Andreas Zapatinas
Encyclopedia
Andreas Zapatinas is a Greek automobile designer, born in Athens
in 1957.
Zapatinas studied at the Art Center College of Design
in Pasadena, California
, and graduated in 1986. He worked at Fiat
Centro Stile from 1988 until 1994, where he met Chris Bangle
. He was chief exterior designer of the Fiat Barchetta
. He also contributed to the design of Fiat Coupé
and Alfa Romeo 145
.
In 1994 he followed Bangle to BMW
and in 1998 he became chief designer at Alfa Romeo
Centro Stile near Milan
. He has been credited for the unique for its time rear end design of the Alfa Romeo 147
.
In 2002 Zapatinas joined Subaru
as Head of Advanced Design. At Subaru, he is often credited with the controversial "spread wings grille" first introduced on the R2
, and later the B9 Tribeca
and the Impreza
, but Subaru have said that this concept was proposed before Zapatinas joined the Japanese company. This design created some controversy, and it has been abandoned by Subaru. This controversy is said to have been related with Zapatinas's departure from Subaru
in July 2006.
In 2009, the Industrial Designer, Andreas Zapatinas starts cooperating with KLEEMANN Lifts designing Elevator Cabins and Doors.
"We see the lift not as just a small square box that moves you up and down but as a means of transportation that provides a unique experience. It's not only the new curved shape and design. Above all, it is the different new feeling you get in the FUTURE TREND cabins. We design the lift as a high tech vehicle that provides you added sensations". With these sentences, Andreas Zapatinas, the designer of the Future cabins and doors, creates the concept of the new trend; the Future Trend.
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 1957.
Zapatinas studied at the Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, and graduated in 1986. He worked at Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
Centro Stile from 1988 until 1994, where he met Chris Bangle
Chris Bangle
Christopher Edward "Chris" Bangle is an American automobile designer. Bangle is known best for his work as Chief of Design for BMW Group, where he was responsible for the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce motor cars.- Biography :...
. He was chief exterior designer of the Fiat Barchetta
Fiat Barchetta
The Fiat Barchetta is a roadster produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1995 to 2005 . "Barchetta" in Italian means 'little boat'.-History:...
. He also contributed to the design of Fiat Coupé
Fiat Coupé
The Fiat Coupé was a coupé produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1993 and 2000. The car was introduced at Brussels Motor Show in 1993....
and Alfa Romeo 145
Alfa Romeo 145
The Alfa Romeo 145 and 146 are small family cars produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1994 and 2001. They were launched at the 1994 Turin Motor Show...
.
In 1994 he followed Bangle to BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and in 1998 he became chief designer at Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
Centro Stile near Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. He has been credited for the unique for its time rear end design of the Alfa Romeo 147
Alfa Romeo 147
The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year for 2001, beating the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius....
.
In 2002 Zapatinas joined Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
as Head of Advanced Design. At Subaru, he is often credited with the controversial "spread wings grille" first introduced on the R2
Subaru R2
For the late 1960s Subaru R-2, please see Subaru R-2The Subaru R2 was announced in Japan on December 8, 2003, and the R2 name was inspired by the Subaru R-2, the kei car model that was produced between 1969 and 1972....
, and later the B9 Tribeca
Subaru Tribeca
The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV sold since 2005 by Subaru, the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries . Released in some markets as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name "Tribeca" derives from the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City...
and the Impreza
Subaru Impreza
Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be...
, but Subaru have said that this concept was proposed before Zapatinas joined the Japanese company. This design created some controversy, and it has been abandoned by Subaru. This controversy is said to have been related with Zapatinas's departure from Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
in July 2006.
In 2009, the Industrial Designer, Andreas Zapatinas starts cooperating with KLEEMANN Lifts designing Elevator Cabins and Doors.
"We see the lift not as just a small square box that moves you up and down but as a means of transportation that provides a unique experience. It's not only the new curved shape and design. Above all, it is the different new feeling you get in the FUTURE TREND cabins. We design the lift as a high tech vehicle that provides you added sensations". With these sentences, Andreas Zapatinas, the designer of the Future cabins and doors, creates the concept of the new trend; the Future Trend.