- Architecture & development
The Greek studio Lakruz Atelier emphasizes the artistic aspect of architecture with natural and raw materials. With their strong and personal design language they design sculptural projects that evoke a poetic feeling.
Lakruz Atelier is the brainchild of Giorgos Trikouzas and Dena Tsalagka. In 2019, the life partners decided to also become business partners and to establish in Athens this creative studio together. It was a natural choice as the duo share the same aesthetic preferences and taste for craftsmanship. Their knowledge in different creative fields also led them to the idea of creating projects together and experimenting with new ideas. Giorgos is an architect and has extensive international experience in the field of architecture. He is always guided by timeless aesthetics, nature and well-thought-out designs. As an architect-engineer with experience in the field of architecture as well as furniture design, art direction, styling and communication, Dena is a perfect addition to the Lakruz duo. By the way, the name of the studio is a random synthesis of letters coming from the founders’ surnames. 
A language of natural imperfection and warmth that creates sculptural architecture.
Dena and Giorgos are inspired by the rich history and nature of beautiful Greece for their designs. ‘In most of our projects we try to take advantage of the distinct Greek legacy of our past and reconsider it in a modern context. Timeless originality of ancient Greek patterns, for example, have already been used as an initial approach to design.’ The designers implement the varying palette of colours and textures that they find in their beautiful homeland in their projects. The warm light of the sun and the shadows it creates contribute to the way they come up with their design concepts. For example, most designs are dressed in warm and natural colours to create a soft atmosphere. The architects also rely on their home country for the choice of materials. ‘Greece is a place with an abundance of natural materials including stone, wood and mortar. When combined with the history of the surrounding landscape, references to their tradition and functional design, it creates an authentic place with a strong identity. A place that is connected to its surroundings.’ When it comes to decorative objects and eye-catchers, Dena and Giorgos love to work with contemporary ceramics, wooden and stone sculptures and statues as well as natural elements. ‘When such decorative objects are blended well, they can really warm up a space. All these elements are carefully selected and collected for each project to create that poetic atmosphere,’ says Dena. 
We also find the same look of earthy colours, minimalist decor and references to the Greek heritage and architecture in an apartment in Glyfada in southern Greece. The warm eclectic interior is enveloped in shades of brown, red, beige and grey. Once again, materials such as concrete, marble and stone predominate, creating natural, raw and at the same time elegant spaces. A decorative bust is reminiscent of ancient Greek sculptures and the textures and colours that are used refer to the beautiful surroundings. The rather traditional elements such as the bust, vases and materials are combined with modern lighting and pieces of furniture such as the sofa, wall cupboard and the special ‘Roly Poly’ chair by Faye Toogood that we already wrote about in our summer edition of 2019. This creates a harmonious balance.
You can read the full article in Imagicasa Summer 2020.
Images courtesy of Lakruz Atelier