AKKA STEPHANIE AKKAOUI HUGHES BIOGRAPHY & RESUME

Transcription

1 AKKA STEPHANIE AKKAOUI HUGHES BIOGRAPHY & RESUME

2 Personalia 2 STEPHANIE AKKAOUI HUGHES Owner and director Stephanie is part of a new breed of young visionary architects, who operate beyond the nowadays-restrained realm of architecture. A strong advocate of value created through cross-disciplinary interactions, Stephanie believes that the most sustainable innovation will happen at the intersection of different fields. Sustainability, as she defines it is the daily innovative solutions and opportunities we ought to actively create for a sustained long-term future. Born and raised in the tumultuous city of Beirut, Stephanie quickly learned to navigate amidst an incredibly diverse, unpredictable, complex, and extremely lively environment. Stephanie was awarded her professional degree in Architecture with high honors at the American University of Beirut, where she won numerous academic and national competitions and was presented with numerous awards. Right after, Stephanie joined the world renowned Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in The Netherlands. At OMA, working closely with founder Rem Koolhaas Stephanie built a deepened knowledge of all the phases of architectural and urban large-scale projects. She led three major projects for the Qatar Foundation into construction: the Qatar Foundation Headquarters, the Strategic Studies Center and Qatar s National Library. After 5 years practicing at OMA, Stephanie founded AKKA, a consultancy firm specialized in sourcing, designing and sustaining spaces for human interaction. AKKA is driven by the vision of Architecting Interaction. Architecting Interaction explores sustained interactions. It investigates how can we design contexts that foster human interaction in its different forms, including collaboration, learning, creativity and innovation. Architecting Interaction explores human interactions on a scale of intervention, a scale ranging from furniture to interiors, architecture to urban interventions. AKKA is dedicated to create the spaces that will trigger the types of interactions suitable for every context. Beyond being embodied in the products of the projects, interactions drive every project s process. Specifically developed to implement the vision of Architecting Interaction, AKKA s process is a collaborative process, based on the communal creation of knowledge. Through the four phases of Understanding, Envisioning, Creating and Adapting, AKKA s team engages in an ongoing consultation with the community of the project. Learning by doing and short feedback loops are one of the foundational principle guiding the collaborative process. At the heart of AKKA lies the dedication to innovate human interactions. Stephanie is regularly invited to speak and lead workshops at different universities, conferences and summits around Europe and the Middle East...etc. Since community consultation is key to AKKA s work, Stephanie has extensive experience facilitating collaborative workshops with varying groups of people. Most recently, Stephanie led 45 students through a workshop for Indesem, dealing with the topics of identity, mobility and the temporary at different scales from the human to the urban. Since its founding in 1962, Indesem, the International Design Seminar, has had the honor of hosting internationally acclaimed architects and theorists, such as Aldo van Eijck, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas. On December 1 st 2012, Stephanie presented Architecting Interaction at TEDxBelfast. Stephanie is also founder and global coordinator of the Action Labs. Inspired by the ebbf business forum, the Action Labs are a worldwide initiative aiming at building and sustaining local communities of entrepreneurs contributing to a prosperous, just and sustainable civilization, through their daily work. In addition, Stephanie is trained as a professional career coach and has accompanied a number of students and professionals in their projects and career tracks in various fields, including architecture, design, the sciences and business.

3 STEPHANIE AKKAOUI HUGHES 3 Nationality: Lebanese Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands AKKA SELECTED PROJECTS Driven by the vision of Architecting Interaction, AKKA explores human interactions on a scale of interventions. Its projects focus on creating the contexts that enhance and sustain human interactions. Since human interactions assume different forms including creativity, collaboration, learning and innovation, AKKA is dedicated to create the spaces that will trigger the types of interactions suitable for every context. Beyond being embodied in the products of AKKA, human interactions drive every project s process, AKKA s approach to projects is always through Collaborative Processes and the communal creation of knowledge. Through the different stages of Understanding, Envisioning, Creating and Adapting, this collaborative process developed by AKKA brings together clients, developers, users, neighbours and other concerned parties to engage in the communal creation of opportunities. June 2012 present December 2012 present January 2013 present February 2013 present Strategy & Design consulting for Liong Lie Architects, Rotterdam Through the different phases of AKKA s collaborative process, we engaged with the studio s founder and team members to uncover the studio s larger purpose: its vision. After refining the vision and defining the strategy and process consequently, we engaged in creating a sustained approach for the studio to embody its vision in its visuals, communication, processes and projects. Office space refurbishment undisclosed client, Rotterdam After going through a rebranding of their creative company, our clients required the design and execution of a space that would reflect their refreshed identity and act as an incubator enhancing people s collaborative interactions so that teams and visitors, in that space, can truly embody the collaborative and creative values the company stands for. Office space renovation undisclosed client, Maastricht After inaugurating a new department for Innovation and acquiring a new space to move into, our clients needed the design and execution of a space that would enhance their internal interactions, triggering their creative thinking and innovative approaches. Physical spaces for human interaction, undisclosed client, across The Netherlands AKKA is consulting for an organization to provide its corporate clients with the architectural strategy, design and execution services to create the physical spaces that would enhance the forms of interactions coveted by those clients.

