

Partner

Architectural Engineer N.T.U.A.

(MArch, M.Sc. DSC)

Margarita Zakynthinou – Xanthi studied at the School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens (N.T.U.A., 2011 – 2018) and at ENSA Paris – La Villette (2016).

In 2022, she completed the Postgraduate Program “Design – Space – Culture” at the School of Architecture, N.T.U.A., supported by scholarships from the Leventis Foundation, the Voudouris Foundation, and the Foundation for Education and European Culture.

Her academic experience includes independent teaching at the Department of Architecture, University of Patras, in the course Architectural Design 04 (2023), as well as auxiliary teaching at the School of Architecture, N.T.U.A., in the Architectural Design Sector (2019 – 2021). She has also delivered lectures at the School of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.), and the Department of Architecture, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.Th.), on museum space design.

She has been collaborating with XZA-Architects on international architectural competitions since 2015, becoming a core team member in 2018.

Her 2018 Master’s Diploma Thesis received notable distinctions, including the 1st Prize at the “Mediterranean Mimar Sinan Prize 2018”, as well as representing N.T.U.A. and being shortlisted among the top 28 projects for the “Young Talent Architecture Award 2018” by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe. Additionally, she co-organized the exhibition titled “Bridging the Past with the Future: The Corinth Canal” in collaboration with the Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece.

 

Thodoris Androulakis

Co-Founder

1989 – 2021: Architectural office XZA-Architects.

1980 – 1989: Freelance Architect.

1978: Degree in Architectural Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (N.T.U.A.).

Primary – Secondary Education: Athens.

Year & Place of Birth: Athens (1954).

Nikoletta Zakynthinou – Xanthi

Partner

Architectural Engineer N.T.U.A. (MArch), Columbia GSAPP (M.Sc.AAD)

Present & past team members (today – 2011)

Alkisti Skiadopoulou, Kostis Boulougouris, Rafail Papaioannou

Panagiotis Kissas, Vicky Thivaiou, Marianthi Eirini Krouskou, Emmanouil Vellis, Giannis Iakovakis, 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.