We spoke to Stelios Stylianidis, Architect and CEO of CSS & Associates, about how the company has built up its impressive reputation across diverse projects in different sectors in the last 30 years. He explains how his professional team of experts works together to provide excellence in customer service and develop customized solutions that match every client’s budget and needs. Finally, we talk about the company’s two latest award-winning projects, its views on sustainability and architectural style, and its vision for the future. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards:  As specialists in luxury property development in Cyprus, you are considered an industry leader in the country. How have you developed this impressive reputation since your inception in 1991? 

Stelios Stylianidis: sOur reputation and recognition did not happen suddenly within a day! It took many painful working hours and efforts to climb the stairway of success and be regarded today as a well-organized and appropriately staffed design company. During the thirty years we have been operating, we have faced many difficulties, problems, and adversity; we have gone through the big financial crisis of 2013. Still, we have managed to overcome all the difficulties and get to the point we are today. What is the secret? The seriousness and professionalism of all our staff, team, and collective work, the attention we pay to all our customers, no matter how big or small their project is, and finally and probably most importantly, our love and passion for what we are doing! 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: You have been involved in creating various projects across different sectors. What qualities have you needed to develop to offer this versatility and diversity?  

Stelios Stylianidis: It has never been a matter in our office to choose whether or not to accept any project or any customer. Every new project is a big challenge for us, no matter how much experience we already have in a particular field. More so when it comes to a field we worked in before. Such a project allows us to study and explore new fields, gain more knowledge, and become even better. When we started to work thirty years ago, we had no experience in any field. But we learned, and we continue to learn. The ancient philosopher Socrates said: “As I am getting old, I am still learning”. And we follow this example. Over the years, we have become wiser. After all, who knows everything? No one, of course. But anyone can study and find out what one needs. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: How would you describe the company’s architectural approach and style? 

Stelios Stylianidis: We are fans of modern contemporary architecture, but I would say that we are also, at the same time, a bit conservative, as strange as that sounds. For us, the key is to balance the three essential components in a building – function, durability, and beauty. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: What goals do your team set themselves when taking on a new project? 

Stelios Stylianidis: To 100% satisfy our customer’s needs within the budget, he has set for us. We certainly do not want to design something that will never be built because our client will not be able to do it. That is why our first concern is to inform the customer whether what he wants and dreams can be done with his resources. Unfortunately, in the past, we had some cases that were not completed, even some projects that weren’t started, due to the financial situation. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Can you explain the in-depth process your experts go through while working on any project? What should potential clients expect from them?  

Stelios Stylianidis: As I said before, our main concern is meeting our customers’ needs. To achieve this, much preparation must be done before we even start working on any project. We will do the proper and complete research on the regulations, we will analyze possible alternative ways of approaching the project, depending on the nature of the project, we will consult with all the likely authorities that may be involved, and we will learn what requirements they may have. Indeed, we will visit the site as often as needed and capture it adequately to have a better and complete picture of it. All this preparation makes it easier for us to continue, and it is an approach that our clients appreciate. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Each of your projects stands out with its distinctive architectural style. Where do you get the inspiration for creating unique designs for every client? 

Stelios Stylianidis: Each case and each client are different. We are trying to understand what the customer and user of the building would prefer, to see what is most relevant in the area where the building will be erected, and of course to keep the style of our office. The inspiration for each project can depend on various things that affect us at the given moment, which can be the most unlikely things that seemingly have nothing to do with construction. For instance, in one case, when we designed a kindergarten, we got inspiration from a child who was being treated for leukemia. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: You pride yourselves on integrating your projects into the natural and artificial environment. How do you go about achieving this? 

Stelios Stylianidis: Integrating a building into the surrounding environment, whether artificial or natural, is perhaps the most challenging part of our work but, at the same time, the most interesting. To achieve the necessary harmony, there is no secret but a lot of study and analysis of the area. I have to admit that modern technology has helped enormously because we are not limited simply to photographing the site and to various exercises and collages. The special programs enable us to make 3D models of the whole area, which are very useful.  

