From World Expo to CIIE, Greek architect builds dreams in Shanghai

SHANGHAI - Kostas Chatzigiannis, a 35-year-old architect who co-designed the Greek Pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo, has just received invitation to join a series of events at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in the city in November.

Through these events, he aims to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Chinese market and share more information on how to attract Chinese customers back home in Greece.

"Shanghai is a very dynamic place. As soon as you arrive, you can immediately sense the dynamic and potential that good and interesting things can happen here," Chatzigiannis said.

In 2007, Chatzigiannis bravely made his way to Shanghai although his decision was doubted by his friends in Greece.

Around two years later, Chatzigiannis got the chance to be involved in designing the Greek Pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo, which he thought not only sped up the opening-up and internationalization of the city, but also broadened his career.

"When I first arrived in China, there were not many cafes, bakeries or western restaurants. I had to drive far to buy western food ingredients and to cook by ourselves," said Chatzigiannis who owns an architectural design studio in Shanghai.

As China opens wider to the world, life here is becoming easier for foreigners.

"Greek yoghurt, olive oil, honey and wine are getting more common in the Chinese market," Chatzigiannis said, adding that these Greek goods help to cure his homesickness.

At least 20 Greek enterprises will participate in related activities in the CIIE next month. The exhibits from Greece will be mainly food and beverage like olive oil and honey, and Greek tourism will also be a major part of the exhibition, according to the Consulate General of Greece in Shanghai.

In Chatzigiannis' eyes, Shanghai is now developing to a clean, polished and international metropolis that opens to people from different places and fields.

"My father has been shocked to find the big changes and fast development of the city and its infrastructure every time he visits me," he said.

As an architect, Chatzigiannis has also noticed the aesthetic preferences of Chinese people have changed as more people travel abroad, and foreigners as well as overseas Chinese returnees bring fresh ideas to the country.

Hellas House, a Greek cultural hub in Shanghai, is one of Chatzigiannis' master works. The pure white Greek marble, clean lines and simple design is something that Chatzigiannis thinks would have appeared strange in China a few years ago. But this type of subtle elegance is now mostly desired.

With an open mind to more diverse culture and references, Chinese people now prefer things of high standards and quality instead of loud luxury, according to Chatzigiannis. "As the taste changes, the market will follow."

Currently, he has just finished designing a yoga studio and is working on a hospital project in Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

"Living in Shanghai gives me a different perspective of the world. I feel there are closer ties between different countries, and the world seems to be much smaller," he said.