Dimitris Pikionis

Dimitris Pikionis Δημήτρης Πικιώνης
Born	1887 Piraeus, Greece
Died	1968 Athens, Greece
Occupation	architect

Dimitri Pikionis or Demetrios Pikionis (Piraeus 1887 -Athens 1968) was a major Greek architect of the 20th century and had a considerable influence in Contemporary Greek Architecture. He was a founding member of the Association of Greek Art Critics, AICA-Hellas, International Association of Art Critics.^[1]

Life and work

He studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Athens and then continued his studies to Paris and Munich, in sculpture and drawing. Pikionis was back then introduced to the work of Paul Cézanne and became friends with Giorgio de Chirico ^[2]. Later he returned to Greece and architecture, and in 1925 undertook a lecturer position at the decoration department at the National Technical University of Athens. He has been often described as a critical regionalist and sometimes as a European modernist ^[3]. Pikionis did not produce many works and the leitmotif in his work has been, according to architecture historians, the epiphany, the contrast between bleached marble and sodden soil ^[2].

Legacy

Although he actually built few buildings, Pikionis is revered for the landscaping work in pedestrian areas around the Acropolis of Athens, a work done in the 1950s. Utilizing rough-finished marble in various shapes that appear irregular, yet are strictly geometric, and incorporating expertly chosen local fora on his terraces and steps, Pikionis' work has astounded visitors to the area and remains highly thought of ever since. He utilized similar techniques in creating the children's playground of the municipality of Filothei, an affluent Athens suburb.

Notable works

• Lycabettus School
• Moraitis mansion, Tzitzifies 1921-1923
• Kotopoulis Theatre -1932
• Primary School of Pefkakia -1932
• Alternative School oF Thessaloniki -1933
• Landscaping of the Acropolis surrounding area -1951-1957
• Filothei playground -1961-1964
• Hotel Xenia, Delphi
• City Hall of Volos, Volos
• Pourris House, Athens, view

External links

• Pikionis works
• Dimitris Pikionis at the archINFORM database

References

1. ^ Association of Greek Art Critics, International Association of Art Critics. "AICA-HELLAS History". http://www.aica-hellas.org/histen.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Dimitris Pikionis, 1887-1968 (2000) Alberto Ferlenga The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, (59),1, 126-128
3. ^ Prospects For a Critical Regionalism (1983) Perspecta 20, 147-162

Persondata
Name	Pikionis, Dimitris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1887
Place of birth	Piraeus, Greece
Date of death	1968
Place of death	Athens, Greece