About Us

Direction Architects, is an international Architecture & Design award winning practice, based in London and Athens. It was founded in 2021 by John Kanakas, with the vision to create living environments, that aim to make people rethink and question their ways of inhabiting everyday spaces. On a broader framework our projects attempt to create experiential spaces that provoke new forms of existence and new ways of living. Our formalistic approach aims to awake our deeper consciousness and initiate a discourse across different fields.

Our approach

At Direction, we believe that architectural form derives from a combination of parameters that relate to site specific conditions. Every project is addressed by examining a sum of factors that relate to topographical, enviromental and social drivers. As a result each design proposal has unique design and material characteristics inspired by it’s local environment.

Our Philosophy

The practice operates at the intersection between architecture and philosophy. In fact, we believe that architecture is deeply related to philosophical, sociological and psychological notions and beliefs, which can be translated through form. We consider our work equally an architectural as much as a philosophical outcome.

Enviromental & Design Sustainability

Our practice is rooted in sustainability and landform architecture. Passive design strategies are also part of our design process. In several cases, our projects aim to merge the boundaries between the built and the natural environment. In fact with sustainable elements such as green roofs, ramps and vertical gardens, we aim to create a larger green footprint than the plot land area of the site.

Forms & Technologies

Innovative construction technologies and new materials are always part of our design thinking strategies. We constantly question our strong formalistic design approach with new design techniques and construction processes, in order to come up with the most optimal outcomes, while implementing the fastest production methods and techniques.

Our Founder

John Kanakas is a Greek-British Architect with Cypriot origins, born in Athens and lived more than a decade in London, where he gained a vast experience, working at Zaha Hadid Architects and previously at Foster + Partners. He has also worked with the Brussels based practice, Lassa Architects and collaborated with the London based practice DH Liberty. John has been part of more than 25 global projects of various scales, stages, scopes and programs. His experience and portfolio, while working at international practices, varies from interiors, residential, hospitality, and office buildings all the way to masterplans, towers, aviation and transportation hubs. He has also been part of large scale commercial and civic projects, public squares as well as museums, consulates, embassies, culture, sports and conference centers.

John received his Part 1, 2 & 3 from the Architectural Association and he is a registered and RIBA Chartered Architect in the UK and Greece. He formed Direction Architects Limited in London in 2021 and currently works between Athens and London.

John is passionate about the relationship between cultures and architecture and has travelled in more than 50 countries around the world, In an attempt to create a broader understanding of the built environment, in relation to site specific conditions, cultural factors and local parameters that influence our cities and the spaces we live in.

John Kanakas, ARB/RIBA UK, TEE GR

Founder, Architect /Designer

contact JK:

johnkanakas@directionarchitects.com

The Team & Collaborators

At Direction, innovation goes beyond our projects and is reflected also in the way we work. We aim to break away from top down office systems and embrace new ways of working, based on a collaborative project based approach. We are extremely enthusiastic about leading a new model of collaborative team work, derived from authenticity, intuition and groundbreaking work methods.

For every project we form a team, from our list of trusted collaborators, appointed based on their expertise on the project program, the scope, the needs and the brief requirements. We strongly believe on new ways of working that create a meaningful and enjoyful work environment, liberating from redundant work methods, and heading towards a new paradigm for creative work environments.

Current and Previous Collegues & Collaborators

Konstantinos Christopoulos, MEP / Athens, GR

Marios Triantafyllou, Columbia / New York, USA

Marilena Petalidou, Bartlett UCL / London, UK

Nikos Empeoglou, MEP / Athens, GR

Elena Stavrou, University of Cyprus, CY

Christina Panagiotopoulou, MEP / Athens, GR

Dimitris Stamatogiannopoulos, MEP / Athens, GR

Kostis Kallipolitis, MEP / Athens, GR

Sungbum Hung, AA / London, UK