Famous Greek Architects: Zeropixel Architects

Zeropixel Philosophy

For Zeropixel Architects, the building is a screen, which depicts the life of its residents. Like any screen, many pixels come together to create the resulting images. Each of these pixels is a member of the team. The architect, the civil engineer, the mechanical engineer, the laborers, and his assistant – they all have an equal role in the final result. The pixels must work together  harmoniously to create a satisfying result.

About Zeropixel Architects

Their architecture is characterized by simple and clean lines, so that their buildings have a modern but at the same time timeless design. The Zeropixel team applies high-end technology, sustainability, and engineering, while expertly avoiding costly constructions. Zeropixel Architects have two Cretan offices: One in Chania, and one in Vamos (between Chania and Rethymno).

What Makes Zeropixel Unique?

Zeropixel Architects is also unique for its emphasis on collaboration and collective creativity. Just browsing their website is a refreshing experience because it doesn’t include extensive focus only on the company’s founder, like many other architecture websites in Greece. The emphasis is on the “WE” of the design process, and not the “I”. The collaborative approach is reflected in Zeropixel Architects’ collaboration with clients, as you are invited to meet the architects in their offices to understand their unique working process better.

Interview with the Zeropixel Team

1. What is Unique About Building in Crete Compared to the Rest of Greece?

The Zeropixel Architects founder, Dimitris Koudounakis, commented on Crete’s enchanting properties: “Crete has a way of enchanting everyone. It seduces and captivates the senses with its impressive and magnificent landscape, its mild climate, its flavors, its history, its spirit, and its hospitable people. Crete is a place that invites you to live life authentically.”


“Crete is like a miniature of the whole world on one island. The island features unique topography and strong contrasts. High mountains, thousands of gorges, and a natural landscape that embraces the big cities as the sea embraces the endless beaches. This unique setting combined with the ideal orientation, whether you are in the north or the south of the island, cannot but inspire and help an architect to create authentic architecture and unique buildings.”


“The uniqueness and energy of the island, combined with being located in a European country, has prompted many people from all over the world to buy land to build their next home in Crete.”


Dimitri then gave context to the main goals of his clients: “Our clients are looking to upgrade their quality of life. They are therefore willing to spend energy, time and money to create, together with us, a unique home. Our team’s goal is to work only with these types of projects, taking on a certain number of projects each year, so that we can devote the time and energy required to become the best at it.”

2. What is Your Hope for the Future of the Company?

“Our company has reached the point that was our goal several years ago. We have been able to showcase the unique way we work with our clients and our buildings speak without us saying anything. Now, anyone who wants to create a unique building with timeless architecture, with the highest levels of sustainability and top-quality construction, pass through our office. At the same time, our office has managed to have all the projects of the last few years published in the leading greek and international architectural magazines and websites. This is sometimes the case even before they are built. This gives a huge goodwill to the buildings we create.”


“So, we hope to continue to work with clients who appreciate our scientific architectural approach for each project. We also hope to automate the construction process with the help of technology. Especially at this period, it's really hard to find available and professional technicians, due to the many projects that we have on Crete and the small number of technicians and workers. Over time, we hope to achieve even greater recognition in the global architectural community by expanding the goodwill of our projects, both previous and future. After all, our favorite motto is that architecture is art, deeply attached to science and technology.”

3. What are Your Expectations for the Future of Design in Greece?

“At the moment, we believe that in Greece we have several architectural firms that are among the best in the world. Also, we believe that the studies that an architect does in Greece are among the best. The architect’s diploma in Greece gives the title of engineer and the studies are five years long, unlike in other countries. We are a country that has good architects and good architectural teams. The biggest disadvantage for us in Greece is the building legislation, which is characterized by its complexity, bureaucracy, and oversight by several national authorities. In addition, in Greece, the law uniquely allows other professionals, such as civil engineers and topographers, to design architecture for small-scale buildings up to two floors. They are permitted to sign the architectural plans required for the approval of these buildings. This poses a problem for the overall architectural impact, as buildings are often designed by non-architects. Fortunately, in recent years the education of the Greek public has improved and he feels the need to approach the architect. We expect that in the future, we will see more and more people seeking quality architecture and the improvement it brings to their lives.

Projects

Casa Dei Sogni

This home is situated in the suburbs of Chania, where the team was asked to construct a stone residence. It needed to fulfill the permanent housing of a couple and the occasional accommodation of their children, relatives, and friends. It also needed to have the necessary comforts of a contemporary, luxurious home. This plot was chosen by the owners after consulting with the team, after analyzing their needs with a brainstorming session along with the clients. The orientation of the home and the building’s technology make it energy-efficient at the highest A++ level. It is energy self-sufficient with solar panels, and has underfloor heating cooling, which is achieved with fan coils. The beauty of living here is the blurred boundary between the residence and the Cretan landscape. You can enjoy the view of the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean sea, White Mountains and Psiloritis mountain, while also having a high level of privacy.

Cave House

The project is just outside the city of Heraklion, and is classified as a stone-built undercut residence with a swimming pool and underground spaces. Cave homes in Greece are  known for their elegant design, privacy, and natural insulating features. Approaching from the road, one can see an olive grove with a slight slope, an artificial lake, and a cliff. The building was placed hidden in the relief of the ground where these features meet. It consists of three wings of different orientations and different views. The north wing faces the city of Heraklion and the sea, the central wing overlooks the valley. The south wing has a view of the Psilorites mountain. The entrance to the residence is one path that passes through the artificial lake – waterfall, which leads to an internal courtyard. 


The project focuses on bioclimatic design, using natural ventilation and lighting as well as the green roof to keep the home cool during the hot summer in Crete. The solar panels, built-in heat pumps, and insulation shell provide exceptional sustainability to the building. In a Top 8 List of Best Unbuilt Architecture by the ArchDaily community, Cave House was listed along with a modern lake house weekend retreat in New York, a Mediterranean Villa in Portugal, and residential complex of five villas in Bali.