Sara Shafiei

Sara Shafiei graduated from the Bartlett school of Architecture (UCL) under the tuition of Dr Marcos Cruz and Dr. Marjan Colletti with distinction in design and thesis. She was the Bartlett recipient of the Sir Banister Fletcher Bronze Medal for the highest marks awarded in final year examination, 3D REID prize for the best final year diploma project, and the Hamilton Associates prize for excellence in design process.

Sara’s work delves into the relationship of new architectural interventions in order to produce a contemporary style rich in textures, patterns and layers. She has been able to travel to research these interests further in 2008, through receiving the KPF/ Architecture Foundation Public Space Travel Award.

In 2008 she received TECU Architecture Award for her innovative use of copper cladding for her project entitled ‘Theatre for Magicians’. Here her interests in excess baroque ornamentation translated into a project that harnessed the use of modern technology to create an ornamental theatre influenced by magic and illusion.

Her work is exhibited internationally (Royal Academy of Art Summer Exhibition 2008, 2009- Winner of the Royal Academy of Arts Worshipful Company of Charted Architects best drawing prize), and The Museum of Art and Design, New York. Shafiei has also been published in AD-Protoarchitecture (edited by Bob Sheil, 2008), Wallpaper magazine, London interiors magazine, Icon magazine, BD and The Architects Journal. She is one of the authors at Deletedscenes magazine and in 2009 co-authored “Digital architecture: Passages Through Hinterlands”.

Her work with bamboo is also noted worldwide with exhibitions in Bogata, Lima, Kassel and London as well as publications including ‘Visionary Bamboo Designs for Ecological Living’ (co-published by INBAR in Beijing) and ‘Innovation in Bamboo’ (Sandu Publication).

Sara formed ‘saraben studio’ with Ben Cowd in 2007. Their self-titled exhibition at dreamspace gallery won critical acclaim in late 2007.

Sara currently teaches undergraduate and post-graduate at The Leicester School of Architecture (LSA), and is a visiting critic at The Architecture Association, Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture - Paris, Bartlett School of Architecture, Westminster University, Oxford Brookes, London South Bank University, Cardiff University and has run workshops at the AA, and Brighton University.