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Aristodimos Komninos

Aristodimos Komninos

Athens, GR

 

About 

Aristodimos Komninos is an Architect-Engineer and Urban Designer. He is currently an Urban Planner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in London. In the past Aristodimos has practiced as Architectural Designer at Robert A. M. Stern Architects in New York. Prior to his employment in NY, Aristodimos worked as a Teaching Assistant at the School of Architecture and Planning at MIT, and collaborated closely with Alexander D’ Hooghe, both academically and professionally, in the Center for Advanced Urbanism at MIT and at the ‘Organization for Permanent Modernity’ respectively. He also worked as Architect Intern at ‘Serie Architects’ in Mumbai, India, led by Christopher Lee and Kapil Gupta. His professional experience in Greece includes collaboration with architectural firms and NGOs such as ‘Olive3 Architects’ and the ‘Hellenic Society for the Environment and the Cultural Heritage’.

Through his academic research, Aristodimos engages Urban Design and Planning, issues of Global Urbanization and Spatial Justice, through design and analysis of geospatial data. Currently he works on his dissertation that examines the exploitation of large urban voids and more specifically the area of the former Airport of Athens, also known as Hellinikon.

Aristodimos Komninos received his Diploma from the National Technical University of Athens and he had attended the School of Architecture of the Universidade Fernando Pessoa in Porto, Portugal as a visiting scholar. His undergraduate thesis for Neo Faliro Steam Power Plant has been presented in industrial heritage conferences in France and Greece (E-FAITH and TICCIH).

Aristodimos Komninos is a Scholar of the Fulbright Foundation and the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. In 2012 he received the Merit-Based Fellowship Award from the School of Architecture and Planning of MIT.

Employment 

Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), New York, NY, US, Architectural Designer

As an Architectural Designer at Robert A. M. Stern Architects, I participated in the design of three large-scale residential complexes in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Istanbul. Meng Shin Residential Project is a 72,000 sq. m. residential complex located in Shanghai China, and is being developed by Vanke, the largest residential real estate developer in China, and one of the largest worldwide. Upon completion of the schematic design phase, our team was assigned with the modeling of the entire complex into Revit, through which we established a coordination streamline between our team who was leading the design, the client, and the local architecture representative in Shanghai. Through this process, I acquired significant experience in not only designing a demanding large-scale project, but also managing the deliverables in a timely and efficient fashion. I also attended numerous meetings with the client and the engineers involved in the project, where I joined forces with all participating members in order to overcome technical challenges, and resolve emerging design and programmatic needs.

Sep 2013 - Aug 2014
 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, US, Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant: 4.151-Architecture Design Core Studio I

The studio establishes foundations for architectural design through five exercises that build up in scope and complexity to engage issues of space, organization, structure, circulation, use, and tectonics. The design process is introduced as an iterative form of research that enables students to develop conceptual ideas about architecture and translate them into physical and material investigations. Each exercise introduces an increasingly fuller set of relationships with regard to site, program, and building systems with the last exercise emphasizing the interrelationship of these fundamental aspects of architectural design. Students are required to work in both physical and digital models, and produce drawings for each exercise. The exercises will test both conceptual and analytical thinking as well as aid in the development of representational skills. The course is intended for entering MArch students and must be taken in sequence.

Sep 2012 - Dec 2012
 

Serie Architects, Mumbai, India, Mumbai, IN, Architect Intern

Developed, the masterplan and facade system of housing units of an Ahsram complex.
Executed renderings for client presentations

Jun 2012 - Aug 2012
 

ORG Permanent Modernity, Boston, MA, US, Designer & Research Assistant

Co-developed new urban typology for Bostonʼs Middle Ring suburbs.
Interpreted conceptual sketches into complete architectural drawings.
Rendered visual material delivered to the client.

Dec 2011 - Apr 2012
 

Special Olympics - World Summer Games 2011, Athens, GR, Airport Venue Operations Supervisor

Supervised airport operations and services, regarding arrivals and departures of team delegations, VIP, honored guests and transportation.

