What do all the certifications in design magazines mean? Are some awards better than others? Which awards should I pay attention to, and which are not as important?
We reached out to top Greek architecture firms and designers to get the opinion from the experts: out of all the architecture awards you can receive in Greece, which are the most important?
A Note About Architecture Awards
Architecture Awards can be split roughly into two categories: awards that are aimed mostly at architects and other designers. Awards in this category include: The Dezeen Awards, Architizer A+ Awards, the Archiframe Awards, and the Big See Interior Awards. Secondly, awards that are more for property, lifestyle, and real estate, where the audience is more interested in lifestyle than architecture.
Entry Fees
Note as well that many of these awards have an entry fee, so they are also a way to make profit for the companies who organize the award. The Dezeen Awards, for example, require 100-200 Euros to enter. The BIG SEE awards cost 300 Euros to enter. In addition, if you win the award, you are required to pay 590 Euros to access the benefits of the award.
Awards With Top Influence
According to top designers and architects in Greece, these awards have the most value.
Architizer A+ Awards
The Architizer A+Awards are some of the most well-known architecture awards in Greece. There are many categories, including the Plus Category, which recognizes the link between social and material considerations and the structures that respond to them. The Firm Categories honor a firm’s larger portfolio of work, with awards for firms of all sizes and specializations. The Sustainability Categories honor projects with an emphasis on sustainable systems, climate-positive materials, and ethical building practices.
Dezeen
Dezeen Awards is an annual awards program for the world’s best architecture, interiors, design and sustainability projects, as well as the studios and the individual architects and designers producing the best work. Dezeen Awards has been going for seven years and is also an international award.
ArchDaily Building of the Year
At ArchDaily, they let their readers vote for their favorite projects. Readers narrow down the list from thousands to 5 per category, and then to 15 winners.
BIG SEE Awards
BIG SEE Awards were launched as regional awards to systematically explore and promote the creative and business potential of Southeast Europe. Today, the awards have grown to become international, and include architecture, interior, product, and fashion design awards globally.
International Property Awards
The International Property Awards are open to both residential and commercial properties internationally. The awards are split into regions including Africa, Asia Pacific, Arabia, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, UK, and USA.
Participants enter at their national level and are judged by a highly experienced team of real estate and design professionals.
Honorable Mentions
According to top designers and architects in Greece, these awards have some value, but are not as influential as the awards already mentioned.
Doma Greek Architecture Award
The Greek Architecture Awards, the annual institution launched by DOMa in 2010 in an effort to highlight contemporary Greek architecture. Architects and other design professionals (landscape architects, interior designers, etc.) can apply in Greece, as well as Greek architects who work abroad.
A’ Design Award
A’ Design Award & Competition is also an international award, with categories ranging from industrial design, architecture, to product design award and fashion design. Winning the award is a symbol of excellence in design and innovation. There are five different levels awarded: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron A’ Design Awards.
Other Awards
You will likely hear about a wide range of other design awards when viewing top architects in Greece. Some examples are:
- Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design International Architecture Award
- WAF
- Interior Awards
- iLuxury Awards – International Luxury Awards
- NY Product Design Awards (nydesignawards.com)
- Global Fine Art Awards
- Greek Architecture Award
- Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards
- European Property Award
Awarded Builders in Greece
Plaini and Karahalios Architects
Plaini and Karahalios Architects was founded in 2011 and is a collaboration between Elisavet Plaini and John Karahalios. Elisavet studied at the University of East London and at the University of Westminster. John studied at the National Technical University of Athens and received his master’s degree from Columbia University.
Their work deals with both public and private spaces – both commercial and residential. Their philosophy is to analyze the relationship between the public and private space in each one of their projects, and to balance personal creativity with the impact on the surrounding area.
Lime Deco Architects
Lime Deco was founded by Maria Chatzistavrou in 2007. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, and operating on an international scale, her office specializes in interior architecture for boutiques, hotels, private villas, residences, and professional spaces. The vision is to create a spectacular and a functional result for each client, so that they will be connected with their space. Each project is a combination of the space, location, architecture, and of course the client’s vision.
Schema Architects
Schema Architecture & Engineering was established by Marianna Athanasiadou (Architect) and Christos Stavrogiannis (Civil Engineer & Economist) in Athens, Greece. They were recently ranked one of the 25 best architecture firms in Greece by Archello. Schema’s main mission is to design buildings that combine functionality, new technology, and aesthetics.
At Schema, each project is unique and carefully managed according to the requirements set by the client and the specific site. Schema’s principles are set around sustainability, careful choice of materials, and cost-effectiveness.
