Croquis by Qupa : architecture in jewellery
Croquis by Qupa jewellery line is inspired by architectural plans of famous monuments, museums and other landmarks in Greece and all over the world. For the first time, architectural plans are imprinted on precious metals at such a small scale, while maintaining their proportions and identity. In this way the value of each piece is enhanced, since it combines the elegance of the material and the structure with the cultural value of the imprinted monument.
Croquis by Qupa ornaments adopt a novel approach in depicting buildings and monuments. The designs solely rely on floor plans, which emphasize architecture and highlight luxury. The floor plan lies at the core of architectural design, since a visitor can recognise it only after he has wandered inside the different rooms and spaces of the building.
Being a two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional construction, the floor plan also provides a simpler and more direct way of representation. The floor plans are based on elements that maintain the original character of the building, even at the smallest scale. Croquis by Qupa are manufactured using classic moulding, 3d printing or laser cut, depending on the complexity of the floor plan.
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Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Located at the base of the Acropolis, Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built in 161 AD by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife Aspasia Anna Regilla. The pendant design uses both thick and thin lines to maintain the details of the structure while keeping the floor plan recognisable.
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The Rotunda of St. George
The Rotunda of St. George was build around 304 AD under the orders of the tetrarch Galerius, who wanted to be his mausoleum. It was later converted to a Christian church by the emperor Constantine until 1590 and to a mosque by the Ottomans until 1912. Today it is a historical monument and a museum.
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The Parthenon
This medallion is inspired by the Parthenon, the most prominent building of the Acropolis of Athens. The design is easily recognisable despite the use of the negative space of the floor plan . The Parthenon is a Doric order temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was completed in 438 BC and is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and western civilisation.
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Parthenon columns
Parthenon columns comes in two designs, stud earrings and pendant. They both represent the Doric columns of Parthenon. The Doric order is distinguished for its simplicity, rigour and monumentality.
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The Acropolis Museum
This necklace reflects the dynamic form of the new Acropolis museum designed in 2009 by the architect Bernard Tschumi. The museum was built to house the artefacts found on the rock of Acropolis.
Qupa is a Greece based creative arts brand formed in 2014 by Eleni Kouineli and Stefanos Papadatos, two architects who combined their passion for architecture and handicraft. Qupa designs and crafts objects that focus on form, originality and usability. The design process is inspired by architecture, sculpture and graphic arts. In a continuous search for new materials, the creative arts brand always tries to combine new technologies with handmade constructions.
Eleni Kouineli was born in Thessaloniki. She graduated from the Architecture School of University of Thessaly in 2005 and she holds a Mas (Master advanced studies) Degree in Genetic Architecture ESARQ, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya in 2008.
Stefanos Papadatos was born in Athens and graduated from the Architecture School of University of Thessaly in 2007. He has participated in numerous projects on architectural design and in international competitions. Stefanos’ work focuses on interior design for commercial spaces, installations and industrial products design.
