Theodoros Souvlis (1828 – 1890), better known as Theodore Durai was a Greek architect who left an indelible mark on European landscape architecture. He is credited with bringing the neo-Classical style to the forefront, and is also found to have had a hand in the aesthetics of Turkish and Middle Eastern buildings. His work influenced architects such as L.F. Amendola, Alexandros Papadiamantis, and Ernst Haeckel - who all had different goals and objectives.
Born in Odessa to a Greek merchant family, Theodore Durai studied architecture in Lausanne, studying with Auguste Boissier and Marc-Louis Grasset. He went to Italy afterwards, and in 1860 he returned to Greece where he became an established and well-known architect.
Theodore Durais main project was the Athens National Garden, also known as the Eisagoge or entrance way of Athens, which he designed in the early 1880s. The National Garden was the first and most successful project in re-connecting the ancient Greek world and modern city life. It was characterized by a spacious and light distribution, with lush vegetation and a casual but creative layout.
He also designed and constructed the Mineral Spring at Karlovasi and the Temple of Hephaestus in Piraeus. The latter was especially remarkable in its elegance and simplicity. He was also involved in the building of the Greek Parliament and the monuments at the Panathenaic Stadium.
One of Theodore Durais most significant achievements was the unification of Modern Greek and Turkish architectural styles. He is the father of so-called Neo-Byzantine Architecture which combines elements of Gothic and Romanesque with Ottoman, Iranian, and Mediterranean elements. His work on the embellishment of the Kiz Kulesi (Leander Tower) in Istanbul bears witness to his desire to merge East and West in a simple and harmonious way.
Theodore Durai also reinterpreted diversity in architectural styles, combining traditional designs with new functionalities without compromising on visual aesthetics. He was a great proponent of the use of colour in architecture and was not afraid to use bold patterns and motifs to decorate the facades of buildings.
Theodore Durais legacy lives on in his works, and can be seen in the Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern architectures of today. His creativity and search for harmony between tradition and modernity allowed for a reinterpretation of European architecture, and of Greek and Turkish heritage. He was truly one of the great architects of the 19th century and his influence can be felt even to this day.