4 4 AKKA INTERACTION LABS An Interaction Lab is a workshop format developed by AKKA and dedicated to explore collaborative processes and the communal creation of knowledge. Starting with architectural and urban matters, Interaction Labs have since dealt with a wide variety of topics. Interaction Labs offer the expertise of the collaborative process to companies, teams and entrepreneurs, internationally. March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 November 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 present Spaces for human interaction Exploring how a space can be designed, sourced and sustained to stimulate the different forms of human interactions needed in a specific context. Space & Creativity Exploring how space and the use of it can stimulate creative thinking Design your Future Exploring the process of intentionally defining your professional goals and innovating your strategy to achieve them Start with why Extracting the purpose (the Why) and the values (the Hows) of a corporate company. Based on those Why and Hows, the vision, strategy and process of the company s new service was developed. Architecting human interaction Exploring how a common object can be redesigned in a way to trigger human interaction Build and sustain your community Exploring how to build, maintain and grow a community, internally and externally. How do I make my work meaningful? Exploring the concept of meaningful work, what does it mean and what individual and communal actions can be taken to live it.

5 5 OMA SELECTED PROJECTS June 2007 June 2012 Qatar National Library, Doha Under construction, completion 2014 Responsibilities: Landscape and site development, Façade design, Program distribution and planning, Interior detailing, Coordination with other disciplines (structural, mechanical, fire services, acoustics etc). Leader of Interior design and furniture packages (team of 3). Project Leader for construction phase since 2011 (team of 5). Clients communication and presentations. Stages: Concept design, Schematic design, Design development, Working drawings, Tender documents, Construction stage June 2007 June 2012 June 2007 June 2012 February May 2012 May June 2010 Qatar Foundation Headquarters, Doha Under construction, completion 2014 Responsibilities: Landscape and site development, Façade design, Program distribution and planning, Interior detailing, Coordination with other disciplines (structural, mechanical, fire services, acoustics etc.), Complete spa design. Leader of Interior design and furniture packages since 2007 (team of 3). Project leader for entire project since 2009 including construction phase (team of 8).Clients communication and presentations. Stages: Concept design, Schematic design, Design development, Working drawings, Tender documents, Construction stage. Project is confidential. Strategic Studies Center, Doha Under construction, completion 2014 Responsibilities: Landscape and site development, Façade design, Program distribution and planning, Interior detailing, Coordination with other disciplines (structural, mechanical, fire services, acoustics etc.). Leader of Interior design and furniture packages (team of 2). Project leader for entire project since 2010 including construction phase (team of 6). Clients communication and presentations. Stages: Concept design, Schematic design, Design development, Working drawings, Tender documents, Construction stage. Project is confidential. NDIA Airport city masterplan, Qatar Design in progress, 100% completion 2050 Responsibilities: Strategy, urban planning, urban design and presentation. Stages: concept design, feasibility studies, design development. QFold desk, Qatar Furniture piece, custom designed for the cultural requirements of Qatar s society. An elegant solution for a modesty panel is achieved through this simple design of a folded plane. Responsibilities: Lead designer.

6 6 February June 2010 November January 2010 May June 2009 March April 2009 January February 2009 April June 2008 Rothschild bank, London, UK Completed building. Responsibilities: Interior design, material selection, fabrics and furniture during the stages of interiors concept design, design development and construction. Al Shamal Masterplan, Qatar Qatar Bid for the Olympic Committee 2022 Responsibilities: Research about Qatar, the World cup and resorts, urban design, feasibility studies and presentation. Stage: competition concept design. National Archeological Museum, Morocco Competition entry. The proposal is based on the cohabitation of two fields of knowledge geosciences and archeology and two spaces the existing 100 years old building and the new. Responsibilities: research, concept design, engineering coordination and presentation materials. Var Valley international positioning, France Strategic research, urban planning and urban design. Strategic study to re-position the Var Valley area as an eco-responsible and sustainable urban area. Responsibilities: feasibility research, urban planning, urban design and presentation materials. House of Arts and Culture, Lebanon Competition entry. Located on the borderline between the exclusive Down Town area and the more popular Bachoura neighborhood, the proposal is committed to creating a truly public platform. Responsibilities: team leader, research, design and presentation materials. Shenzhen Stock Exchange, China Completed building. Responsibilities: Interior design, material selection, fabrics and furniture during the stages of interiors concept design.

