KRAK Architects has conceptualised an angular underground house on the south coast of Crete with semi-open living spaces and an infinity pool that looks out to the Libyan sea.
The conceptual house, named Casa Katana, has been described as a “unique leisure residence” and was designed to mimic surrounding rock formations.
Speaking to Dezeen, KRAK Architects’ founder, Konstantinos Stathopoulos, said one of his main concerns when designing the residence was ensuring its visual impact on the site was minimal.
Casa Katana. Photo: Dezeen.
“The underground residences seem to fulfil the need for integration to the natural surroundings in a much better way,” Mr Stathopoulos explained.
KRAK Architects envisages that Casa Katana would be constructed from concrete, and will comprise of an open plan living-dining area and four large bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, alongside a large office, parking and storage spaces.
There are no current plans in place to build the conceptual home, but KRAK Architects said it is open for sale.
Former AFL boss, Andrew Demetriou, will pay $360,000 to settle claims against him totalling nearly $45 million over the collapse of vocational education group, Acquire Learning.
The Age reports that the payment is part of a $5.1 million settlement between the former leadership and shareholders of Acquire Learning and liquidators to the group.
Acquire was a significant player in the vocational education sector, but the group collapsed in 2017 following a government crackdown on the sector.
Acquire’s collapse left it owing its creditors, including the federal government, $147 million and stranded tens of thousands of students attending its colleges.
Acquire’s former Managing Director, John Wall (left), and Andrew Demetriou in 2015. Photo: news.com.au.
Mr Demetriou was a shareholder in the group and the $360,000 settlement with liquidators from Cor Cordis relates to the repayment of shareholder loans taken out by his private company Katia.
As part of the settlement, The Age reports that Cor Cordis has agreed not to pursue a separate claim against Katia for $753,826.
Mr Demetriou will have six months to pay the settlement claims. He declined to comment when contacted by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday.
Macquarie University organises free online seminars to support teachers and students, in view of the Greek Language Certification exams by experienced teachers from the Greek Language Center (GLC) in Thessaloniki, the Macquarie University’s Modern Greek Studies Program and Sydney schools.
The Certificate of Attainment in Greek is the only official state certification that confirms the knowledge of Greek as a foreign/second language at six levels, corresponding to the levels of the Common European Framework (CEFR). It is recognised by all member states of the European Union but also by NESA (New South Wales Education Standards Authority).
A Global Centre of Pontian Hellenism is set to be built on the site of the former airport at Elliniko in southern Athens,Ekathimerini reports.
The plans for the new centre were unveiled at an event held at the Mikis Theodorakis Cultural and Conference Centre on January 14.
Greece’s President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, was present at the event and stressed how Pontian Greeks have successfully managed to maintain their culture despite their “tragic history that included persecution, slaughter and violent attempts at Islamisation.”
An artist’s impression of the main entrance to the Pontian Hellenism Center at Hellinikon. Photo: Pontian Greeks of Sourmena.
“Pontian Greeks who left their Asia Minor homes as refugees brought to Greece their drive and values, their loyalty to country, family, community and traditions, their hard work and tireless inventiveness,” Sakellaropoulou stressed.
The new ‘Hall for the Global Pontian Greeks of Sourmena’ is now set to showcase this culture proudly.
The Center will become the focal point of Pontian Greeks throughout the world.
Designed by Doxiadis Associates, it is expected to be completed in about three years and will house the local Pontian association, its library and the museum that is currently located in Sourmena Square. It will have also spaces for conferences and events.
This announcement comes as the Greek Ministry of Culture confirmed that it will dedicate 2022 to the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe and to the promotion of the memory of the refugee communities, including the Pontian Greeks.
Greek Police have recovered a weapon they believe was used to kill a 19-year-old student early Tuesday morning in a district of Thessaloniki, northern Greece.
Ekathimerini reports that the murder weapon, a sickle, was discovered by locals a few meters away from the crime scene, next to a garbage bin.
According to initial reports, the victim, Alkis Kambanos, along with two friends, were intercepted and attacked on the street in Harilaou around 1 am by several people riding in two cars.
The scene of the crime.
The 19-year-old bled to death after being stabbed in the upper thigh. The other two are being treated for multiple injuries at the Papanikolaou Hospital.
According to reports, one of the attackers made a reference to a local soccer team before launching into the assault, leading investigators to believe the incident is linked to rival fan clubs.
Police sources believe at least 10 people were involved in the attack.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressed his abhorrence of the teen’s murder during a conversation with MPs on the sidelines of a meeting with party officials in Thessaloniki on Tuesday.
