The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
Issue link: https://inspired.uberflip.com/i/860776
A R C H I T E CT U R E 171 Demetriou Architects Beauty. It is a word that many are familiar with, but few understand like Vassos M. Demetriou, owner of Demetriou Architects. His career started in his native Cyprus, where he designed and built sets for plays during high school. He made quite a name for himself, but after graduation, he decided it was time to expand his horizons. Vassos enrolled in the University of Oregon's School of Architecture and Allied Arts, and to this day can't imagine doing anything else. Since founding Demetriou Architects in 1978, Vassos has amassed an extensive portfolio of homes that reflect his clientele's preferences and tastes. Each home is logically planned and beautifully crafted to serve the owners' lifestyles. Vassos starts with a floor plan that reflects how the homeowners live their daily lives. Then he layers on the experiential element of the design: making the functional spaces aesthetically pleasing and an overall exceptional experience. His work begins with pencil and paper that his experienced team then translates into three- dimensional designs. The process allows Vassos to intuitively create a home for his clients, who he consults along the way to ensure that their desires are captured in the design. The site and local vernacular are carefully considered; homes meld beautifully into the scenery or provide intentional contrast. As Vassos says, design is the rearranging of things that already exist in nature. No matter the owners' design preferences, each residence offers opportunities to revere nature, and create lasting designs that will endure the test of time. LEFT: The Glass Box House boldly stands out against its natural surroundings. The juxtaposition of exposed concrete, expansive walls of glass, and clear cedar siding suggest an appreciation for nature without blending in with it. Built on a bare rock that sharply drops off into the ocean, the home emphasizes the contrast between natural beauty and manmade architecture. Photograph by Jay Goodrich KIRKLAND