Biography
Born in Greece, completed my BA in the United Kingdom, my MSc in Italy and spent the next years working as a field officer for NGOs and IOM in refugee settlements before moving to the United States for my doctoral degree. I am currently completing my doctoral research in the Architecture department with a Minor degree in Gender Relations in International Development. Through my work, I advocate for social equity, human rights and second chances. I strongly believe that contemporary critical thinking combined with classic liberal ideas is the way to a more equitable civil society.
Research Interests
My research interests are centered around the fair representation and inclusion of the vulnerable populations in contemporary societies. My research embodies the intersection of architecture and social justice by examining the integration of refugees in host societies. My research interests lie within architecture, geography, anthropology and policy-making.
Research Description
My doctoral work that is dedicated to the relocation of Middle Eastern and North African refugees in European communities probes the criticality of the residential environment as a facilitator of integration for refugees in their new communities. My aim is to explore the residential environment, as the main axis that dictates refugees’ quality of life and thus their ability to access and integrate, i.e., become rooted, in the host-societies. My focus is to reveal aspects of residential environments that encourage healthy living and rootedness, while inspiring policymaking to encourage supportive design for refugee (re)settlements.
Education
08/2019- present _ PhD in Architecture – Cultural and Social Factors trach with a Major in Cultural change in residential environments
11/2019- present _ Minor in Gender Relations in International Development
09/2013 - 10/2016 _ Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, MSc in Architecture and Engineering, Thesis: “ The design of Syrian refugee settlements and services unit in Lesvos, Greece.”
09/2009 - 06/2012 _ University of Birghton, Brighton, United Kingdom, BA Honors in Architecture, Thesis: “How were the series of “Prouns” created by El Lissitzky in the Soviet Union in the 20th century, used as an architectural prototype of Constructivism as well as political propaganda.”