Elena K. Tsolakis
Biography
ABOUT
Elena is a chartered architect & director of Tsolakis Architects in Cyprus & the UK. Elena leads the design of the studio’s projects, working in close collaboration with a team of highly skilled architects and designers. She has served as a non-exec Director on the board of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus as well as on the National Town Planning Council.
Over the past decade, she has promoted the culture of architecture through her role on the governing council and board of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). In recent years she had taken on the role of Presidential Ambassador for the Culture of Architecture and was elected twice to chair the body that facilitates the RIBA cultural outreach public programme. This body has oversight over the largest collection of architectural “objects” in the world valued at over £250 million and includes four million items in the British Architectural Library and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
AWARDS
- Civic Building of the Year 2024, World Architecture Festival: The Troodos Observatory
- Mies van der Rohe Award 2017 (EU Prize): Women’s Refuge & Crisis Centre
- British Institution Award 2009, The Royal Academy of Arts
- Featured in the publication ‘100 Women in Practice’, 2024
PROJECTS TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE EVENT
Project #1: The National Star Observatory of Cyprus (Troodos Observatory)
Start year: 01.01.2021
The new National Star Observatory of Cyprus, known as the Troodos Observatory, is located in Agridia, Cyprus. This landmark building contains two high technological telescopes, a night star gazing telescope and a solar telescope, a large astromarina for star enthusiasts to use movable telescopes, and supporting facilities such as a planetarium, cafe and offices. Its external reflective surface aims to bring focus to the purpose of the building; to look out and explore the universe. To that effect it almost blends seamlessly with the surrounding skies and mountains. Internally the architecture speaks to the warmth of earthy materials; timbers, stones, granites. The architecture seeks to have a positive ripple effect on the area by creating a landmark that will serve as an attractor, bringing people to the region and sparking a micro economy around it. It also hopes to inspire the next generation of problem solvers to go into industries that are necessary for the future of our planet.