7 SPEAKING April 2013 Pitchrs, forum for young entrepreneurs Speech presenting the vision and process of Architecting Interaction as an example for young starting entrepreneurs. 7 December 2012 April 2012 September 2011 TEDxBelfast speech, Belfast Architecting Interaction lecture TEDx talk online. TALK 20, Beirut Architecting Interaction lecture as per the TALK20 format. Video available upon request. Lecture at the IOT Workshop, Amsterdam About the potential of human interactions in urban conditions and the opportunities technology brings to social urban dynamics. Talk at IOT online. TRAINING & TEACHING May 2013 Pepperminds, Creative company A two-day training on Creative Thinking for the company s creative teams of 100 people. May 2013 April 2013 January 2013 November 2012 October 2012 April 2012 Ebbf international annual conference Three-days co-creation sessions for 120 international entrepreneurs dealing with Cocreating the new Enterprise. Indesem, International Design Seminar One day architecture studio for 45 students, dealing with different scales from the human to the urban. Since its founding in 1962,Indesem, has hosted internationally acclaimed architects and theorists, such as Aldo van Eijck, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas. Hallo Academy for creativity, Amsterdam A two-day vision & strategy workshop with students. Academy of Architecture, Groningen Architecting Interaction lecture, open public. A two-day design workshop with students. Ebbf annual conference, Lisbon Architecting Interaction lecture, open public. A two-day vision & strategy workshop about building and sustaining a community. American University of Beirut, Guest juror for 4th year architecture students projects review. EBBF ACTION LABS Founder and global coordinator of the Action Labs worldwide. Inspired by the ebbf business forum ( the Action Labs are an initiative aiming at building and sustaining local communities of likeminded entrepreneurs trying to contribute to a prosperous, just and sustainable civilization, through their daily meaningful work. Since their launch in Amsterdam, the Action Labs have spread worldwide, including Amsterdam, Milan, Rome, Belfast, Orlando, Geneva, Brussels, Zurich. For information about the individual events please visit page and our reviews.

8 8 PUBLISHING March 2013 Collaboratory Article dealing with the role and responsibility of physical space in installing change in corporate environments, article is available here. February 2013 December 2012 August 2012 November 2011 September 2011 AUB Alumni Art Exhibit, Beirut Architecting Interaction featured at the yearly Art exhibit held at the American University of Beirut for Alumnis. ECIC conference, Bilbao 5 th European Conference on Intellectual Capital, Architecting the Dynamics of Innovation paper submitted, Conference due April 2013 Article in The Arab Ad, monthly magazine About connecting Lebanese design initiatives at three levels. Article available upon request. Stephanie Akkaoui featured as Designer Special in Venuez Magazine, a specialized Hospitality, Design & Lifestyle magazine across the Benelux area. Article available upon request. Magazine online. article for the RESTAURANT & BARS book publication by Routledge publishers. About Centrale, a restaurant in Beirut from the perspective of Architecting Interaction. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE June 2012 present AKKA, The Netherlands Founder and Director June 2007 June 2012 January 2004 June 2007 July August 2006 September December 2005 July August 2005 July August 2004 OMA, The Netherlands Project Architect Bernard Mallat Architects, Lebanon Project Architect NGAP Architecture and Planning, Lebanon Architect Sany Jamal Architects, Lebanon Architect Khatib & Alami Architects, Lebanon Architect trainee Dagher Architects, Lebanon Architect trainee

9 EDUCATION September 2010 June 2011 HALLO Postgraduate school of Design Post-professional master degree, Concept development & Entrepreneurial strategies Graduated with high distinction 9 September 2002 June 2007 AUB American University of Beirut Professional degree in Architecture, Minor in Urban studies Graduated with high distinction AWARDS June 2007 First prize Areen Award: for final year thesis: Glitches in the Matrix: Transcending Consumerism, a thesis on society, individual s projected image, the fashion market and consumerism in Beirut. September June 2007 June 2006 June 2005 Awards for Outstanding Achievement and Placement on the Dean s Honor list for the ten consecutive Fall and Spring terms of the academic years , and First prize Azard Award. Annual competition for fourth year architecture students concerning the final year urban and architectural project. First prize Venice-Beirut competition: Competition launched by the Lebanese Order of Architects and Engineers concerning designing concurrently in Beirut and Venice. LANGUAGES Fluent: English, Arabic, French Good: Dutch Beginner: Spanish REFERENCES Rem Koolhaas OMA-AMO Office for Metropolitan Architecture Richard Saad NGAP Architecture & Planning Bernard Mallat Bernard Mallat Architects & American University of Beirut PORTFOLIO Available upon request: stephanie.hughes@akkaarchitects.com