Newly elected to the ArchiTeam Board at the 2024 Annual General Meeting, we ask Karen Erdos 5 questions to find out a little more about her.
Karen is the Director in Charge of the Advocacy Portfolio.
Who are you?
My name is Karen Erdos. I grew up in Sydney and moved to Melbourne 6 years ago (yes- just before the pandemic- sigh!). I graduated from UNSW and have been working as an Architect for 20+ years- in and amongst adventuring around the world and pausing to be a full-time mamma to three kids.
What do you do?
I have run my own architecture practice - Karen Erdos Architecture since 2013. I work on residential projects and more recently I have focused on Passive House design after qualifying as a Certified Passive House designer 5 years ago. I also tutor at RMIT and Monash University, sharing my knowledge and experience, primarily in environmental principles and technology with the next generation of architects.
I am very passionate about working in a way that contributes to the solution, and not the problem with regards to the impact our buildings have on the environment- both in terms of carbon emissions, but also our own health through healthy materials and the impact on our wellbeing through joyful, happy and efficient spaces.
This passion was broadened into more of a question of urban design when I developed an interest in urban farming, and with a small team, founded an organisation in Sydney devoted to growing food in our cities and suburbs. We launched Pocket City Farms, and I served as a founding Board member for multiple years.
When not working, I love to adventure in the outdoors, particularly in the ocean- recently having taken up surfing- which is my new obsession! I love going to gigs and festivals and camping or travelling with my family. I used to be a painter, including holding two solo exhibitions, but that has taken a back seat lately. Maybe one day I’ll get back to it!
Who do you admire and why?
Professionally, the late Paul Pholeros AM - founder of Healthabitat, (amongst many achievements) – has always been an inspiration to me. I was lucky enough to encounter him while working on a university project back in the day, and he taught me that architecture is about so much more than the glamorous image we see in journals, and has the capacity to make significant positive change to people’s lives with small functional (non- glamourous) interventions. I am still striving to achieve this kind of positive impact by drawing on this inspiration.
Personally, I admire all of the amazing and strong women in my life, who continually achieve such incredible feats at home, in their workplace and in the greater community.
What has been your most scary/courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Back in 2011, after spending many years focused on residential work in the wealthy suburbs of Sydney, I heard of an organisation called The Anganwadi Project run through Architects Without Frontiers.
The challenge was to spend multiple months designing and overseeing the construction of small schools onsite in the slums of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. I was newly married and knew nothing about the living conditions, or people I would be living and working with, but it resonated with me and felt like the kind of practice that drew me to architecture in the first place; so I took the plunge and threw myself into it.
Needless to say- it was a lifechanging experience, both personally and professionally. It was a great lesson in taking risks in life- with greater outcomes from greater risks!
What is it about ArchiTeam that made you want to get involved?
I joined ArchiTeam when I first moved to Melbourne, as it was little known in Sydney at the time. I got involved because I was approached by a friend, and it struck me as a positive and engaging way to find the support and community that I greatly needed being in a new town. It has evolved and grown from there and I’m really looking forward to continuing to contribute now as a Board member and through my role as Advocacy Committee Chair and Director.