Earthwood is located in Salamis; an island in the Saronic Gulf in Greece, close to Piraeus Port to the west of Athens. The main challenge of the project is to think about an architectural module that can be constructed in a limited timetable, i.e. 2-4 days; that is composed of natural and recyclable materials; that is self-sufficient through renewable energy sources and sound water management, while simultaneously improving living conditions, minimizing its ecological footprint and maximizing its positive impact on the environment.

Alexandros Kitriniaris is a registered architect engineer with a diploma from the National Technical University of Athens. He earned an additional Master’s degree with honors from the same University. He is a PhD researcher and a scholarship awardee, investigating the link between architecture ecology and human physiology through leading technological advances to ensure an enduring positive impact on communities and on the environment. During his academic activity, he has received eight awards and honorary scholarships, as well as a medal with the emblem of Prometheus Torchbearer. He frequently participates in research projects, international workshops and architecture conferences, and has lectured at Wien university in Austria, Adeit university in Spain, Leibniz university in Germany, and Naples university in Italy, among others. His work has received awards in international architecture competitions, has been published in international architecture magazines, and has been exhibited at architecture events including the 1st Architecture Biennale of Thessaloniki, the 8th Architecture Exhibition in Patras, the 7th and 8th Biennale of Greek Architects in Athens, and the 25th International Union of Architects Congress and Exhibition in Durban, South Africa.

The acronym KAAF has a special meaning, as it is derived from a pictogram of a hand which means “palm” in Arabic and stands for the Phoenician letter “kaf/kaph” or the Greek “K” (kappa). The palm of the hand has a strong impact on architecture, as it embodies human creativity together with structural purity. By keeping this in mind, Alexandros Kitriniaris, deeply influenced by his travels to Asia where he explored the handcrafting tradition, has created his own imprint while envisioning a firm that specializes in sustainable architecture by integrating innovative construction technologies with traditional building design methods. KAAF - Kitriniaris Associates Architecture Firm is an Athens based, award-winning international architecture practice, founded by Alexandros Kitriniaris. KAAF is committed to the triple bottom line concept, which asserts that long-term and sustainable progress requires the balanced achievement of economic development, environmental performance and social advancement. To this end, the firm works with a multidisciplinary team of architects, structural and environmental engineers, landscapers, urbanists, interior designers as well as branding and marketing professionals to produce sustainable buildings and landscapes.