Police are investigating.
Mitsotakis contacted Citizen Protection Minister, Takis Theodorikakos, asking him that priority be given to the investigation of the crime.
Kambanos was a first-year student at the School of Economics and Political Science of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The rector at the university, Nikos Papaioannou, has condemned the attack.
“Nineteen-year-old Alkis had his whole life ahead of him. He came to our university to make his dreams come true. Instead, he fell victim to blind fan violence. We are all devastated and we condemn in the most categorical way this heinous event,” Papaioannou said.
Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, paid a special visit on Tuesday to the Greek village of Thrylorio in Rodopi, Northern Greece, which has been named in honour of Ballarat-born Major George Devine Treloar.
The village has 600 residents and a strong Pontic Greek history, which Major George Treloar is tied to.
During 1922 – 1926, in his capacity as Commissioner for Refugees of the League of Nations in Northern Greece, Major George Treloar helped rescue and resettle thousands of Christian, including Pontic Greek, refugees from Asia Minor.
Major George Devine Treloar. Photo: Australian Embassy / Facebook.
His efforts to organise food, shelter, medical care and work assisted over 108,000 refugees. As a result, Major George Treloar is considered one of Australia’s most influential humanitarian figures.
To pay his respects to this legacy, Ambassador Spyrou visited Thrylorio and walked in the footsteps of Major George Treloar, as well as his two sons, David and John Treloar, who have visited the village in the past.
According to a Facebook post from the Australian Embassy in Greece, Ambassador Spyrou received a warm welcome when he arrived from the President of the village, Mr Giorgos Apostolidis, the President of the Cultural Association of Pontic Greeks, Ms Chrysa Mavridou, and members of the community.
Ambassador Spyrou offered the village a family heirloom, a handwoven tapestry, as a gift – a small token of the enduring friendship between Greece and Australia.
The Ambassador also visited the local church where he admired the precious relics of Thrylorio and learned about its history.
To conclude his visit, the Ambassador visited the Basketry Museum of the Roma where he learned about the traditional life of Thrylorians and the craft of basket-making. The museum was founded by Antonis Liapis and is the only one of its kind in Greece.
Two separate bomb explosions have targeted a journalist and a unionist in the Greek capital, according to local media.
Unidentified individuals detonated explosive devices on Tuesday morning outside the residences of Greek journalist, Dimitris Kambourakis, and the head of the country’s police union, Vasilis Doumas, the state-run news agency AMNA reported.
Security camera footage of the attack on the home of Kambourakis shows a hooded and masked figure placing an explosive device made of small cooking gas canisters outside his apartment building in the quiet southern suburb of Argyroupoli at about 2:30am local time.
The house of Greek journalist, Dimitris Kambourakis, was bombed.
“I was asleep when I heard a crack and a bang. I went outside and the entire door was on fire. One of the canisters had not exploded,” Kambrouakis told Skai television.
At about the same time, a similar homemade bomb went off in the central Athens district of Kypseli, outside the home of Doumas.
A screen shot from the CCTV footage taken outside the home of Dimitris Kambourakis shows a hooded figure placing the makeshift bomb in front of the door. Credit: Skai TV.
In a statement to the news website Kathimerini.gr, Doumas said he believed the assailant or assailants targeted him for his “opinions.”
The bomb explosions damaged the facades of buildings in both neighbourhoods.
Police have launched investigations into both incidents, AMNA said.
Christopher Bouggas, 41, has been charged with two counts of murder after the bodies of Steven Finlay, 52, and his partner Mitch Watson, 32, were found at the unit on Cleveland Street, Redfern, shortly before midnight on Saturday.
Detective Superintendent Rodney Hart said one of the victims was on the phone to triple zero whilst police were en route to the property for a welfare check.
He said it had been a difficult and confronting scene for officers and both the victims had suffered significant injuries.
The Redfern unit where the bodies of two men were found on Saturday night. Photo: Edwina Pickles.
Strike Force Menlow was quickly set up to investigate the incident, and Mr Bouggas was arrested at a Redfern unit on Cleveland St on Monday afternoon.
It is believed he was also a tenant of the boarding house.
Mr Bouggas was taken to Mascot police station and charged with two counts of murder. He did not appear in court on Tuesday afternoon when his matter was mentioned. He was formally refused bail and the case was adjourned to March 29.
Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to contact detectives at Mascot police station or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A light semolina sponge cake made with butter and olive oil with the aromas of coconut and lemon and soaked in syrup.
One can find many variations of this traditional Greek recipe but Christina from Pieces of Greeceshares her favourite version!