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: The company has an experienced and professional team of experts ready to handle every challenge. Can you tell us what makes them exceptional? 

Stelios Stylianidis: The most important thing is the cooperation and mutual understanding we have between us. Indeed, the professionalism and seriousness of each individual are essential. Still, without good teamwork and the right spirit of cooperation, we would not be able to achieve the results we have. A project is not the work of one person but a group of collaborators of various specialties. Of course, this team is directed by the project’s architect, but he is well aware that he alone cannot complete anything. So the answer to the question is that everyone in the team knows their role well, and they all work together, helping and supporting each other. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: You are committed to respecting the practices of sustainable architecture. What steps do you take to achieve this? 

Stelios Stylianidis: I must admit that as a nation, Cypriots do not rate sustainable development among their main priorities. It is woefully outside of our culture and mindset. I was lucky enough to participate in some programs aimed at sustainable mobility, culminating in my participation in the creation of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan of the city of Limassol. My engagement and familiarity with the specific subject helped me to revise some personal opinions and to understand the essence of sustainable development. It was therefore natural for me to try to apply the principles of sustainability to my projects as well, in any form, from the simplest to the most complex, whether it simply concerns the use of photovoltaic panels for electricity or the recycling of materials, or more generally the construction of a building with zero losses of either energy or materials. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards:  You are also committed to finding customized solutions for every customer. What practical considerations do you undertake to ensure this?  

Stelios Stylianidis: We try to understand as best as possible the needs and requirements of each customer. We often visit with him some other projects as examples so that he can know for himself what we propose and whether he likes it or not. Finally, we use the possibilities of technology so that the customer can see and “walk” inside his building through a virtual reality we create. In this final stage, we can also make the corresponding adjustments based on the customer’s preferences, whether they concern materials, spaces, or anything in general. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: You have recently received awards from Luxury Lifestyle Awards for two of your projects. Can you tell us about them? 

Stelios Stylianidis: They are two completely different projects. The first, the small apartment building, “Cielo”, is a building of six apartments built on an elevated area with an incredible sea view. We made sure to take advantage of this exact view, which is why we have arranged the apartments so that they all have the maximum possible unobstructed view. The apartments are quite comfortable and intended for small families with average incomes. A separate staircase connects the two apartments on the top floor to the roof, with space for a roof garden and a private swimming pool. 

The second is a luxurious high-rise building, which will house the company’s offices. The building is located outside the port of Limassol, which is why it was given the name “Portgate Tower”. Its contact with the port and the sea inspired us to create a building that undulates on the vertical axis. Using a different form on each of the building’s 18 floors, a movement reminiscent of the ripples of the sea is created. The offices are oriented towards the sea, and three sides of the building are made of glass, so there is a view of the sea from any internal point of the workplace. All the most modern IT and security technology systems have been implemented in the building. In addition to the offices, there are auxiliary spaces for the various activities of the staff, such as a gym, wellness, open relaxing floor, cafeteria, etc. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: You have achieved a great deal over three decades in the business. Which of the company’s accomplishments do you feel the proudest of? 

Stelios Stylianidis: One could say that the flagship of my projects is the last major project currently under construction, the Portgate Tower, a high-rise office building in a prominent location in Limassol. But, as an architect – the project which I consider to be my best work, at least the one that has filled me more than any other and I look forward to its completion because it is still in progress, is the restoration of two old, listed mansions and their conversion into a small hotel, in the traditional Cypriot village, Lefkara.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: What exciting new projects does the company have coming up in the near future?

Stelios Stylianidis: We are currently working on several residential mainly projects, a couple of which are particularly large, while we are in negotiations to undertake the design of another high-rise building on Limassol’s seafront. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: What is the company’s vision for the future?  

Stelios Stylianidis: Our company is a family company I established with my wife over thirty years ago. Already the second generation is involved in it. My vision for the company is to continue working at the same level and, even better, for many more generations!