Homeless Shelters & Immigrants Habitations

We were asked to design shelters for the homeless and residences for immigrants that already lived in the area of Keramikos, near the center of Athens. For the homeless, we designed a wall structure that could be built in any open area, with square openings that held devices to cover the basic needs of a homeless person. These devices consisted of collapsible surfaces and enclosures that a person could use for eating, resting and storing things. (First Image)
We tried to provide for the integration of immigrants to the city fabric, so we designed apartments for them in existing residential buildings. The ultimate goal was to promote better relationships between existing residents and immigrants. The apartments we designed were scattered in adjacent building around the square and we created roof gardens with skyways connecting one building to the other. We felt that in this manner we would facilitate the socializing of immigrants with their compatriots in other buildings. Also, we allowed for stores to be created on the ground floors of these buildings that would provide gainful employment for these immigrants, while providing to the needs of others. (Second & Third Image)
Project by: Kefalos Dimitrios, Architect & Sorvani Niki, Architect
designed for the Department of Architecture of the University of Thessaly

Wall Residence

The objective was to design a residence for a single person. We liked the idea that someone could live in the smallest of spaces, so, we decided to make a residence consisting of two walls and a corridor. Each wall provided for some household functional spaces, made of cement, the same material as the walls were. The bathroom, the living room, the bedroom and the kitchen were all built in the walls. The functional spaces were small and linear. Also, each wall had one moveable piece. The thicker of the two walls contained the dining room, while the living room was located in the opposite wall withattached to the wall.
Project by: Kefalos Dimitrios, Architect & Sorvani Niki, Architect
designed for the Department of Architecture of the University of Thessaly

Publication

At March 2008 the Italian magazine CASAMICA published one picture from the Degree Thesis Project: Underwater Installation M.A.R. Casamica is a magazine that is published with one of the greatest newspapers in Italy, Corriere Della Sera. The author of the article "who.what.where", Mr. Gege Maronga included a picture from the inside of the underwater museum naming that part of the article as "Grecia Sommersa". As you can see above is the front page of the magazine and below is the page 31 that includes the project.

About Architecture

I am especially fond of design. From a large building to a small chair, I like to search for the most extraordinary shapes and forms that would make my design a unique proposal. I often study the already built environment as a point of departure and a means of creating something radically new. Among the many options available to me, I am particularly fond of organic forms, the inspiration for which often comes from nature itself, perhaps the most generous of all sources of stimuli for architectural proposals. To complement a cutting edge inspiration, I had to learn new design processes and become proficient in computer-aided design, as it provides for the most efficient tool of bringing an idea to reality. I have had the chance already to test my abilities and sharpen my skills on computer-aided design, both while completing my projects at the university, as well as while working on real-life projects as an Associate Architect. My ambition is high and my motivation is in high gear over the prospect of preparing myself for handling large-scale projects and establishing my own school of style in Architecture.

Architecture is about building for eternity, creating monuments, defying time, enclosing space, taming nature, defining roles, controlling humanity, balancing reason and emotion. Architecture today is reaching for infinity: breaking the rules, embracing nature, letting space, time and emotions flow freely, confusing rather than reassuring us, coalescing past, present and future, even undermining our sense of reality and reason and, above all, of permanence.

The mission of the architect in our society, as she is shaped today, is to comprehend and interpret in the work the needs of the most exigent employer, either it is a simple individual, total of individuals or entire population, to seek, to find and give form in the architectural and urban environment not only in the height of dynamic season where we live, but such that it can teach and inspire us and those that will follow.