Coconut Ravani
INGREDIENTS
Syrup Ingredients:
2 cups water
2 cups white sugar
3 lemon wheels, sliced finely
1 small cinnamon quill
2 – 3 Tbsp rosewater (optional) or orange blossom water
Cake Ingredients:
6 eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup caster sugar
250g butter, melted
1/4 cup light olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp vanilla essence
Pinch salt
2 cups self raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup fine semolina
3/4 cup dessicated coconut for cake batter
Extra dessicated coconut to sprinkle on cake
METHOD
Make syrup first by adding all syrup ingredients to a small pot. Bring to boil over medium heat for 10 minutes only. The syrup should be runny, not viscous. Allow to cool completely.
Preheat oven to 165 degrees Celsius. Lightly spray a 25cm x 30cm cake tin or 22cm round cake tin (not springform) with oil and gently dust with a tiny bit of semolina.
Melt butter and combine with oil in a jug
With mixer on medium speed, beat eggs and sugar for 5 minutes until sugar dissolves. Slowly add the butter/oil, followed by lemon juice and vanilla. Turn mixer off.
Meanwhile, put salt, flour, baking powder, semolina and coconut in a separate bowl. Combine with spoon.
Turn on mixer, low speed. Slowly add the flour mix to wet batter. Mix until combined well.
Pour into cake tin. Bake on top oven shelf for 45-50 minutes on until golden brown surface.
Remove cake from oven. Use skewer to prick about 15 holes, all evenly spaced. Using a ladle, slowly pour cooled syrup all over cake. Sprinkle with extra coconut.
Allow cake to sit at room temperature for at least 3 hrs before cutting.
Serve at room temperature.
*Keep up with Christina’s culinary adventures by following Pieces of Greece on Instagramor Facebook
Among the recipients was Dr Peter Gianoutsos, 82, from NSW who received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to medicine as a respiratory physician.
Mr Gianoutsos has been an Emeritus Consultant Physician at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital since 2014 and has also held a number of other roles at the Hospital.
During his career that spans more than five decades he has been involved with the Australian Respiratory Council; the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
He is also a founding member of the Australian Lung Foundation, and has been a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney since 2006.
“I am very flattered to think that a group of people felt that they wanted to recognise the contribution that I have made. I had many, many tasks and participated in various activities over the years,” Mr Gianoutsos said.
Retired respiratory physician Dr Peter Gianoutsos was among those recognised in the 2022 Australia Day Honours List
Asked about the highlight of his multifaceted work he says teaching young doctors is what he enjoyed the most.
“I was very keen on teaching medicine -and particularly respiratory medicine, to the younger doctors that were coming through the system. I found this was a very satisfying thing to do. I’ve never resigned on that in spite of the fact that I’ve been out of medicine now for some time.
“I used to do a lot of teaching for those who were preparing for their specialist examinations.
“I would take them through cases and respond to their questions in depth and breadth, so that by the time they were going to take themselves to the exam, that they were well versed in what they needed to know. I had a great amount of pleasure in doing that.”
Born in Wellington in the late 1930s to a Greek immigrant father from the island of Kastos and a New Zealander mother, Mr Gianoutsos was drawn to medicine as a result of childhood memories.
“When I was going through high school, my younger sister suffered from asthma. In those days, there were a lot of cranks who were providing asthma therapy, and it was all a bit crazy.
“My mother found a tendency to take my sister, who was seven years my junior, to these crazy people. I thought there’s got to be better ways of dealing with this and that was the genesis that made me want to do medicine and to ultimately become a respiratory specialist,” he said.
Mr Gianoutsos has fond memories of his upbringing in the Rose Milk Bar his father owned until 1957 and his Greek school days.
As a kid Mr Gianoutsos was very fond of Greek Orthodox priest Fr Elias Economou, the founder of St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Parish in Sydney
“There was a marvelous man who I was very fond of, Father Elias Economou, one of the first Greek priests to come to New Zealand, who was a wealth of knowledge.”
Later on, Father Economou went to Sydney where he founded St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Parish.
In January 1970 Mr Gianoutsos who was studying at Otago University also relocated to Sydney after he was offered a job at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital as a clinical superintendent.
He has lived there ever since but visits Kastos, the Greek island where his father comes from with a population of 80, every year.
“I’ve been to Greece many times. I first went as a little boy in 1950, and then again in 1974.
“I ultimately had myself built a small cottage on the island. Unfortunately, the last two years I have not been able to go but I normally go there for three months each year.”
