THE ARCHITECT Dr. Niki Manou-Andreadis is the architect of Ikos Resorts in Greece and talks about inspiration and creation of good life spaces.
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hat makes Ikos Aria stand out compared to your other projects? Ikos Aria is the fourth unit of the Ikos Resorts collection. It extends in a magnificent area of 178,000 square meters that ends up on a vast beach with an islet in the background, an archaeological site and a chapel; an ideal location for an architect to be creative! In our plan we included the four-winged hotel’s old, abandoned central building, which we rebuilt, adding new two-story and ground-floor volumes that spread harmoniously throughout the entire site. Respecting all general principles that characterize the design of every Ikos resort – calm and straight lines, earthy shades, natural materials and luminous spaces – we also managed to provide Ikos Aria, which is located in Kos in the southeastern Aegean Sea, with many elements inspired by the insular architecture, its forms and its morphological data.
What was your main goal concerning Ikos Aria? In every hotel we design, I always take time to feel, to really understand the natural space around it, the special characteristics and the peculiarities of the place. In the case of Ikos Aria, as I said before, the site was more than enchanting. With much attention and respect, we have integrated in the area both the new building constructions and the old ones, fully renovated. Our goal was this huge hotel, with its indoor and outdoor spaces, to be completely part of the beauty and the majesty of the nature around it, engendering a sense of calmness and relaxation to each visitor. In your opinion, what is the element that transforms a
“space” into an “environment”, a place where someone wants to spend time? Architectural composition must definitely have a central idea that will be used in each individual solution. If this does not exist, it always results in a contradictory outcome that any visitor can feel. Applying the central architectural concept to all the individual spaces and taking into account the special conditions and needs arising from the functional expansions, a “space” is transformed into an “environment”.
How would you describe your own style? I don’t think the term “style” suits to an architect. It definitely doesn’t suit me. Over the years, I feel like I have formed a clear architectural view that features clean lines, harmony, avoiding exaggeration or clichés just to impress, sustainability and respect for the environment. I try to be consistent in all of these and adjust them according to the functional requirements of each project. What projects do you work on? With my team, we are working very intensively but doing something that we love very much and gives us real joy. Throughout last year, we completed the big project of the Ikos Aria resort, which opened in May 2019. Furthermore, we added to the Sani Resort facilities a number of new important constructions such as the unique Nadal Tennis Club, the Adventure Park, the new Pool Complex at the Sani Beach Hotel, and the wonderful new Pool Lobby-Bar & Restaurant at the Sani Club. At this time my studio is also designing the redevelopment of two major hotel units in Thessaloniki. IKOS RESORTS
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