Markella Menikou
Biography
ABOUT
Markella Menikou is an Associate Professor and is the Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Nicosia.
She received a BA (Hons) in Architecture, a Bachelor of Architecture with Distinction and an MA in Bioclimatic Architecture from the Manchester School of Architecture. She has qualified as a RIBA Chartered Architect in the UK, following graduation from the Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice in Architecture [RIBA Part3]. She taught at the Manchester School of Architecture from 2003 to 2007, as a Lecturer in Architectural Technology. She was Head of BA Technology since September 2006.
Her research interests include architectural pedagogy, instrumental architecture, the theory of technology, prefabricated building systems, buildability and sustainability. She runs the 4th/5th year research group UNIT 4 -“Divining the future; Technology is the answer, but what was the question?”. In five years, the unit received a total of 35 successful entries to prestigious international architecture competitions.
In parallel to her academic involvement she runs a small design practice (Markella Menikou Chartered Architect). She was selected to represent Cyprus at the European Mies van der Rohe Award 2022 and was awarded the BIG SEE Architecture Award 2021 for her project “Concrete House @ Paniotis”. Her work has been published both locally and internationally. She represented Cyprus at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008 with the project ‘Easylove’.
AWARDS
- Nomination for European Mies van der Rohe Award 2022 / BIG SEE Architecture Award 2021 / represented Cyprus at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008
PROJECTS TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE EVENT
Project #1: Concrete House @ Paniotis
Start year: 30.09.2018
The Concrete House @ Paniotis is a bespoke single family house located in a suburban area of Limassol. The project achieves organic fluidity between inside-outside, spatial permeability and the perception of openness. Spatial strategies, materiality, landscaping and vegetation celebrate seasonality and temporality. Interior spaces spill out to a series of interstitial spaces created between the main concrete envelope of the building and a secondary skin of folding timber slat panels and sliding expanded mesh screens. These spaces act as interfaces to create an intermediate microclimate via shading, controlling heat gains, pockets of vegetation for evaporative cooling and manipulating breezes. Diverse outdoor spaces enable different inhabitation patterns and climatic comfort. The project focused on experimenting with exposed timber board marked concrete. The mass and durability of concrete establishes a dialogue with raw timber and metals.
Project #2: Courtyard House @ Philothea
Start year: 01.09.2020
The ‘’Courtyard House@Philothea’’ is a bespoke single family residence, located on the outskirts of Nicosia. The house develops around a central courtyard and towards a south-west garden area. The courtyard functions as a private, tranquil oasis that brings in natural light and ventilation while providing a sense of privacy and serenity. The courtyard is inspired by vernacular Cypriot typologies and acts as a climate modifier. As a spatial mechanism it allows the autonomy of adjacent spaces while preserving the concept of open plan space. The main flows, including the main staircase leading to other floors, develop around the courtyard. The house takes up most of the permitted coverage of the plot in order to accommodate the requirements of the brief. Therefore a large area of the ground is displaced at the 1st floor in the form of an accessible green roof. This strategy ensures that the percentage of outdoor space and vegetation is not compromised.
Project #3: I.C Extension House
Start year: 01.07.2023
The ‘I.C Extension House’ is a hybrid building situated at the outskirts of Nicosia. It was originally a stonewall house built in the 60’s and subsequently renovated and extended in the 90’s. The building has now been completely renovated and expanded, in two phases. Firslty half of the GF, towards the busy street of its north boundary, was transformed into an office space. The boundary of the plot to the north side was cancelled and the access to the office / house was manipulated to include a ramp stairs for disabled access but also as a social space to host various office events. The second phase of the project involved the complete renovation of the building and extension through the addition of a steel structure towards the south garden. The extension is thoughtfully positioning major living spaces to benefit from abundant natural light and a seamless connection with the garden and swimming pool area. The overall design prioritizes playful flows and programme interchanges, allowing for dynamic movement and interactions within the spaces.