IN FLUX
Maria Mavromichali is an architect currently based in Greece. Her interest focuses on exploring the creative and multidisciplinary spectrum of architecture, aiming to highlight a complex language that blends practical and theoretical research. The concept of linking architecture to broader contexts and using design as an adaptive tool captured her attention.
She holds an Integrated Master's degree in Architecture from the AUTH. During her academic years, she participated in competitions, curated and exhibited work, and developed various creative projects. Her diploma project, "Editing in Progress: Machines of Experimental Geology." was a design-research study focused on the geothermal landscape of Loutra Edipsos in Greece. It examines spatial mechanisms that interact with natural flows and sedimentary formations, proposing an adaptive architectural toolkit through in situ processes.
After completing an internship in Copenhagen, Maria practiced in the Marble Residency on the island of Tinos, as an AiR. There, she focused on local materials and the relationship between craftsmanship and landscape. Her broader academic and design interests include curatorial formats, critical writing, participatory fieldwork, and designing hybrid spatial archives. She is passionate about interdisciplinary collaborations that rethink how architecture can engage with current ecological narratives.
Maria now works as an architect in Athens, balancing research and creative practice. She is eager to advance her career through collaborative platforms and critical networks.
What we once called nature is now a negotiated terrain, a hybrid system. An ongoing, interdisciplinary discussion which focuses on the Anthropocene epoch has a significant impact on the planet. This shift changes our perspective: the landscape, far from a static background, is a dynamic entity. It's being explored more as a hybrid condition where the boundaries between natural and artificial are blurry. Queries and topics to research are constantly growing.
"In Flux" is a research and design experiment inspired by this evolving discussion. It presents the landscape as a complex system rather than just a neutral surface that experiences human activity.
The initial research centres on the thermal springs of Loutra Edipsos, Greece. Geothermal flows, travertine deposits, human activity, and infrastructure together create a hybrid entity. Aiming to understand the complicated relationships between natural processes and designed environments, it becomes clear that geological dynamics act as regulators of human activity, and vice versa, creating micro-landscapes with mixed features. Ephemeral machines are designed using flow, deposition, and natural patterns to shape the landscape. These are not permanent installations, but dynamic, on-site experiments. Each machine is designed based on the simulation of a particular natural phenomenon.
However, the project extends beyond this specific context. It proposes an open methodology that can be adapted to multiple contexts. This framework acts as a dynamic manual, offering a diverse range of methods: agile ways to observe natural rhythms, selective installation scenarios, and future projections.
"In Flux" does not aim to offer conclusive answers. Instead, it highlights the value of contemporary shifts and creates new paths for research, on-site action, and collaboration between different fields. It presents architecture as a multidisciplinary field that deals with challenges and participates in modern discussions.