Mini CV

Ypapanti (Patti) Kalou is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Architectural Engineering at the University of Ioannina. She graduated from the University of Patras in the Department of Architectural Engineering (2013) and then completed her postgraduate studies, titled Integrated Product Design & Innovation (MSc), in the Department of Design Engineering at the University of the Aegean in Syros (2019).

Her design thesis which was titled Highlighting the Wetland of Lefkada using voronoi patterns was presented at the Biennale Paysage (2014) and was published in online architectural journals. In 2019, she was awarded in the competition for the Design of Complex Construction of Outdoor Playground Equipment, organized by the TEE/TKM, the UIA and the Greek company Parkotechniki. She manages an architectural office in Lefkada undertaking private and public projects while working in the Municipality of Lefkada as a specialised scientific collaborator. She has worked on the project "AI SMART - Adriatic Ionian Small Port Network" Interreg V-A Greece - Italy (2020) for the region of Lefkada. She worked as an art teacher in Creative Centers for kids (2020). In addition, she researches and designs special play constructions for primary school yards seeking efficient hybrid spaces, methods and learning processes which have to do with combining knowledge, experience and play.

Also, she has studied music and has music diplomas in the Piano, in the Harmonium, in the Counterpoint as well as Band Management. She has also released recordings of her own music with the Greek discography company ‘Frida Records’ which has won acclaim in Greece. She has teached piano at the Music School of Lefkada.

Phd Thesis Summary

Modern educational models and teaching methods emphasize the importance of an equal relationship between student and teacher and between students also. In contemporary primary school the role of play in the mental development of children is very important. Through ‘playing procedure’ the student is called to observe, to experiment, to explore, to predict, to plan, to interpret, to formulate questions, hypotheses, understand and solve problems. When children are in their schoolyards, outside the walls of their classrooms they feel great freedom of expression, their social skills are improved, teamwork is enhanced, there is greater commitment and participation in learning and above all happy smiles prevail. It is requested, through the appropriate planning, to activate the skills and abilities of the children, to perceive them themselves, adapting their body many times to the different needs of movement and play.

The aim of the dissertation is the combination of the above and more specifically of learning with play (they are already studied different kind of play) and their translation into the design of constructions that support play and learning. It is very important interesting educational suggestions will be offered for children and teachers also. Furthermore, the aim is to expand the research related to architecture and the educational environment through small-scale constructions that host the interactive, educational game, are a place of social development for students and strengthen the identity of the school by utilizing their courtyards. This is directly related with the weather conditions in Greece, where outdoor life is inextricably linked to the experiences, culture, daily experiences of its citizens.