“洋人在土人”之十-Dimitra Theochari

 

 

　　个人简介：

　　姓 名：Dimitra Theochari （戴宓拉）
　　国 籍：希腊
　　职 位：实习景观设计师

 

 

　　1、DIMITRA，请简单介绍一下你自己。

　　Dimitra, please introduce a bit about yourself.

 

　　我叫Dimitra Theochari，去年一所里的同事们给我起了一个中文名“戴宓拉”。我是土人北京事务所的一名实习景观设计师，目前在土人及Lake Flato事务所合作进行的德克萨斯州奥斯丁沃勒溪设计竞赛团队中工作。然而，如何描述我的专业领域有一点困难，因为我有两个学位：希腊雅典国际技术大学（NTUA）建筑学与结构工程学位双学位硕士及后续进行深造的美国奥斯丁德克萨斯大学景观设计学硕士学位，专注于可持续性研究。我同时也在法国巴黎拉维拉特高级建筑学院作为交换生学习过一学期，为完成我在希腊的建筑学学位的硕士论文进行研究。

　　景观设计学在我心中始终有一个特殊的位置，但是直到在巴黎我才领悟到了这一领域的重要性。随后我于2009年夏天返回希腊，我决定继续在美国进行景观设计学的研究，以提升我的祖国在这方面的水平。希腊景观的美丽世界闻名，但是这一领域的教育在当今世界中却并未得到发展。景观设计学作为一个被界定出的学科，历史很短，景观设计师仍处在对领域边界进行界定的过程中。我意图开启希腊的景观设计研究，并接近溪地景观的定义。在雅典我就读的大学是希腊这一领域内最好的大学，我以建筑系全体学生第二名的成绩毕业，希腊富布赖特基金会相信我的潜力，并资助我在美国的学习以实现这一梦想。

　　总之，我认为自己是一名非常具有冒险精神的景观设计师，相信生命的偶然性，创造出一些旅游的机会，期待改变及体验不同的文化生活方式，顺应生活的安排！

 

    Well, although in Turenscape I am known as 戴宓拉 - my Chinese name given to me by my colleagues in Studio 1 last year - my name is Dimitra Theochari. I am currently a training landscape architect in Turenscape Beijing working for the Turenscape+Lake|Flato team that has been constituted for the participation to the Waller Creek Competition in Austin, Texas. However, it’s a little hard for me to state my profession because I hold two degrees: a dual degree of Master in Architecture and Structural Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece and a Master in Landscape Architecture I advanced placement position from The University of Texas at Austin, USA with emphasis in Sustainability. I have also studied in Ecole Superieure d’ Architecture de Paris La Villette for one semester as an exchange student pursuing my research for the master thesis required for completion of my architecture degree in Greece.

    Landscape architecture always had a special place in my heart, but it was in Paris that the importance of the field was revealed to me. Consequently, upon my return to Greece in summer of 2009 I decided to continue my studies in the US in the field of landscape architecture in order to promote the field in my country. The beauty of Greek landscape is well known worldwide, but the Greek education on the field is not really evolved in contemporary global terms. Landscape architecture as a defined field has a short history and landscape architects are still in process of defining the boundaries of the field. My intention is to open the discussion of landscape in Greece and approach the definition of Greek landscape. Having graduated second among all architecture students of my university in Athens, the best university in field in Greece, the Fulbright Foundation of Athens believed in my potential and embraced my dream by funding my studies in the US.

    To conclude, I would say that I am a quite adventurous landscape architect that believes in serendipity of life, creates opportunity to travel, is open to change and experiencing different cultural lifestyles, and goes wherever life takes her!

 

 

　　２、你为什么会决定来中国，并选择来土人设计呢？

　　Why did you decide to come to China, and join Turenscape?

