NEW YORK – The Greek Institute of Architects in New York (GIANY) held a book launch on March 16 at the Consulate General of Greece in New York for its catalogue of its exhibition from nearly two years ago,A Shelter for Architecture. The incredibly creative exhibition was also presented at the Consulate in April 2016.Guests enjoyed wine and conversation while display copies of the book were available for guests to enjoy, reliving the experience for many who had attended the exhibition.Copies of the book were also available for purchase at the event.

Constantine Bouras, GIANY Co-director and A Shelter for Architecture co-editor, said, “Compiling the book was a necessity, as a lot of the ideas presented in it actually emerged during that evening,” adding that “Although the catalogue can hardly convey the vibrant atmosphere of that evening, with the perpetual circulation of people and ideas, it demonstrates other properties: it provides a constant gathering place for these ideas – ‘A Shelter for Architecture’ catalogue is thus a shelter for ideas, in its essence.”

Bourascontinued, “Evita Fanou, Electra Kontoroupi, Giannis Oikonomou, Foteinos Soulos, Dimitra Tsachrelia and myself, began this collaborative journey 2 years ago, with hours of brainstorming, passion and dedication, in an effort to create an agenda through which we could put forward ideas on architecture asking to consider human possibilities and limitations. The research established a framework to rethink shelter as an immediate vital presence, as well as a vehicle to explore the human condition. “Through a series of projects, proposals and presentations, ‘A Shelter for Architecture’ tested the idea of shelter from the vernacular to the avant-garde, beyond the literal rhetoric: what is the interdisciplinary meaning of shelter today.”

A Shelter for Architecture contributors Joel Rutten- Director, Bernard Tschumi Architects and Ivi Diamantopoulou- Principal, New Affiliates, offered their thoughts and insights into the exhibition and the book.

Among those present at the event were Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras and his wife Popita Pavli, artist Aristides Logothetis- ARCAthens Founder and Executive Director, the GIANY Board, many of the contributors to the book, and many architecture enthusiasts.

“We would like to thank all of the contributors to ‘A Shelter for Architecture’ whose valuable insights, intriguing proposals and compelling projects led to an ongoing conversation and finally to the creation of this volume. This conversation started early in 2016, and was formally contextualized in two instances: in April 2016, during the evening of ‘A Shelter for Architecture’ and now, with the creation of this catalogue, which correlates in new ways, ideas that were thought and presented during the event,” Bouras said.

He also thanked Alpha Bank,Thanassis Martinos, and “Last, but not least, we would like to extend a special thank you to the Greek Consulate and its past and current heads who always facilitate us to materialize our plans and who act as a shelter for GIANY.”

A Shelter for Architecture was edited by Constantine Bouras, Evita Fanou, Electra Kontoroupi, Ioannis Oikonomou, Foteinos Soulos, and Dimitra Tsachrelia.

An image from a display copy of the book, A Shelter for Architecture, at the book launch. Photo by Eleni Sakellis