Every year tens of millions of people affected by crises are in need of shelter assistance. Shelters have become a fundamental element for the abused women who do not want to return home. A shelter is a home-like place free of violence, offering help to end violence. Violence against women has risen in Greece since the start of the pandemic and so did femicide cases.
A shelter for abused women in my home town, in North Greece, seems to be the right kind of project for a good purpose. Furthermore, there is nothing similar in the nearest cities. The availability of a shelter is essential to enable these women to receive health, education, work and also to integrate into the society.
I had to challenge myself in order to design a space that the main goal is to facilitate the healing process. According to my opinion, nature has a direct impact on healing and wellbeing. The site that I chose is near the mountains in a very green location and nature can be brought into the built environment in creative ways.
By the end of this project, I realised that an architect is responsible and is involved in designing, documenting, and monitoring a project from start to finish. I understood that an architect plays an important role in social evolution and· community development. Studying and searching for this project I gained a lot of knowledge about sustainable community development and I understood that architecture is involved in a healing view of community, accepting the role of nature, traditions, culture, lifestyles, politics and economy.
As an Architect, in the future, I would be delighted and thrilled if I could create environments that promote well-being, health, and connection to nature. My wish is that I will be able to build my model, one day in the future, in my home town for all those women that need a place to go and find safety for themselves and for their children.
A touching and highly relevant concept to have taken on for a final project. Architecture has so many aspects to it, students can take over 8 years to be practising Architects. With this project, Nikoleta is well on their way to realising that dream. Not only is the design on point and purposeful, but the ideas that surround materials, the environment, lighting and function, are just some of the very impressive details to have considered at this stage in a designer's development. Beautifully modelled and crafted, this is a brilliant project throughout that can only inspire change and mindsets. The research that went into this was deep, touching and even revolutionary. We too hope you get to one day make your mark on sustainable and purposeful design to change the lives of others. Inspiring work, really well done Nikoleta.
