SOFIA NIKOLAIDOU

Sofia’s interests lie in the dialectics between architecture, landscape and the poetics of representation. Raised on the northern coast of Greece, her design philosophy is rooted in the importance of place and memory as well as integration and continuity with nature. Through her design work, she aspires to bring aesthetic sensibility to shape and strengthen the relationship between people and topos.

Sofia holds a Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Architectural Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece and has completed an exchange study at the Architecture School of the University of Florence, Italy. During her graduate studies at UPenn, she was awarded the Laurie D. Olin Prize in Landscape Architecture for design excellence in the making of urban spaces, the Olin Partnership Work Fellowship for excellent student performance, and the ASLA Student Certificate of Honor for outstanding potential for contribution to the profession.

Sofia has worked for architecture and landscape design firms in Europe and in the USA and her designs have won numerous distinctions in international architectural competitions. Most recently, her proposal The Green Hub for the redesign of Thessaloniki’s western waterfront was awarded the 2nd prize in the international architectural competition ArXellence 2.

Sofia is a licensed architect in Greece and a licensed landscape architect in the United States (NC).