5 minutes with Christianna Anagnostopoulou
Hope Architects is nothing without our people. Every few months, we give you a window into our team, getting to know the folks that help us make us who we are.
This month, we’re speaking to Project Architect, Christianna Anagnostopoulou.
Can you tell us about your background and how you got started in the industry?
I studied architecture in my beautiful homeland of Greece, where I completed my master's degree. After graduation, I started working with civil engineers and other architects, mainly for private clients. From there, I opened my own small firm, primarily focusing on renovations. It was a hands-on job where I managed everything from design to delivery, but it was a great learning experience to be at the centre of everything.
Working on small shops, restaurants, and cafes really made me feel connected to the communities I was working in and strengthened my passion for person-focused architecture.
As the financial crisis bit in the late noughties, I started to have more free time on my hands. Rather than resting on my laurels I gave in to my curiosity and took on another degree. First a masters in project management and then a degree in mechanical engineering.
These were strands of interest that I locked onto while working with contractors and engineers early on in my career and it’s an interest I maintain to this day. The engineering especially helped me understand more about renewable energy and mechanical systems.
What brought you to the UK?
I moved to the UK in 2016. My first job here was as a mechanical engineer, focusing on design and product development. Eventually, I found a position as a design manager, working on large projects in London, including the cladding for the O2 Arena. In 2018, I transitioned back to architecture, focusing on residential and care home projects in Lincolnshire and Stamford.
From there I made the jump over to my new home with Hope Architects. That just about brings us up to date.
What do you enjoy most about working in architecture?
Initially, my interest in architecture stemmed from a love of design and form. Over time, I realised that architecture gives me the opportunity to improve people's mental health and quality of life by creating well-designed spaces that enable them to live happy fulfilling lives. A beloved home, a quaint café or a shop that sits at the heart of a community – these will all be someone’s everyday buildings and the opportunity to have a positive effect is massive.
At Hope Architects, this concept is taken to a larger scale, involving more complex layouts and incorporating green spaces to large developments etcetera, but the underlying principle is the same.
Life beyond the drafting table
I live a busy family life so I spend a lot of time having fun with my kids. When I do get a moment to myself I embrace my lifelong love for learning. I’ve always got my head in a book, usually a non-fiction head teaser.