 

　　在2010年秋天，俞孔坚博士应Fritz Steiner博士的邀请，访问了奥斯丁德克萨斯大学建筑学院（UTSOA）并进行了本季首次演讲。当时我在美国还不到一个月，这次演讲真正地改变了我的生活。俞博士的“大脚革命”中的景观设计师宣言——我称其如此——重新塑造了我对景观的认识以及我如何通过生态学的方式接近城市主义。我记得，当天晚上晚些时候，我花费了数小时阅读了网上刊登的土人景观事务所的全部案例，并且注意到了国际实习项目的链接。

　　数月后我申请了实习项目，当我收到了贾惠敏女士发来的接收电邮时，我几乎从办公桌上跳起来开始跳舞！长话短说，2011年5月我在土人景观事务所工作了3个半月！回到这个问题上来，尽管，我决定来中国的决定大部分是因为土人景观事务所在中国！今天，一年之后，我应俞博士之邀加盟土人与Lake Flato事务所的团队，参加之前提到过的沃勒溪设计竞赛。我感到非常荣幸，并且希望能够感谢俞博士、David Lake, Nate Cormier，Lake Flato事务所，SvR设计公司使我成为其中的一员！能够在土人景观这个独一无二的项目中工作我也觉得非常兴奋！

    In Fall 2010, Dr. Yu Kongjian visited The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture (UTSOA) invited by our Dean Dr. Fritz Steiner to give the first lecture of the season. I was less than a month in the US at the time and thatlecture literally changed my life. The landscape architecture manifesto - as I like to call it - of Dr. Yu’s Big Feet Revolution reshaped my thinking of what landscape is and how I should approach urbanism in ecological terms. Later that night, I remember, I spent a few hours reading about all the projects of Turenscape as uploaded in your site, and I noticed the link for the international internship program.A few months later I applied for the internship program and when I received the acceptance email from Mrs. Jia Huimin, I almost jumped on my studio desk and started dancing! Long story short, in May 2011 I was in Turenscape working in Studio 1 for 3.5 months! Coming back to your question, though, my decision to come to China was mostly based on the fact that Turenscape is in China! Today, one year later, I am again in China invited by Dr. Yu to participate in the Turenscape +Lake|Flato team for the aforementioned Waller Creek Competition. I feel very honored and I want to thank Dr. Yu as well as David Lake, Nate Cormier, Lake|Flato and SvR Design Company for having me in their team! I am very very excited to be working in Turenscape in this unique project!

 

 

　　３、你在来土人前参加过很多设计竞赛，能简单介绍一下吗？通过竞赛你都获得了哪些经验？这其中有没有让你印象深刻的事情？

　　Can you tell us briefly the design competitions you participated in before joining Turenscape? What experience did you gain from them, and what are some things that you remember from the process?

 

　　尽管我很年轻，工作经验也很短，但我参加过多个不同种类的学生设计竞赛并获得了奖项。最近的一个是在几周前，希腊雅典国际技术大学硕士期间的项目“希腊阿卡迪亚Valtessinico的Holly Mary修道院”获得了2012年由建筑师Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk主办的《信仰和形式》杂志及“跨宗教论坛”颁发的学生工作奖。我的项目将刊登在《信仰和形式》杂志2012年冬季获奖专刊上，还将在科罗拉多州丹佛举行的2013美国建筑师协会国际论坛上展览作品和奖项。

　　除此之外，在刚过去的四月，我在“五朔节花柱：保留的领域”项目的36位角逐者中获得了美国景观设计师协会学生作品综合设计领域德克萨斯州荣誉奖，该项目也是我在UTSOA学习的第二个学期进行的德克萨斯州墓地设计。

　　在NTUA学习时，我参加了在斯里兰卡举行的第八届建筑学国际学生联合协会设计竞赛：“一个难忘的事件的纪念”，我的团队和我决定为公元380年进行的“Thermopiles之战”设计纪念性景观，通过体验式景观设计的形式让游客感受到战争这一历史事件。竞赛结果是我们最终在92个小组中赢得了第二星级！这确实是一种非常独特的体验，对我而言，我的同事和我共同首次为重要的历史事件进行设计，这一时间隐藏在地质学和当今政府的理念中，我们又回归了“战争对希腊，对我们所认识到的当今欧洲而言意味着什么”这一问题，设计的空间基于战争的整体策略和被波斯进行统治的阶段。换句话说，我们试图在景观中找回场地地形试图隐藏的历史。

