ILIAS PAPAGEORGIOU
PRINCIPAL
Ilias Papageorgiou is an architect and founder of PILA. He brings extensive experience from Europe and America, having led the design and realization of high profile cultural, commercial and residential projects around the world. Prior to founding PILA, Ilias was a partner at SO-IL in New York, collaborating with clients including MINI/BMW, Versace, Google, AirBnB, Frieze Art Fair, Manetti Shrem Museum at UC Davis, the Guggenheim Museum, and the New Museum in New York.
Ilias’s work has been internationally recognized, having been awarded as a Curbed Groundbreaker, Architects under 50, Domes International Review of Architecture Awards, and the Young Greek Architects Awards. His work has been widely published and exhibited in institutions such as the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum in New York and the Benaki Museum in Athens.
Ilias was born in Athens, Greece and studied architecture at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki and at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, with a scholarship from the Onassis Foundation. In addition to his practice, Ilias is a frequent lecturer and panelist at leading design institutions. Ilias is currently a visiting professor at the University of Patras and previously he was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture and Planning, and has previously taught at Tulane University and University of Thessaly. He co- authored solid objectives: order, edge, aura, published by Lars Muller and was an Ideas City Fellow, a platform for urbanism organized by the New Museum.
Ilias is a member of the board of directors at the Athens Epidaurus Festival and the Harvard Club of Greece.
CHRISTINA PAPALEXANDRI
PRINCIPAL
Christina Papalexandri is an architect and principal of PILA. Christina brings a multidisciplinary approach into design, integrating architecture, environmental design, interiors, branding, and signage.
Prior to PILA she worked at global design consultancy 2×4 Inc in New York. Her experience includes collaborations with a wide range of clients from the fields of culture, fashion, art and technology, such as Prada, Samsung, Tiffany & Co, Perez Art Museum Miami, The Broad Museum of Art, Arper, Design Within Reach, Huyndai, and Nike.
Christina was born and raised in Athens, Greece and studied architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
SILENA PATSALIDOU
ASSOCIATE >
Silena Patsalidou oversees a variety of projects at PILA and has also an active role in the management of the studio. She has been a project leader for Piraeus Tower and the transformation of a large-scale waterfront site in Voula.
Prior to joining PILA, Silena gained experience in London in international firms including Heatherwick studio and Grimshaw architects. During her time there she led teams working on large scale mixed use and cultural projects through all phases of design.
She studied architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. Silena also holds the position of Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
IACOVINA KONTIZA
SENIOR ARCHITECT >
Iacovina Kontiza has extensive design and fabrication experience from working in offices in Greece and Switzerland. She specializes in design optimization with parametric tools and BIM. She has been the project leader for Piraeus Tower and an office building in Marousi among others.
She studied architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and the ETH in Zurich.
KONSTANTINOS VARVITSIOTIS
SENIOR ARCHITECT >
Konstantinos Varvitsiotis has more than 16 years of experience having worked in various offices in the UK and Greece such as Aedas, Decathlon and Tombazis in Greece. At PILA he is involved in various projects where he oversees technical and building code issues.
He studied architecture at the Liverpool John Moores University and he has been a member of the Technical Chamber in Greece since 2008 and a certified energy inspector since 2014.
ALEXANDRA YOVANI
SENIOR ARCHITECT >
Alexandra Yovani leads projects of various scales at PILA from residential to a large scale renovation of a historic urban block in downtown Athens.Prior to joining PILA she gained professional experience from working for practices such as Gustafson Porter + Bowman and Grimshaw Architects in the UK and Tacet Creations in NY.
She studied architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and the Bartlett School of Architecture in London.
KONSTANTINOS PETROPOULOS
ARCHITECT >
Konstantinos Petropoulos is one of the first members of the studio, having contributed to a variety of projects such as the Piraeus Tower, the Metaphor Hub, and two houses currently under construction, Chimarras and Dimokratias. He is currently the project architect for the transformation of a large-scale waterfront site in Voula.
He studied architecture at National Technical University of Athens where he also frequently serves as a teaching assistant to design courses focusing on housing and public space.
NIKOLINA MITROU
ARCHITECT >
Nikolina Mitrou has extensive experience in architectural design, as well as urban and building regulations and permitting working at various offices in Greece, as well as an independent professional.
She studied architecture at the University of Patras, where she also recently graduated from the Mediterranean Futures Master in Architecture and Urban Design program.
IRENA GALANOS
ARCHITECT
MEROPI KONSTANTINIDOU
JUNIOR ARCHITECT >
Meropi Konstantinidou is currently involved in the concept design of various projects at PILA. Prior to joining the studio she gained experience at BIG, Bjarke Ingels Group in Copenhagen.
She studied architecture at the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki.
IZTOK HVALA
SENIOR ARCHITECT
Alexandra Malouta
Mary Sutherland
Evangelia Oikonomou
Isidora Oikonomidou
Lily Filia
Sonia Raspopova
Marina Avouri
Lydia Polykandrioti
Emmanouil Papalexandris
Ian Olivier
Maria Salmatzidou
Eleni Nikolaou
Athanasia Tsifoutidou
Stelios Rafael Sakellariou
Manousos Kakouris
Marina Bibidaki
Ourania Pikramenou
Photini Mermyga
Nikos Gkrintzos
Vasiliki Zochiou
Anastasis Tsompanoudis
Nicole Vettore
Georgina Erotokritou
Dimitris Karanasios