Demetri Porphyrios – författare

In this monograph, the firm's recent work is showcased, highlighting new residential, cultural, academic, and religious projects. Throughout the work, what stands out is the architectural virtuosity that marries the very best of classical architecture and modern design.

This book provides the most accurate and most complete account of the evolution of King's Cross Central, one of Europe’s most successful, and most significant, urban regeneration projects. It is already the subject of considerable international interest, attracting the attention of planners, politicians and urban designers both at home and abroad. The four authors of this book all played key roles in the development of the project and together they describe how and why King’s Cross Central came about.Beginning by setting out King's Cross’s rich and complex history, the book then provides fascinating insights from the main protagonists, from initial concept, based on an innovative mixed-use approach based on ten guiding principles which set out the ‘human city’; through its evolution with various stakeholders involved; the complex negotiations regarding planning, conservation and financing; to the development and creation of the public spaces and landscapes and the selection of individual architects and buildings which, together with the renovation of historical buildings, has created King's Cross’s unique and successful character.Throughout, it is generously illustrated with historic photos and maps, drawings and diagrams, photographs recording the construction phase and specially commissioned graphics summarising key data and images of the site today.

Classicism is not a style; it is the philosophy of free will nurtured by tradition. In a series of tightly argued essays, the author discusses the role of imitation, tectonics, ornament and originality in architecture, showing that the classical is that which speaks of tradition always in a modern voice.In the first chapter the author examines the theory of imitation, the position it occupies in classical thought and the way by which it can be shown that imitation is at the core of both traditional and modernist art. The second chapter is devoted to the significance of tectonics in architecture. The third chapter examines the relations between building and architecture and the way in which we may say that “classicism is not a style.” The fourth chapter studies classical ornament and the role it plays in architecture. The fifth chapter addresses the principles of the traditional city and makes the claim for revitalising common sense. Finally, in the sixth chapter, the author looks at what tradition really means and how it relates to modernity. The book also features an extensive appendix that makes accessible to readers excerpts from some of the most important classical texts relating to architecture.