Kostas Poulopoulos, Architect MAA, Founder & Design Director
Kostas Poulopoulos (1978) studied architecture in National Polytechnic School of Athens (2004) and at the University of Tokyo with a full MEXT Scholarship (2009).
He went on to work at several international studios (Henning Larsen, BIG , Kengo Kuma) at positions of responsibility. Particularly as Lead Design Architect heading the International Competitions Group at Henning Larsen, he designed and developed significant built work (Siemens HQ, Munich, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Nordrea HQ Copenhagen, Novo Nordisk HQ, Copenhagen). In 2015, Kostas founded SquareOne Architects, out of a true desire to design authentic, sustainable and delightful architecture. Since then, studio is developing new buildings and transformation projects at mostly on European ground, particularly within commercial, residential and hospitality sectors.
At SquareOne studio, Kostas is leading an agile team of design professionals to tackle various types of projects with enthusiasm and an acute sense of responsibility towards clients, collaborators and the broader society.
kostas@sq-1.dk
+45 53466842
Nicolai Schlapps, Lead Design Architect, Dipl. Ing.
Nicolai Schlapps is an architectural designer and researcher with concept and strategy development as his key qualifications. Nico’s strong suit is an explorative, both offensive and defensive design approach, which ensures bold yet feasible design solutions. Testament to his unique explorative style is the scholarship for his diploma project by the Helmut Hentrich Foundation, as well as his holding a research and teaching position (since 2016) at the TU Braunschweig University at the IMD Institute of Media and Design focusing on information transformation processes and conceptual thinking.
Nico has led or contributed to various winning projects for PINKCLOUD.DK, Henning Larsen Architects and Barkow-Leibinger. He joined SquareOne at 2019 and is currently leading competitions in Germany and Central Europe.
nico@sq-1.dk
Ionut Drogotel, Project Architect, M.Arch.
Ionut graduated from the School or Architecture and Urban Planning of Cluj Napoca. He is an enthusiast and a creative driving force who values the architect profession as wholistic approach towards designing places for people. Driven by curiosity and never stepping back from challenges and ways to envision architecture, he shaped his career path in various working environments (Greece, Romania, Denmark). During his practice itinerary he was part of several international projects and competitions which acquainted him with substantial amount of work management and overall design knowledge. His deep preoccupation in drawing, painting and clay modelling often guides his design approach towards a correlating system- where architecture and plastic arts are percived as a fuzion in conceiving, understanding and justifying the sensorial qualities of our surroundings.
md@sq-1.dk
Chris Saraferas, Architect M.Arch.
Chris is a passionate young architect who received his M.Arch from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, 2020. Immediately after his studies, Chris had the opportunity to relocate to Denmark (CF Møller, CEBRA) and obtain experience in international projects of several scales and types. During this period he was mainly working in competitions where gained skills on time managing, multitasking, scheduling and flexibility. Chris is an independent designer who never stops to expand his knowledge both in theoretical and practical basis. At SQ1 Chris is enthusiastically bringing his supreme 3d design skills, creative thinking and sharp communication skills into the team rendering him a great team player.
cs@sq-1.dk
+30 6977770795
Katarzyna Lis, Architect M.Arch.
Katarzyna completed her Bachelor of Architecture in Poland and her M.Sc. in Architecture in Denmark , at Aalborg University in 2022. While studying, she also gained professional experience as an intern and student assistant at Sweco Architects in Copenhagen where she later worked as a graduate architect. In Sweco, her work focused on holistic concept development, master planning and visual presentation in several affordable housing projects located in Denmark and abroad. At Studio SQ1, Katarzyna brings her curious and enthusiastic attitude, along with her adeptness in digital and computational tools of all sorts. She works mainly on early stages concept development and client presentation materials. Kasia’s strengths lie in the ability of combining aesthetical, functional and technical considerations in her design work through sharp analysis and tireless iterations, until her designs are refined and successful in all aspects. Beyond her work related skills. Kasia is a true team player and a dear member of our community.
kali@sq-1.dk
Asami Ikeda, Urban Designer & Business Developer
Asami achieved her Bachelor of Urban Design and Community Development and worked as a cityscape consultant for six years in Japan. She then moved to Denmark and completed her M.Sc. in Urban Design (Urban Architecture) at Aalborg University in 2022. During her master’s course, she worked at an architectural studio in England for eight months as an Intern and Trainee Urban Designer, gaining experience in housing, regeneration, and solar site projects. She also established a strong connection between Yokohama City University in Japan and Aalborg University, resulting in a joint research project supported by the 'Danish Ministry of Science's International Network Programme (INP).' After graduation, she began working as a Guiding Architect for Scaledenmark, with a focus on sustainable development and tapping into a new market in Japan. At SQ1, Asami is building connections with Japanese academic and business fields, bringing her excellent 3d skills, colour expertise, and a unique perspective on human experiences in space.
ai@sq-1.dk
Maria Dendropoulou, Business Development & Sustainable Heritage Consultant
Maria has a background in archaeology and sustainable heritage management from the Bartlett, UCL, London. Merging her international business experience in real estate development from Europe and the Middle East, Maria is actively involved in investment consultancy for multinational conglomerates, developers, private equity funds and REICs. She is working alongside SQ1 in the field of business development and promotes sustainable development practices for the retrofitting of industrial heritage. Maria is also volunteering as scientific consultant for several Greek-based cultural heritage companies namely Branding Heritage, Time Heritage and ICI-Paper. Since 2018, she is the elect General Secretary of the NGO Association of Cultural Heritage Consultants. Since 2012, Maria is the founder and owner of Archaeology 100%, a free platform for the promotion of heritage management worldwide.
maria@sq-1.dk
WHEN WE GO HUNTING _We are not the type of professionals that go about with a machine gun and shoot at everything: where is the fun in that? We like to think that we are sharpshooters, maybe even bow hunters. Our method is: recognition (-not analysis!). We don't waste time analyzing the irrelevant, that's not what experts do. We immediately focus on understanding the hunting grounds; our hunting companions; the conditions; and most of all, the target : its habits, its strengths and weaknesses. We allow the plan of action to flow freely from the recognition process, not the other way round. When we strike, our goal is not merely to (kill) design something. But to do it sharply and with a high sense of gusto.