Architecture Competition Timber Skyscraper Challenge 2nd prize winner – Sophia Michopoulou

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd prize winner of our "Timber Skyscraper Challenge" competition – Sophia Michopoulou from Greece!

Sophia Michopoulou from Greece

I obtained my BSc in Architecture (NTUA, Athens, Greece) and MSc in Digital Fabrication in MAS (ETH DFab, Zurich, Switzerland). I also participated in in UNIFI’s Erasmus programme (Florence, Italy) and gained professional experience in Kengo Kuma in Tokyo, Japan, in EDSA Plan in Florida, USA and in Serrano and Baquero in Granada, Spain. Lately, I work as a freelancer incorporating the knowledge and ideas I gained, in architecture through new forms and materials.

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?

During my studies in NTUA, I engaged in bioclimatic architecture as well as agro-tourism and afterwards during my MSc in MASDFAB, I explored new design ideas starting from a small fabrication scale with experiments implementing new materials and building techniques to large scale architecture elements. Throughout my studies and work in different offices, I have learned to use CAD - BIM programs, 3D representation programs, programming languages and robot communication programs.

Throughout my work as a freelancer I took part in a wide range of projects of residential and office buildings in all design stages, in order to obtain a good idea of the architectural practice nowadays, as well as architectural competitions that I had the chance to express my ideas more freely.

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

I think that the role of an architect in the society is to raise environmental awareness as well as to bridge the gap between academic research and the industry through team work and collaboration.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture Competitions give me the opportunity to diverge from everyday tasks and express my architectural intentions more freely. Thus, the whole process helps me develop my creativity and my tools one step further and leads me towards the kind of architect I want to evolve into.

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

My advice I would be to believe in yourselves, seize the opportunity to participate in as many architectural competitions and insist until your work is finally recognized.