About
Biography
TZANAKI ELEFTHERIA
Architect Engineer NTUA, MSc AAD Columbia university, LEED Green Associate
Eleftheria received the degree Master of Science from Columbia University, NY (2008), and holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture, with Honors (degree 9.10/10.0), from National Technical University of Athens (2005). During her studies in Athens, she was given many scholarships from ΙΚΥ (Greek National Grants Foundation), from the Technical Chamber of Greece, etc, due to excellence in design studies. Moreover, she has got scholarship from Onassis Foundation for her studies at Columbia University.
She has worked in different Architectural offices in Athens and in Crete island.
In 2006, upon graduation from NTUA, Eleftheria worked as Designer at KLMF and afterwards at AKKM in Athens (www.akkm.gr); here she led the design on several projects, mainly residences.
From 2009 till now, Eleftheria is working as a Freelancer Architect Engineer in Irakleio in Crete island. She is having co-operation with A2G Architects, as a Lead Designer. She has led the design and execution as Coordinating Architect and Project Manager on several projects, such as Hotel Resorts, the international Airport of Nikos Kazantzakis in Crete, Sustainable Schools, Villas. In addition, she led the design on successful competitions, small built projects, interior spaces, retail, and industrial design solutions.
Eleftheria has been specialized in Sustainable Design. In 2007, at Columbia Uinversity. She has been LEED accredited (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) since 2013.
In 2010, she established with A2G Architects the team A2Ggreen Architects, specialized in Sustainable Design in buildings, open spaces, etc. In 2013, she travelled to New Delhi with A2Ggreen Architects to attend seminar about GRIHA (National Green Rating System of India), in order to complete sustainable projects there. In 2011, she has been certified to be educated about ESTIDAMA green rating system of Abu Dhabi in UAE. Together with A2G Architects, they have travelled in many different countries to collaborate with other architectural offices and developers all around the world in order to complete interesting projects, following the principles of green design: In 2012, they have participated in the national Conference in Green Design in new Delhi. In 2011, they have given lecture, by invitation, in the Eco-Buildings Conference in Doha, Qatar. In 2010, they have participated in the Big 5 Show in Dubai with their own stand (www.big5.ae), in order to expand their co-operations in green design.
In 2014, she has been awarded with an honorable mention in the category “Best First Building by a Young Architect of the years 2009-2013” by “DOMES 2014 awards” for a completed building in Irakleio, judged by Richard Meier, Juhani Pallasmaa and Michael Lykoudis.
She has taken part in several special workshops, like the architectural workshop “InSitu” in K.A.M. (Mediterranean Center of Architecture) and the European Biennal of Landscape Architecture . Also, she has taken part in several architectural competitions with success. Some of her projects are already published in notable architectural magazines and websites.
She has been participated as a volunteer in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of 2004 in Athens, that have been directed with great success by Dimitris Papaioannou.
Now, she is based in Irakleio, in Crete island, and is dedicated to move forward the Αrchitecture. She also works in co-operation with architects and developers to bring concepts to fruition. Her desire is to bring her streamlined sustainable design back to her hometown.
Philosophy
- ** "I subdue matter and force it to become my mind's good medium. I rejoice in plants, in animals, in man and in gods, as though they were my children. I feel all the universe nestling about me and following me as though it were my own body.
- Let us unite, let us hold each other tightly, let us merge our hearts, let us create - so long as the warmth of this earth endures, so long as no earthquakes, cataclysms, icebergs or comets come to destroy us - let us create for Earth a brain and a heart, let us give a human meaning to the superhuman struggle.
- I watch mind and matter hunting each other like two nonexistent erotic phantasms - merging, begetting, disappearing - and I say: "This is what I want!"
- Whether you would or not, you brought a new rhythm, a new desire, a new idea, a fresh sorrow. Whether you would or not, you enriched your ancestral body.
- The mind is a seafaring laborer whose work is to build a seawall in chaos.
- All Earth is a seed planted in the coils of my mind. Whatever struggles for numberless years to unfold and fructify in the dark womb of matter bursts in my head like a small and silent lightning flash.
- Humanity is such a lump of mud, each one of us is such a lump of mud. What is our duty? To struggle so that a small flower may blossom from the dunghill of our flesh and mind.
- Love man because you are he. Love animals and plants because you were they, and now they follow you like faithful co-workers and slaves.
- Love your body; only with it may you fight on this earth and turn matter into spirit.
- Love matter. God clings to it tooth and nail, and fights. Fight with him.
- Impose order, the order of your brain, on the flowing anarchy of the world. Incise your plan of battle clearly on the face of the abyss.
- A stone is saved if we lift it from the mire and build it into a house, or if we chisel the spirit upon it.
- Joy! Joy! I did not know that all this world is so much part of me, that we are all one army, that windflowers and stars struggle to right and left of me and do not know me; but I turn to them and hail them.
- Silence means: Every person, after completing his service in all labors, reaches finally the highest summit of endeavor, beyond every labor, where he no longer struggles or shouts, where he ripens fully in silence, indestructibly, eternally, with the entire Universe. …”
** Excerpts from the book of the Cretan Writer and Philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis “Salvatores Dei” (1927) , who was the brother of Eleftheria’s great grandmother Anastasia. This book includes the ideology of the Architect.
Services
Advanced Architectural Design at NO Extra Cost
Principles of Design :
- Contemporary as well as timeless design
- Functionality
- Aesthetics
- Minimalism
- Connection to its environment
- Adjusted to the clients needs and desires
- Maximum communication between the client and the architect team, in order to have the best possible design
- The building legislation is used as a challenge in design
- Construction services can be provided after the design is finished, upon request by the client.
Sustainable Design
- Save the maximum of Energy: save money in construction and mainly in the maintenance of the building
- LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification or relevant, can be provided upon request
Design can be completed for every region worldwide.
- the office is based in Crete island
- communication can be achieved through video calls
- selected trips to the site are feasible upon agreement.
Co-operations
- The office is willing to work with other colleagues, architects, developers, etc, in order to exchange knowledge and achieve an advanced design.
Studios' first principle is "Striving for Excellence"