[ feminine ]  /'izola/

Isola, island in English, is closely related to the verb isolare which means to isolate, which is essentially what an island is; a piece of land surrounded by water. Philosopher Massimo Cacciari suggests that it's exactly this state of separation that defines its existence. Islands become points of reference, navigation, and hope across the rough sea.

Isola is an Athens, Corfu and New York based, multidisciplinary architecture, design and research studio working across scales and categories, since 2021. For us architecture is not merely the construction of a building but a wider connection between complex social, political, environmental, and technological geographies. We strongly believe that design has the power to provoke social change and we are constantly searching for innovative ideas to create more inclusive and resilient spaces. We are committed to investigating the ever-changing models of inhabitation in the Mediterranean Sea and the social and ecological tensions that affect its landscape. For us design practice is not about the final object but a process of learning, engaging with people, deep understanding of societal values and struggles, collaboration, transformation, and regeneration. To achieve this, we draw inspiration and conduct exercises using multiple media ranging from art, photography, sketching, poetry, writing, theater, traveling, and dancing. Through our practice we seek to be able to critically respond to the urgencies of our times and contribute to shaping more caring future worlds.

People

Chaido Kaproulia, Co-founder

Chaido Kaproulia is an architect and territorial designer. She holds a Master’s degree from the joint program in Urban and Territory Design from ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne and a Master’s degree in Research in Architecture from the National Technical University of Athens. She has previously studied architecture at the University of Thessaly. Prior to her own practice, she has worked as an architect in Vienna and Athens for several years, participating in a wide range of programs from housing and hospitality to public spaces and winning competition proposals. Her work aims to evolve architectural practices beyond the boundaries of the built, by understanding its relationship with landscape, ecology and agriculture. She has presented her research work in various scientific conferences.

Eva Lavranou, Co-founder

Eva Lavranou is an architect and curator. She holds a Master in Design Studies: Art, Design and the Public Domain at Harvard Graduate School of Design (2022) with Distinction. She has previously studied architecture at the University of Thessaly (2018) and at the Politecnico di Milano (2014-15). While at Harvard she was the teaching assistant for many interdisciplinary design classes, curatorial assistant for the Department of Exhibitions, and curator at the GSD Kirkland Gallery. She participated also in the Venice Biennale 2021. Previously she worked as a freelance architect for multiple residential projects and award-winning competitions in Greece. Last year she joined the Ambasz Institute at the Architecture and Design Department at the Museum of Modern Art in New York where she organizes exhibitions, events, and publications and researches the history of ecological design.