DOMA SUMMER SCHOOL 2026

Overview

DOMa Summer School 2026 in Irakleia concluded with a public presentation of the workshop outcomes, bringing to a close a week of observation, collaboration, hands-on experimentation, and meaningful engagement with the island and its community. Residents and visitors gathered at the School of Irakleia to discover the interventions developed throughout the week and discuss them with the participants and workshop curators.

The presentation opened with programme curators Thanasis Manis and Haris Biskos, who thanked the local community for its warm hospitality, this year’s Summer School participants, workshop leaders Anne Femmer and Florian Summa, and Mr Vangelis, a local builder from Irakleia whose expertise and assistance proved invaluable during the construction process. Reflecting on previous editions of the DOMa Summer School, the curators also highlighted the importance of educational experiences that take young architects beyond the academic environment, allowing them to test ideas under real-life conditions and engage directly with local materials, building practices, and the needs of a living community.

Florian Summa then spoke about the role of community as an integral part of the architectural process. He explained how each intervention was conceived in response to everyday life on the island and designed to become naturally embedded within its public space. He also emphasised the dedication and physical effort of the participants, who worked with remarkable commitment throughout the week.

On behalf of the students, Marta Smodlaka presented the interventions realised during the workshop: a new dry-stone wall incorporating a wooden bench; stools made of stone and metal rods; a table constructed from wooden logs and stone; and the restoration of the school’s football goals using old fishing nets. All of the interventions were made using materials found on Irakleia, demonstrating the potential of reuse, resourcefulness, and collective making.

The completed works are the outcome of a week-long process of observation, experimentation, and collaboration. Working under real-life conditions, the participants exchanged knowledge with the local community and explored architecture not simply as an act of design, but as an open and collective process shaped by place, materials, and people.

We would like to warmly thank the community of Irakleia for its hospitality and trust; the participants for their dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm; Anne Femmer and Florian Summa for the knowledge, time, and creative guidance they generously shared throughout the week; Mr Vangelis for his invaluable contribution; and everyone who helped make DOMa Summer School 2026 such a memorable experience.

See you next year, once again in Irakleia!

With the financial support and under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture