DeMachinas [de ma·ki·na·s] is a creative platform founded by architect Elina Loukou and designer Sabrina Summer, who are known for their award-winning approach to design.
What we love. We enjoy moving freely across scales, typologies and disciplines. Carving out a space at the point where interior design, scenography and architecture meet. At the heart of DeMachinas is a passion for collaborative design. With a deep commitment to working closely with clients and collaborators, DeMachinas views openness and discourse as key in achieving exceptional design outcomes.
Clients. We are privileged to have worked with a broad spectrum of individuals, brands and cultural institutions. Selected clients are: SNFCC - Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, PLEX Athens, Miista Clothing, Women’s Museum Hittisau, Myrto Dramountani MD Store, Kursk Theatre Group, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, Museum Huber-Hus Lech, Vorarlberg Museum Austria, Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs (BMEIA).
Awards. DeMachinas work has won the Award for Best New Architecture in an Existing Building for Three Object Apartment at the Greek Architecture Awards 2024, as well as received an honourable mention for Touchstone* House at the Greek Architecture Awards 2022.
Press. Divisare, Wallpaper Magazine, Domes Issue, Elle Decor Italia, Elle Decor UK, Domus, Baunetz ID, Baunetz Wissen, The Greek Foundation, Archdaily, Archilovers, Archello, Kulturzeitschrift, IWAN International, Bauforum, Estav, Stirworld, Archilaces, Handwerk+Bau, ORF, SRF, AZW Vienna
Bio Elina Loukou
Through a series of projects in Europe, she has explored the intersection of architecture and theatre. Her design perception, intensely influenced by her extensive work in set design, is driven by an intuitive awareness of materiality and space. She developed as a well-rounded architect, tailoring her creativity to practices and studios of different scales. Within established offices such as Allies & Morrison, Rogers Stirk Harber + Partners, in London or smaller teams such as aWhales architects, Athens and 3s architects, in London. Elina has practiced with dedicated attention to detail, with experience in all RIBA work stages.
She graduated from Royal College of Art (2014) in Interior Design, where she won two student competitions, both completed on site. Elina gained a diploma from the architecture department of National Technical University of Athens with an ‘Excellence’ grade. She continues her academic activity with a number of publications, lectures and crits at universities such as the Bartlett, Central Saint Martins and at the University of Cardiff. Her main research activity has been the intersection between architecture and music, especially on Iannis Xenakis’ work, concentrated on the Vacation House in Amorgos.
Bio Sabrina Summer
Sabrina is a spatial and interior designer with a background in the creative arts and a strong interest in human-centred design.
She holds a BA from Chelsea College of Art & Design (2008) and an MA from the Royal College of Art (2014), and has previously worked at Zaha Hadid Architects. In 2021, she co-founded the design platform DeMachinas with Elina Loukou. Projects include the Room for Birth and Senses at the Women’s Museum Hittisau, as well as the exhibitions Birthculture, Blitzblank and Stoffwechsel.
At Ab Rogers Design where she currently is an Associate Designer, she has spent the past decade leading projects across retail, hospitality, healthcare and the cultural sector—among them Selfridges London Team Welcome Area, 180 The Strand Fact Space, and Asteroid City at Fondazione Prada. She was the lead designer for the Maggie’s Centre at The Royal Marsden Hospital, a non-clinical cancer care centre, and most recently worked on the Wes Anderson Retrospective at both the Cinémathèque Française and the Design Museum London.
Alongside her practice, she guest-tutors and leads design workshops.