karolina stephenson
Architecture M.Arch
University of Portsmouth
Specialisms: Architecture / Architecture / Architecture
Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
karolina stephenson
First Name: karolina
Last Name: stephenson
Specialisms: Architecture / Architecture / Architecture
Sectors:
My Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
University / College: University of Portsmouth
Course / Program Title: Architecture M.Arch
About
After graduating from Portsmouth University with a distinction for my Part 2 in 2023 I received numerous design awards for Thesis Design titled ‘Journey Of Hope', including:
* RIBA Silver Medal Award nomination
* Sustainable Social Legacy Award from HNW Architects
* Chris Henderson Drawing Prize from Hyphen Architects
I won the ‘Reimagining Gosport' competition entry showcased at the “Gosport Future: Empowering Heritage” exhibition launched at the Imagination Refinery Building, Gosport High Street in collaboration with Gosport Borough Council, Gosport High Street Heritage Action Zone, Historic England and Portsmouth Sustainable Conservation Trust
+ I have over 16 years of practical experience in both award-winning commercial and residential projects...
My post-graduate work at the University of Portsmouth focuses on the regeneration of deprived urban areas in Bogotá, Colombia, which was submitted as part of my master’s degree portfolio.
The work focused on a series of social-spatial urban strategies and opportunities to develop community tourism initiatives as a catalyst to introduce positive changes within Bogota’s stigmatised Ciudad Bolivar neighbourhood.
During initial research, I discovered Ruta De La Esperanza, a non-profit foundation which set up a guided tour in Ciudad Bolivar to change people's perceptions about this place. my proposed 'Journey of Hope ‘plugs' into the Ruta de la Esperanza’s existing tour run by locals, and their ideology.
It supports the foundation and its principles to call out for positive change in Bolivar. The design strategies are based on adapting, re-purposing, upcycling, regenerating, extending, and reusing. Considering these and other interventions the overarching aim was to avoid challenging issues arising from tourism such as gentrification and uprooting and to promote affordability and inclusivity. This meant considering an incremental and phased-in approach as well as collaboration with local makers, artists, architects and even chefs! All to deliver safe, good-quality spaces and a sustainable economic model, while instilling a sense of civic pride.
You can read more about my postgraduate work, which has been singled out by both the Architects Journal and Dezeen:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hyphen%2Earchi_universityofportsmouth-eldonbuilding-schoolofarchitecture-activity-7092524877240279040-tWP9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
https://lnkd.in/esQTsNk
https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/practice/students/a-thorough-grounding-in-the-city-portsmouth-student-show-2023
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/darren-bray-8709b028_we-are-delighted-to-announce-a-new-member-activity-7098006647775604736-ytt5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hnw-architects_sustainablesociallegacy-sponsor-judge-activity-7092501042386329601-azgB?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
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The proposed Journey of Hope is a community tourism initiative that ‘plugs-in’ to the existing Ruta De La Esperanza guided tour which generates youth employment, transforms Ciudad Bolivar neighbourhood and changes perceptions... Along the identified trail proposed are a series of inclusive design strategies based on adapting, re-purposing, upcycling, regenerating, extending, reusing - all in collaboration with local communities, makers, artists, architects and even chefs! All to support local networks and economies and to promote a sense of civic pride... The strategies create ‘acupuncture’ interventions that allow beneficial and meaningful changes, without detrimental effects...
Competitions
