Rafaella Siagkri

Rafaella Siagkri is a Lecturer in Interior Architecture at the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton. She is affiliated with the Built Environment, Architecture and Construction (BEACON) Research Excellence Group and the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing. Her work bridges architecture, cinema, and digital technologies, particularly Virtual Reality (VR).

Education:

• PhD in progress, University of Kent (2018–2025)
• MA in Architectural Visualisation, University of Kent (2017–2018)
• Master’s degree, University of Nicosia (2015–2016)
• Bachelor’s degree, University of Nicosia (2011–2015)

Her research explores the symbiotic relationship between architecture and cinema, focusing on how VR can be used to understand and preserve abstract and expressionist architectural forms, especially from early 20th-century film. She investigates VR’s role in visualisation, representation, and immersive experience in architectural and interior design contexts. Her work also touches on phenomenology, digital heritage, and how spatial design influences gender roles.

The recent research outputs reflect a strong trend in interdisciplinary work combining architecture, film studies, and human-computer interaction. Both publications emphasize VR as a medium for reconstructing and experiencing lost or abstract architectural forms, particularly from cinematic history. The themes center on cultural memory, immersive storytelling, and digital preservation.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed.

Advising and Grants:

Rafaella welcomes supervision of motivated students in areas including architecture-film connections, VR applications in design, digital space, and gender in architecture. While no specific grants or funded projects are mentioned, her active research output and participation in exhibitions suggest ongoing scholarly engagement.

Labs, Teams, and Research Groups:

She is a member of the Built Environment, Architecture and Construction (BEACON) Research Excellence Group and the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing at the University of Brighton. She has participated in events such as the Experimental Design Practices 2025 Summer Show and Drawing Out V, indicating collaboration with design and architecture teams. She also served on the program committee for the 2017 event 'Space and the Architecture of Compassion'.