A&M Architects Featured in GLOW Magazine

In a recent feature in GLOW Magazine, Marika Mavroleon, shares her personal connection with Karpathos and explores how this relationship influences the studio’s approach to architecture on the island.

From the preservation of traditional character to the creation of contemporary spaces rooted in local identity, the interview highlights a central belief of A&M Architects: meaningful architecture emerges when design is deeply connected to place.

A Personal Relationship with Place

For the Mavroleon family, Karpathos has always represented far more than a destination. It is a place of heritage, memories and cultural continuity, a connection that has shaped the way A&M approaches its projects on the island.

As Marika Mavroleon explains in the interview, working in Karpathos carries a unique responsibility: the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of a place that is personally familiar, while respecting the qualities that make it distinctive.

This relationship between architect and place becomes an essential part of the design process. Rather than approaching the island as a picturesque backdrop, A&M Architects seeks to understand Karpathos as a living environment shaped by history, community and everyday rituals.

Designing Between Tradition and Contemporary Living

One of the key themes discussed in the GLOW feature is the challenge of designing within traditional settlements while creating spaces that respond to contemporary needs.

For A&M Architects, respecting tradition does not mean replicating the past. Instead, it means identifying the principles that have allowed local architecture to remain timeless: the relationship with the landscape, the use of local materials, human-scale proportions and a deep understanding of climate and lifestyle.

This approach is reflected in projects such as the recent residence in Aperi, the historic capital of Karpathos, where the design process focused on creating a dialogue between contemporary architecture and the existing character of the settlement.

Karpathos as a Source of Architectural Inspiration

The island’s unique identity is shaped by its traditions, craftsmanship, music, local customs and strong sense of community form an interconnected cultural landscape.

These elements become sources of inspiration for A&M. The goal is not to freeze Karpathos in time, but to support its evolution through architecture that feels authentic, relevant and respectful.

In an era where many destinations risk losing their individuality through rapid development, preserving a genuine relationship between architecture and local identity becomes increasingly important.

Architecture as a Bridge Between Past and Future

The conversation with GLOW reflects a broader philosophy that guides A&M Architects: architecture has the ability to connect different moments in time.

By combining contemporary design thinking with the memory embedded in each location, architecture can create spaces that feel both new and familiar, places that respect their origins while remaining open to the future.

We thank GLOW Magazine for highlighting this personal journey and for creating a platform to share the story behind A&M Architects’ connection with Karpathos.

Read the full interview here