Biography

I am an architect and a Principal Lecturer (Learning and Teaching) at the Portsmouth School of Architecture. My  Ph.D., from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, National Technical University of Athens, focussed on the representation of the politics of urban gentrification in horror films and the notion of fear in cities. I am teaching architecture, interior design, queer and gender theory and design and I run a module on cinema and architecture. I have worked as an architect on a variety of projects in various countries (Greece, Cyprus, UAE, Oman), as well as an editor in magazines and as a set designer.

Research interests

My research focuses on the ways visual culture shapes the way urban and architectural space is produced, and how social issues influence this process. In my PhD, I investigated the impact of fear on urban renewal, comparing real urban environments with those portrayed in movies to understand how visual narratives shape our perceptions. I've also explored how sexuality and gender dynamics influence urban spaces, particularly studying how the LGBTQ+ community navigates and shapes these environments. This work delves into how spaces are constructed based on gender and sexuality, and how dating apps form our perceptions of the cities we inhabit. In collaboration with psychologist Dr. Dia Soilemezi, we have published on the meaning of "home" for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, using qualitative data analysis to understand their experiences. I've been involved in organizing conferences (International Critical Geography Conference, Gender and Education), and I was a co-investigator in the Interreg 2 Seas project "Plasticity: Resourcing Plastics from the City", a project focusing on creating urban platforms for community involvement and developing new business models around plastic reuse.