Konstantinidis Aris (1913 - 1993)

He was born in Athens in 1913. He studied architecture at the Technisce Hochschule in Munich, graduating in 1936.  

He returned to Athens and worked in the town planning department of the Greater Athens area (1938-1942) and in the Ministry of Public Works (1942-1950). He was head of the design sections of the Low - Income Housing Organisation (1955-1957) and of the National Tourism Organisation (1958-1967), where he also later acted as a special advisor (1975-78).

He taught as visiting professor at the Polytechnical School of Zurich. He was nominated Doctor honoris of the Polytechnical School of the University of Thessaloniki and affiliate member of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (1985). He was awarded the “Herder” international prize from the Austrian Academy in 1990.

His rich architectural work has been presented in many exhibitions and publications, both in Greece and abroad. He wrote numerous articles and books and was also a passionate photographer.

His most significant works include: Holiday House in Sykia Korinthia (1951), Low - cost housing complexes in Athens, Piraeus, Herakleion and Thessaloniki (1955-57), Guest houses and actors’ changing rooms at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus (1958-60), Triton Hotel in Andros (1958), Xenia Hotel in Mykonos (1960), Xenia Motel in Kalambaka (1960), Private house on Archimidous St., Athens (1961), Holiday House in Anavyssos, Attica (1961), Xenia Motel in Paliouri (1962), Xenia Motel in Olympia (1963), Xenia Motel in Poros (1964), Archaeological Museum in Ioaninna (1965-1966), Archaeological Museum in Komotini (1967), Apartment building in Filothei, Athens (1971-1973), House with studio in Aegina (1974-78).

He died in Athens in 1993.

The drawings of the Xenia hotels, the national tourist units that were made by Aris Kostantinidis, are kept in the Neohellenic Architecture Archives of the Benaki Museum.