ANAKTAE
Greek
ANAKTAE is a design studio established in 2009 by industrial designer Dianna Karvounis and architect Vivian Philippa.
Combining archaic harmony with Modernism, the studio embraces diverse scales of creativity: Furniture, Lighting, Objects as well as Architecture and Interior Design, showcasing authentic luxury and timeless elegance.
All their work has a distinct aesthetic that could be defined as neo-archaic. Inspired by ancient symbols and geometries, they create archetypal forms whose dynamism derives from their innate harmony.
Rooted in a deep appreciation of craftsmanship, every piece is hand-made to order from natural materials such as bronze, marble and wood. Striking a balance between austerity and sensuality, these objects convey their own enigmatic but unmistakable atmosphere.
Based in Athens, Greece, their work is in private collections, cultural foundations, museums, and galleries worldwide.
OUR STORY
ANAKTAE derives from the ancient Greek word anaktor, meaning “palace”.
In Minoan and Mycenaean Greece, the anaktor was much more than a royal residence: it was the heart of civic and cultural life, where the most skillful artists lived and worked. Potters and priests, soldiers and sculptors, playwrights and philosophers, kings and courtesans all had their place in these self-contained universes – creative powerhouses where the acme of ancient Greek civilization flourished.
So too, our studio embraces artisans and connoisseurs dedicated to the pursuit of perfect proportions, quality craftsmanship, and contemporary classics.
Distinctive and unique, ANAKTAE has an intangible mystery that transcends expectations and categorizations.
Our logo represents the continuation of our creative journey. The interlocking lines and angles resemble the sophisticated layout of the anaktor, a geometric maze of corridors, ante-rooms, temples and chambers. Inspired by the Meander or Greek Key, one of the most recognizable motifs in ancient Greece, it also symbolizes victory, unity and infinity. Named after the mythical river Meandros, it embodies the ebb and flow of ideas and the everlasting bonds of love and friendship – the perfect metaphor for our enduring but fluid partnership.
