Ioanna Tatli and Georgios Kontominas studied Architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), in Greece, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2015 (Diploma in Architectural Engineering), being yearly recipients of the Greek State Scholarship Foundation (I.K.Y). During their studies, they received numerous awards in architectural competitions, culminating in their Design Diploma Thesis “Atalanti’s System: In Good Times and In Bad” receiving an honorable mention (International Competition – 2015) by the International Union of Architects (UIA) in Dalian, China.
They are currently Master of Architecture (MArch) candidates at University of California, Berkeley, receiving a merit-based grant by the institution and a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholars. They are currently working as Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) under the guidance of Professor Simon Schleicher at UC Berkeley, College of Environmental Design. Their academic interests are concentrated on exploring innovative and experimental design issues through a research-oriented and multidisciplinary approach. At UC Berkeley, their research is focused on Bio-inspired Design and Fabrication, showcasing the potential of biologically informed design concepts that anticipate a new foundation for lightweight, multifunctional, and sustainable architecture.
In the past, they have collaborated with the office of Sparch || Rena Sakellaridou | Morpho Papanikolaou, firstly as Interns (2013), and later on, as Junior Architects (2014-2015) in Thessaloniki, working on a wide range of projects and scales including Germanina’s Farm Renovation in Cyprus (2nd Prize), the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus (International Competition Entry) and Anatolia Elementary School, in Thessaloniki (1st Prize).
