Charis Nika

Charis Nika is an architect, urbanist and researcher with an interest in the socio-political and environmental aspects of architecture and urbanism. She works as a researcher at the University of Cyprus’s Laboratory of Urbanism (LUCY) since 2021. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Cyprus (UCY), co-teaching the 3rd year Urban Design Studio, since 2022, and the 2nd year Urban Design Theory course, since 2025. Charis is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Architecture at UCY. Her research explores how critical spatial practices working with imagination and the future can present alternatives to the current context of neoliberal urbanisation and support spatial justice. Charis’ PhD research is supported by the ‘Evagoras’ scholarship of UCY and the IKY Cyprus State Scholarship. Charis holds an MSc in Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences from TU Delft (Cum Laude) and a BSc in Architectural Studies from Cardiff University (with Distinction). Charis is also a licensed architect. Prior to starting her PhD, she has practiced as an architect in architecture and urban design offices in the Netherlands and the UK. She has also worked on independent projects, some of which have been presented in Cyprus, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and in the 17th Biennale of Architecture in Venice.