　　最后，我还想提到我于2009在由Jean-Jacques Virrot组织的国立建筑斯特拉斯堡研究所空间工作室工作的经历。在那里，我的小组在56个参赛小组中获得了宗教建筑设计三等奖。我必须承认这是一种非常令人惊叹的体验，因为我是数百名法国学生中唯一的外国人，我同时也有了理解并研究其他人对神圣的想法的机会。

　　通过提到这些奖项和竞赛参与，你会发现在我目前的建筑生涯中进行选择的模式。我总是对空间的神圣感和圣地的起源感兴趣，直到22岁我才意识到这种兴趣的原因是我对建筑的现象学理解。更重要的是，也是这种理解使我转向了景观，跟随着Mircea Eliade（我在建筑学校中曾因我的硕士论文对他进行过深度研究）的话“当一个人在自己身上发现了时间之于己的角色的时候”。这句话很好地概括了景观之于我。

 

    Despite my young age and my short working experience, I have participated and been awarded in various design competitions for students. The more recent one came out a couple of weeks ago when my master project in the Architecture School of the NTUA “The Monastery of Holly Mary in Valtessinico, Arcadia (Greece)” was awarded an 2012 Award in the field of Student Work by the Faith and Form Magazine and The Interfaith Forum of Religion, Art and Architecture (IFRAA) chaired by the architect Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. My project will be published in the Winter 2012 Awards Issue of Faith & FormMagazine and will be displayed at the 2013 National Conventionof the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Denver, Colorado where the awards will be presented.

    Moreover, this past April I was awarded an American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) of Texas Honor Award in the field of general design Student Work among 36 submissions for the project “Maypole: Field of Remains”, a cemetery in Texas designed the second semester of my studies in UTSOA.

    While studying in NTUA, I participated in the 8thCommonwealth Association of ArchitectsInternational Students Competition in Sri Lanka: “A memorial to a memorable event”, where my team and I decided to design of a landscape memorial for the Battle in Thermopiles in 380 BC in the form of an experiential landscape design for the visitor to feel the historic events of the battle. The outcome of this competition was that we were awarded with the Second Star in 92 groups! That was indeed a very unique experience since it was for me the first time that my colleagues and I took the idea of designing a memorial for an extremely significant event that has been hidden by both geology and contemporary governmental opinions today, we brought back the question of what did this battle mean not only for Greece but for Europe as we know it today, and designed a space based on the strategy of the battle and the phases of the Persian domination. In other words we tried to inscribe history back in the landscape when the geology of the site tries to hide it.

    Last but not least, I will mention my participation in the Institute Nationale d’ Architecture de Strasburg Occult Space Workshop in March of 2009 organized by Jean-Jacques Virrot. There, my group won the Third Price in the design of Religious Building among 56 groups. That was an amazing experience I have to admit, since I was the only foreigner among a few hundred French students from all over the country and I had the opportunity to discuss and understand how other people think of sacred.

    I think by mentioning these awards and competition participations you notice a pattern in the choices I have made in my architecture career so far. I have always been interested in the sacred in space and the genesis of sacred place, and it wasn’t till the age of 22 that I realized that the reason for this interest had always been my phenomenological understanding of architecture. Furthermore, it was that understanding that turned me to landscape, following the words of Mircea Eliade (whom I have studied in depth for my Master Thesis in Architecture School) “when man takes upon himself the role of time”. That phrase summarizes the best what is landscape for me.

 

 

　　４、与你在国外的工作实践相比，土人的工作模式是有一定差异的，在土人的这段时间内，你有什么不同的感受？

　　Given your work experience overseas, the design practice of Turenscape must seem quite different. But during the time you have now spent in Turenscape, do you feel differently?

 

　　我的确在建筑方面有很多海外工作经验，特别是在塞浦路斯经济适用住房项目中。然而由于我只有25岁，我的职业经验也仅限于此，目前我正处于职业生涯的觉醒阶段。

　　目前在土人景观设计事务所工作的最大挑战，是接手非常巨大且重要项目的能力，这些项目改变了我们对景观世界的认识。在土人即使是一名实习生都能够在一个ASLA获奖项目中贡献力量，即使是一名实习生也能看到他的小想法变为蓝图，在几个月后甚至能同自己的建筑设计合影。这是土人和中国最独特的地方，这也是我非常享受这里的原因！

    I do have some working experience overseas in architecture, and especially in affordable housing projects in Cyprus, however my professional experience is limited to that, since I am only 25 years old and I am currently at the wake of my professional life.

