Our studio is dedicated to architecture and the built environment in a broad sense: we design buildings and objects for the everyday use, research and document architectural and spatial phenomena and are active in the teaching and communication of architecture. Our focus lies on contextual architecture, transformations as well as adaptable sustainable building structures for living and working. We are interested in tasks that don't have an obvious solution.
Our core competence lies in the conception and planning of architectural projects. Our focus is on buildings for living, learning and working. We have acquired special know-how in contextual architecture and building in existing structures, more specifically in the renovation and transformation of post-war architecture. We work with private as well as commercial and public clients. Depending on the size and location of the building projects, we also accompany them during realization or work together with partner offices whose focus is on object supervision.
In the run-up to the planning and implementation phases, we also advise and support clients in the goal-setting phase within the framework of needs analyses, building documentation, profitability calculations, feasibility studies or through the creation of building rights.
In addition to the building practice, we are active in the field of architectural research and teaching through editorial and documentary projects as well as lectures, guest lectures and teaching assignments.
All projects are developed and closely accompanied by Alexander Fthenakis together with a familiar and experienced team of architects. Our work is characterized by our architectural position and handwriting, although the latter does not impose itself. Concept, architectural design, technical and economic planning form a unity in our work.
Alexander Fthenakis has been working as an architect in the field of design and construction, research and teaching since 2007. After studying at TU Munich and ETSA Madrid, he first worked as an architect with Peter Zumthor in Haldenstein and Roger Boltshauser in Zurich. In 2008, he co-founded the Fthenakis Ropee Architektenkooperative together with Rolf Berninger and Susann Weiland to work on joint projects in the field of building transormation and educational architecture. In 2020 he founds Fthenakis Studio for Architecture. Besides the building practice, he devotes himself to the investigation of architectural and urbanistic phaenomena as an author, among other things. 2007-2012 he worked as a research assistant for Prof. Victor López Cotelo at the Chair of Design and Preservation at the TU Munich. 2020-21 he taught experimental housing as a visiting professor at the architecture faculty of the Technical University of Munich.
Alexander is a member of the Bavarian Chamber of Architects and the Association of German Architects (BDA). He is the chairman of the board the Association of Friends of the Architecture Museum of the TU Munich as well as a board member of the Sep Ruf Society as well as Together with Lisa Yamaguchi he is co-curating the BDA Bavaria architecture award.
In addition to a large number of private clients, Alexander Fthenakis has had the pleasure of working with the following companies and institutions:
Greek Orthodox Church of Germany
Bayerische Hausbau GmbH & Co. KG
Wealthcap Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
Bittner & Noller Immobilien GmbH
Staatliches Bauamt Aschaffenburg
Infanterix GmbH Kindertagesstätten
Selected writings, publications and exhibitions
01/2023
The Aschaffenburg Courthouse in the "German Architecture Annual 2023", edited by the German Architecture Museum in Frankfurt, Yorck Förster, Christina Gräwe, Peter Cachola Schmal (Ed.)
03/2021
"Ist das ein Haus oder kann das weg?" Article by Alexander Fthenakis on the subject of dealing with post-war buildings (in: "BDA Talk - Das Debattenmagazin des BDA Bayern")
09/2020
"Schanitown. Eine Momentaufnahme." by Alexander Fthenakis (editor), with an essay by Jonas König (160 pages, Sorry Press, Munich)
09/2018–01/2019
Exhibition of works by Fthenakis Ropee as part of the double exhibition "The Best Possible City" in the bunker of the Architekturgalerie München together with the artist Nicolas Grospierre
06/2017
„50/60/70 Architektur aus Drei Jahrzehnten im Münchner Stadtbild“ on the influence and imprint of post-war architecture in Munich (672 pages, Dölling und Galitz Verlag, Munich)
05/2015
„Das sind die Altbauten von morgen“ Interview with Alexander Fthenakis in the Süddeutsche Zeitung (15.05.2015)
07/2014
„Entwurf als Interpretation“ Essay by Alexander Fthenakis (in: „Konservieren, Interpretieren, Transformieren - Erhalten, Deuten und Wandeln von Bauten der Jahre 1950 bis 1975“, Bavarian Chamber of Architects (editor) 2014
07/2013
„Wider der Erosion“, Essay by Alexander Fthenakis on the subject of dealing with post-war buildings in Munich (in: „40 Jahre Denkmalschutz in München“, City of Munich (editor) 2013
07/2011
„Apuntes sobre Hans Döllgast“, Essay by Alexander Fthenakis on the reconstruction work of Hans Döllgast (in: „Munich“ an der Escuela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura Madrid)
10/2007
„Potsdam/Berlin: Karl Friedrich Schinkel und Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, ein Führer zu ihren Bauten und Entwürfen“ Alexander Fthenakis (editor) Technical University of Munich 2007
04/2007
„Pharaonischer Konstruktivismus“: Article by Alexander Fthenakis on the construction of the CCTV building in Beijing by OMA (in Swiss Architects 42/2007)
