Originally from Athens, Greece, Anastasia Karandinou, 26, has studied in both Athens, Eindhoven (the Netherlands) and now in Edinburgh (UK). Her studies and research within the immaterial elements of architecture, influenced by an MSc course run by Dorian Wiszniewski at the University of Edinburgh, made her submit to the International VELUX Award. The Award theme “Light of Tomorrow” challenged Anastasia to combine her theoretical knowledge of the qualities of light and practical research in the city of Shanghai into a brief project proposal. Her project "Light Invisible Bridges" won the 3rd prize in IVA 2006.
Right now Anastasia is doing a PhD in architecture at the University of Edinburgh. We talked to her about her experience with IVA and what the participation in the Award has meant to her studies and career:
What has your achievement in IVA 2006 meant to your career?
It was an extremely useful experience, a chance to test ideas, to communicate them and exchange experience and thoughts with other architects. The Award gave me the chance to meet very interesting people, architects, designers, and other students. This experience was extremely challenging and it let me have a better idea of what is happening in other schools of architecture and in other parts of the world in general. In relation to my country, it was a great chance to thank my Greek professors for everything they have offered me and that my further studies are based upon.
The IVA prize helped me a lot when I started my PhD. Since I had not got a scholarship yet, I paid a large part of the PhD costs myself. If I had not got the prize, it would have been a lot harder, or I would have had to start later. It was extremely useful at that precise moment.
How did you experience with IVA impact your way of working with architecture in general and daylight in particular?
It challenged me to exchange thoughts with other people from other places. It also led me through a process of thinking more seriously about what topics in relation to architecture are discussed today; e.g. sustainability, energy, social and political issues involved in the production of buildings. Daylight is always a very important aspect of designing and building; it is, thus, a very good topic to work with at a conceptual level too.”
Would you recommend IVA to other students – and why?
I would strongly recommend IVA. It is a very interesting topic; light is thought of and designed in all architectural projects. At the same time, it gives you the opportunity to approach it in your own way; in a way which involves your own interests and questions concerning architecture in general. Moreover, the jury has always consisted of very distinct architects and the Award is perfectly organised. I like the fact that it is a very open Award, which provides space for all kinds of experimentations - without necessarily focussing on the company's materials.