Emilio Eftychis

Background

Emilio was born into a South African Greek ethnic family, Eftychios Eftychis and Dimitra Rockas-Eftychis a polyglot and an academic in ancient and modern Greek . As a child he featured in an SABC TV programme on the Greek traditions of Orthodox Easter produced by his mother.

As a family the Eftychis family travelled widely allowing the young Emilio to see architectural traditions of a great variety and encouraging a cosmopolitan mindset

Education

Emilio matriculated at Pretoria Boys High , and like his mother was Awarded SAHETI Student of the year ,

He then enrolled at Pretoria University`s Architecture Faculty., where he completed his architecture degree.

Career

Eftychis was not creatively fulfilled by working in an architectural firm subject to the remit of others, so like his father he became free lance and finally established his own firm .

``In 2007 Emilio co-founded the design firm called Eftychis, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also a professional architect with over 11 years of experience building functional and innovative homes and retail spaces``

https://hyf.co.za/2015/05/12/interview-with-the-architect-emilio-eftychis/

His firm handles architectural projects , interior design , furniture design and sculptures for public spaces

Achievements

• 

  Eftychis was interviewed on SABC Top BIlling about his Lotheringen Barn - an industrial home that celebrates responsible eco ergonomic design
  
  https://www.topbilling.com/articles/An-industrial-home-that-celebrates-responsible-design.html?articleID=2508
  
  Emilio`s ` Lotheringen barn` was included in the book `150 Best Sustainable House Ideas` published by Harper Collins .
  
  https://www.harpercollins.com/products/150-best-sustainable-house-ideas-francesc-zamora?variant=32114443190306
  
  The volume was favourably reviewed by Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/articles/home-green-home-surveying-sustainable-architecture-1402689595 .
  
  in 2021 Emilio won the Loerie Awards Grand Prix .for his sumptuous interior design for a Pretoria Restaurant

Works

More photos

• 21 st century Barn

  • Lotheringen Barn

    (johannesburg-based architect emilio eftychis has ``reinve...)

• Eco Grandeur

  • CASA M1NRO:

    (Combining the advantages of an ergonomic eco-house with t...)

• Eco Luxury

  • Maison Kavbos

• Emilio Eftychis designs `Cheetah Plains Lodge`

  • Emilio Eftychis Archives » Digs.net

    (Cheetah Plains Lodge—A New Safari Experience in Cape Poin...)

    2019

• Furniture Design

  • Sandton Loft furniture design for living room

• Heliotrope Eco house

  • Heliotrope Home / Eftychis Architects

    (Completed in 2016 in Centurion, South Africa. Images by B...)

• Media Centre Interior Design

  • ACA-MEDIA CENTRE

• Residential Redux

  • Casa Sher

    (``The sculpted structural concrete pillars and beams and ...)

• Space age luxury for Restaurant Interior

  • Prive Restaurant

    (Space age luxury)

• Urban Luxe

  • Casa NaFaBAD

Religion

Greek Orthodox Christian -leans towards the mystical

Politics

Justice for all

Views

Very well travelled and cosmopolitan

Personality

Vital force

Physical Characteristics: Charismatic

Quotes from others about the person

• ``Educating one’s clients to be more “design aware ” is the challenge. It is the duty of the architect to steer the client in the right direction. Once this is achieved , all projects can be great.``
  
  https://hyf.co.za/2015/05/12/interview-with-the-architect-emilio-eftychis/

Interests

• piano compositions and travel

• Sport & Clubs

  golf

• Music & Bands

  jazz

Connections

Eftychios Eftychis and Dimitra Rockas-Eftychis are his parents,

Father:

Eftychios Eftychis

Highly respected architect, creator of

`My Pretoria: An architectural and Artistic Odyssey

https://www.dreamafricapublishers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MY-Pretoria-brochure-JUL2022.pdf

Mother:

Dimitra Rockas Eftychis

Dimitra Rockas-Eftychis is not only a highly respected member of the Greek Pretoria community but is also a highly regarded academic c specializing in the research of the ancient and modern Greek language. She has lectured in Classics at the University of South Africa and in modern Greek at the University of Pretoria

Family:

Family Eftychis

Family Eftychis , Eftychios Eftychism DimitraRockas-Eftychis, Emilio Eftychis, Creon Eftychis , Veneta Eftychis with husband Theo and their two children Christoforo and Alexandro

Sister:

Veneta Eftychis

Veneta Eftychis is a prominent figure at PwC, known for her expertise in digital audit and her commitment to fostering a culture of networking and innovation within the firm.

Brother:

Creon Eftychis

Multi-facetaed Digital Creative

Award Winning Multi-Faceted Creative Director

Creon Eftychis was born in Pretoria, South Africa into a Greek family of creative and intellectual talents. Father Eftychios is a highly respected architect and artist, as is his brother Emilio , his mother Dimitra Rockas-Eftychis is a respected academic , and his sister Veneta at a very young age is a partner at Price Waterhouse, Zurich. He himself has excelled in his field of information design, garnering Awards for his talent.

grand father:

George Rockas

George Rockas was a highly respected member of the East Rand Greek community of Guateng. He was married to Stavroula (nee Kotsakis) and was father to Basil Rockas, Dimitra Rockas-Eftychis , Angelique Rockas and Georgina Rockas. He was responsible for saving family relatives from Artemision, and families from his wife`s village Kalamara , Messinia from poverty by bringng them to South Africa and offering them work and support.

grand mother:

Stavroula Rockas

Stavroula Rockas was the well respected matriarch of the Rockas (Georgiou) clan in the East Rand Greek community Guateng, South Africa. Following her husband`s death she oversaw the management of the Rockas family property portfolio with a sturdy hand & business acumen aided by her eldest daughter Dimitra (Rockas) Eftychis an academic. On the domestic front she devoted her life to being the emotional support to her son Basil.

References

• `150 Best Sustainable House Ideas` published by Harper Collins
• SABC Design Boom Interview SABC
• Meet Emilio Eftychis Global Greeks ``Emilio Eftychis is a Greek South African architect, with more than 15 years of experience, whose work has been praised by all those who have seen his dedication and talent.``
  2019
• Interview with Emilio Eftychis - Hinde Youth Foundation ``Educating one’s clients to be more “design aware ” is the challenge. It is the duty of the architect to steer the client in the right direction. Once this is achieved , all projects can be great.``
• Naeem Badat Emilio Eftychis Architects is a visionary architectural firm that is reshaping the future with innovative designs and groundbreaking concepts. Our passion for creating exceptional spaces drives us to push the boundaries of conventional architecture. We believe in the power of design to transform environments and enhance experiences. At Emilio Eftychis Architects, we are committed to delivering unparalleled architectural solutions that redefine the modern landscape. Our team is dedicated to crafting extraordinary spaces that inspire, captivate, and elevate the human spirit.
• Emilio Eftychis Archives » Digs.net Cheetah Plains Lodge—A New Safari Experience in Cape Point South Africa\ Exquisitely situated in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve bordering South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Cheetah Plains is as sleek and captivating as its namesake and every bit as steeped in the natural environment of which it is so strikingly part.`
  2025