An interview with an architect Ivana Lukovic; Greece

What makes your winning project Peloponnese Olive Tree Stone House one of a kind?
Proper response to a different kind of challenges: besides bureaucratic ones regarding forest authorities prior to the realisation process, an additional challenge was how to build from the scratch in a remote, ordinary Peloponnese village of Kalamia, 141 m2 of habitable, high quality, custom-made space, without compromising initial architectural and interior design proposal, yet with the restricted means. It was achieved thanks to the close collaboration between the Client, Architect and Contractor. New dwelling blends discreetly into neighbourhood from the street side with its humble, almost disappearing elevation, while developing into a prominent, two-stories building from the garden.  Furthermore, environmental, and local economy benefits were accomplished by specifying craftsmen and natural materials (like reclaimed stone) within a 100-mile radius of the construction site. Built in a healthy environment, according to contemporary sustainable standards, the custom-made residence has been playing major role in the 2020 pandemic situation, providing its inhabitants both safety and comfort.

It is a broad subject, hence, for architects as, hopefully, sensitive human beings, the priority should be to improve all relevant aspects of Users’ everyday life through their spatial explorations.

What did you learn from this project?
The importance of close collaboration between Client, Architect and Contractor for a desired outcome.

What are you working on at the moment?
I have just completed a VJ Penthouse Refurbishment project in a southern suburb of Athens and I am going to start an exciting residential project at the Greek island.

What is your driving force?
It is a prospect of experiencing the completed space as a part of my mental world. The visceral feeling, created during the genesis of the idea, its evolution and realisation, is so powerful and stimulating that it helps to overcome any difficulty one might encounter throughout the creative journey.

Any ideas you think should be front and center in the minds of architects?
It is a broad subject, hence, for architects as, hopefully, sensitive human beings, the priority should be to improve all relevant aspects of Users’ everyday life through their spatial explorations.