    The biggest advantage of working in Turenscape, so far, is the ability to work in really big and important projects that change the way we know the world of landscape. In Turen even an intern can contribute to an ASLA award winning project; even an intern can see his small idea leaving the office in blueprints, and possibly within few months take photos of his design built. This is the most unique thing in Turenscape and China in my eyes, and this is why I enjoy much being here!

 

 

　　５、你去过中国的哪些城市？这个城市的主要特色是什么？您对这些城市的印象是什么？

　　Which Chinese cities have you visited? What was the main feature of that city? What impressions did the city leave you with?

 

　　我很幸运地游览过中国的几个城市：上海、苏州、西安、南京、昆明、普洱、西双版纳、秦皇岛、郑州和天津。从西双版纳的大象和热带雨林到秦皇岛土人事务所的项目，我必须承认中国是一个有魔力的地方！

我非常享受在云南旅游的经历，那里的食物也很美味！然而，我最喜欢的或许是西安的城市景观，苏州的留园及南京独特的树木创造出的美丽街道景观！

    I have been fortunate enough to have visited a few Chinese cities: Shanghai, Suzhou, Xian, Nanjing, Kunming, Pu’er, Xishuang Ba Na, Qinhuangdao, Qia’an, Zhengzhou, and Tianjin. From the elephants and tropical forests of Xishuang Ba Na, to the Turenscape landscape projects in Qinhuangdao, I have to admit China is a magical place!

    I did enjoy a lot my travelling around Yunan province, and the food there is absolutely delicious! But, I have enjoyed the most probably the urban landscape of Xi’an, the Lingering Gardens of Suzhou, and the amazing streetscape of Nanjing created only by the spacing of those SPECTACULAR trees!

 

 

　　６、怎样看待景观设计师这个角色？您认为景观设计师的责任是什么？

　　How do you see the role of landscape architects today? What do you think are our responsibilities as a profession?

 

　　这个问题困扰着整个我的整个职业生涯，并且在美国ASLA会议上每年都会讨论。在气候不断变化，城市化空前发展的当今社会中，景观设计师的角色同之前相比更为重要。我们有责任去深度探讨生态系统的价值，帮助当局做出正确的决定，创造出美丽的城市、考虑平等性、使人同环境和谐共存。景观是关于美的，但首先也是最重要的是教育人们何种景观设计的选择是对环境健康最好的，怎样恶劣的环境都能够变得比预期的更为美丽。

    Well this is a question that troubles the entire field and is vastly discussed in the US with the pick every year at the ASLA conference.

    In a world of changing climate and unprecedented urbanization the role of landscape architects is more significant than ever before. It is our obligation to study in depth how ecosystems worth and help the officials make the right decisions in creating healthy beautiful cities, regarding equity and bringing people to live in harmony with their environment. Landscape is about beauty as well, but first and foremost it is about educating people on what landscape design choice is best for environmental health and how messy nature can be more beautiful than expected.

 

 

　　７、你未来有什么样的计划？

       What future plans do you have?

 

　　嗯。期盼着，10月12日将会公布沃勒溪设计竞赛的结果，我将迎来一个长长的假期，享受我哥哥在希腊的婚礼！就我个人作为景观设计师的发展而言，我将在希腊进行学习和研究雅典Kephissos河景观的再设计，将指引城市成为更加生态和可持续的城市前景，或许还会尝试将我对该项目的理念发表。我知道目前看到这句话的每一个人都认为希腊目前存在着比这更为严重的问题，但是我却看到雅典即将开始发展了!

    Hmmmm. Fingers crossed, till October 12th I will be waiting to hear the results for the Waller Creek competition, and I will take a long needed break enjoying my brother’s wedding in Greece!

    But as far as my personal development as a landscape architect is concerned, I will spend my time in Greece studying and researching how the redesign of the landscape adjacent to the Kephissos River in Athens can guide the city to a true ecological and sustainable urban prospect and probably try to publish my ideas on this subject. I know everyone that reads this sentence will think that Greece has bigger problems than this right now, but the way I see things development in Athens is coming soon!