Alina Alimzhanova is a diploma student at Architectural Association School of Architecture, living between London and Almaty.
Initially coming from the artistic background, graduating from Fine Art school in Almaty and getting into Central Saint Martins to chose the path within the art industry, allowed me to experience spatial design through art first. My work has always reflected the inner debate of art vs. design, where the role of an architect lies within the realm of designing experiences, objects, performances, functions and a role of an artist to elevate the presence of those fields and give them new values.
After completion of the Diploma Program, I am intended to gain my RIBA part 3 at Architectural Association in London, while working for the design firms like Asif Khan Architects that has design projects in Kazakhstan, like redevelopping of the cultural hub Tseliniiy in Almaty, or Studio Olafur Eliasson, where art is beleived to create space sensitive to both individual and collective.
Experience
Levelstudio
Architectural Assistant
2018
I held a position of Architectural Designer at the small office in Almaty, where I was involved in developping the strategy for gentrification of the green plot in the city centre, presenting the public intervention planning to the mayor of the city.
IT Engeneering
Architectural Assistant
2015-2016
Working at the biggest construction site in the country, for such an inspiring project like EXPO with its topic of Future Energy at that time was a great opportunity. It allowed me to be experience extreme environments: curating construction and design development at the -30 degrees with an office location on site in the shipping contaners. I was involved in the design of the main Pavillion - the Sphere, collaborating with a team of inspiring individuals from KCA International, Space Agency, Light Touch
Freelance
Interior designer, painter, illustrator, photographer
An opportunity to express myself and my art passion in variety of mediums and topics, ranging from the book publishing with the personal illustrations to the commisions for private residential and office conversions.
Education
Masters at Architectural Association
2019-current
Studying at AA has allowed me to experience a unique environment, workig side by side with the most intellectual individuals where conversation lies within the topics of architecture, its theory, implication and impact on the society. In an environment that gets you as close to a proffessional practice system as it can, with the unit selection procedure at the beginning of the year similar to the job interviews, to the final year tables similar to the client presentation. It has taught me not just how to envision and dream bigger than usual, but also to deal with stress, daily deadlines, printing queues and the competition of the talents around.
Bachelors at Central Saint Martins
2011-2014
Being the first generation of students to move to the iconique Kings Cross campus, allowed me to work, collaborate and ne inspired by the mixture of the artistic crowd, from fashion designers to ceramic sculptors and curators. It was a great experience, both challenging and faschinating at the same time, as it has oepned me to the new path at the time, path into architecture.