Architecture Competition Museum of Emotions / Edition #2 Honorable mention winners - Georgia Ntoutsi and Lukas Goumas

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our "Museum of Emotions / Edition #2" competition – Georgia Ntoutsi and Lukas Goumas from Greece!

Georgia Ntoutsi and Lukas Goumas from Greece

Our office in called ONMA design studio (ON Materials and Architecture) and was founded in 2022, in Volos, Greece. It consists of the two of us and we undertake projects all over Greece. We both studied Architecture at the University of Thessaly in Volos and hold a Master's degree in " Reuse of buildings and complexes " from the University of Thessaly. We are both energy inspectors, building inspectors and accessibility inspectors for people with disabilities in public buildings.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been involved?

Our office specializes in reusing existing buildings and upgrading them to be as energy efficient as possible. Whether it is the design of a new building, or the reuse and renovation of an old one, the user experience, the energy footprint of the building and integration into the public space are important to us. Recently, we have been involved in the design of highly energy efficient holiday homes, conversion of commercial premises into residences and energy upgrading of existing homes through government programs for vulnerable households.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Greece has been particularly affected by the financial crisis and the recent pandemic crisis, leaving little options for project selection. Μany projects are mainly bureaucratic, so we make our best to evolve on what we have in order to create. For us architecture is about creating the best possible user experience with environmental respect. This is why we focus on giving life back to old or/and abandoned buildings. We wish to resurrect them by changing or highlighting their best aspects.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

By taking part in architectural competitions, we are given the opportunity of a different approach to each project, as there is a freedom in design that is often not affected by regulations, giving us the opportunity to expand our horizons and take our idea a step further.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

By taking part in an architectural competition, one has the opportunity to develop the design of a project, develop creativity, compete with others, experiment with materials and textures and enrich their portfolio. If someone stands out in a competition, it will give a boost to work and self-confidence and will make approaching new clients easier.