Aris Konstantinidis (1913-1993)

He was born in Athens in 1913. He studied architecture at the Technical University of Munich and graduated in 1936. After his studies he returned to Athens and worked at the Planning Department of the Capital Administration (1938-1942) and at the Ministry of Public Works (1942-1950). He was Head of the Planning Department of the Organisation for Workers' Housing (1955-1957) and Head of the Planning Department of the National Tourism Organisation (1958-1967), which he later rejoined as a special adviser (1975-78).

He taught as a visiting professor at the Technical University of Zurich (1968-70). He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AUTH and a corresponding member of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts in Munich (1985). In 1990 the Austrian Academy awarded him the international Herder Prize.

His rich architectural work has been presented in several exhibitions, books and magazines in Greece and abroad. He wrote numerous articles and books, and was particularly involved in photography.

Among his most important works are : Holiday House in Sykia, Corinthia (1951), Workers' Housing Complexes in Athens, Piraeus, Heraklion, Crete, Thessaloniki (1955-57), Actors' dressing rooms and guesthouses in the ancient theatre of Epidaurus (1958-60), Triton Hotel in Andros (1958), Xenia Hotels in Mykonos (1960), Kalambaka (1960), Residence on Archimedes Street, Athens (1961), Xenia Motel, Paliouri (1962), Holiday home, Anavyssos (1962), Xenia Motel, Olympia (1966), Xenia Hotel, Poros (1964), Archaeological Museum, Ioannina (1965-1966), Archaeological Museum, Komotini (1967), Apartment house in Filothei (1971-73), Residence with workshop, Aegina (1974-78).

He died in Athens in 1993.