Aug 2011 - Aug 2011
 

Akto - Arts & Design College, Athens, GR, Educational Partner

Invited to assemble and organize the educational material for 3rd yearʼs Design Studio.
Delivered in-class and on-site presentations of the project.
Surveyed, instructed, and advised on-going student projects.

Jan 2011 - May 2011
 

Hellenic Army, Orestiáda, GR, Architectural Engineer

Entrusted with the constructional supervision of confidential military works.
Coordinated series of structural and architectural studies, undertaken by my unit.

Aug 2010 - Apr 2011
 

Olive 3 Architects, Athens, GR, Junior Architect

Contributed decisively to the conception, design and constructional supervision of numerous projects, including housing, commercial, recreational, and educational spaces.
Managed all architectural visualizations, from conceptual design to final presentation.

Jun 2008 - Jun 2009
 

Hellenic Society for the Environment and the Cultural Heritage, Athens, GR, "Sustainable Aegean” Network Manager

Envisioned and developed the new web portal of “Sustainable Aegean” program.
Communicated the importance of sustainability, spatial planning and local identity to entrepreneurs, scholars, and active citizens throughout the Aegean Islands

Feb 2008 - Oct 2008
 

Deco In, Athens, GR, Designer

Executed 3D models and renderings of exhibition kiosks and installations

Sep 2007 - Oct 2007
 

Dimitrios A. Manolioudakis - Architect, Athens, GR, Designer

Delivered building permission drawings for three residential buildings.

Sep 2005 - May 2006
 

Education 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, US, SMArchS - Architecture and Urbanism

SMArchS in Architectural Design
SMArchS in Architecture and Urbanism

Architecture and Urbanism is a special degree program for students interested in the development of critical urban design, as well as its history, and theory. Consciously locating itself in the contemporary debate about what constitutes good city form, the program encourages the development of intellectually articulated and grounded positions. Students are expected to question, and/or defend current views in order to explore critical alternatives to existing paradigms of urbanism. The assumption is that design is an intellectual act embodying both a critique and alternative possibilities.

The program aims to nurture well-versed, intellectually grounded and historically conscious architects, who understand the relationship between architecture and urbanism – not merely as a question of taste and fashion, but as form with meaning. The program emphasizes both design and scholarship, and students are unique in their capacity to relate to both.

The emphasis in work by faculty and students may vary, but the goal is always the achievement of the most advanced and effective methods of shaping the form, sustainability, and social condition of the built environment. The design, theory, and elective subjects are organized to achieve this.

The first year of the program is a core year, with a required sequence of two studios: an Introductory Urban Design Studio for all incoming students in the fall, and a choice of Urban Design Studio options in the spring; and a required sequence of two theory courses: Urban Design Theory in the fall, and Theory of City Form in the spring. In the fall of second year an optional studio may be taken, but a Thesis Preparation course is required, and in the spring, a thesis is required. Students may tailor their work within a large array of elective options, and are encouraged to extend their studies into other areas.

Students may also work within the Joint Program for City Design and Development, and the Center for Real Estate. Some students choose to follow a sequence leading to the Urban Design Certificate obtained with their degrees; others choose to extend their study period to seek dual degrees.

Sep 2011 - current
 

National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GR, Masters, School of Architectural Engineering

Sep 2002 - Mar 2010
 

Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Oporto, PT, BArch, Architecture

Sep 2006 - May 2007
 

Awards 

MIT Merit-Based Fellowship, Scholarship

Selected by an architecture faculty committee for a full-tuition fellowship

2012
 

Fulbright Scholarship, Scholarship

2012
 
2012
 

Europa Nostra - European Heritage Grand Prize, 1st Place

Sustainable Aegean Program was awarded the grand prize of: “Category 4 - Education, Training and Awareness-Raising".

2012
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills