about

Studio Thanasis is an architecture practice designing buildings and interiors within the residential and cultural realm. The studio builds long-standing relationships and takes on only a few commissions at a time, allowing each project to be carefully considered and deeply personal.

philosophy

In a time of global uniformity, we pursue atmospheres that feel local, layered, and alive. Our work is rooted in craftsmanship and shaped through collaborations with artists, curators, and designers. Each project begins as a conversation, growing into a unique story expressed through space, material, and light. The name Studio Thanasis carries a sense of familiarity and discovery — as if one might encounter “Thanasis” in a distant village. It reflects an elemental philosophy: that architecture begins from human connection, curiosity, and place.

background

Studio Thanasis was founded by Thanasis Ikonomou, a Greek–Canadian architect born and raised in Vancouver. He studied architecture at Dalhousie University (B.Arch, M.Arch) after completing a BSc in Biology at the University of British Columbia, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to design.

Over the next decade, Thanasis gained experience in urban and domestic scales from world-class studios including OMA (Rotterdam), Olson Kundig (Seattle), and Architecture Research Office (New York), as well as through a collaboration with Junya Ishigami in Tokyo. These years shaped a design sensibility that balances conceptual rigor with craftsmanship and context.

In 2020, he undertook a sabbatical year across Europe, collaborating with artists and thinkers — an experience that became the seed for establishing Studio Thanasis in Athens. Since then, the practice has developed award-winning residential and cultural projects, including recognition as a finalist for the DoMA Awards (2022), runner-up for Best First Project by a Young Architect (2022), and selection for Open House Athens (2023). The studio also participated in the Cyprus Pavilion of the Venice Biennale (2021) and received a Grail Award (2025).

Alongside practice, Thanasis has contributed to architectural education as a guest critic at Central Saint Martins (London), Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle), and the University of Washington (Seattle), as well as teaching at Dalhousie University. He has shared his work in public talks at MoonStation Athens and on the television series Astiko Topio.

download CV (pdf)

the collective/567

In 2023 we launched 567, an experimental studio space in central Athens. Named after its dimensions (6 × 7 × 5 m), 567 serves as both an atelier and a platform to share ideas amongst peers within Greece and beyond. It embodies our belief that proximity and small scale can spark meaningful exchange.

www.5by6by7.com

collaborators

Elpida Tsimbouka, Architect Engineer

Melissa Nikolaidou, Architect Engineer

Harris Vamvakas, Architect Engineer

Christina Christodoulou, Architect Engineer

Team Arid

Humans over Spaces

Grade Engineering

recognition

Dwell Magazine

Greek Foundation