Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra

Short Bio: Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and grew up in Limassol, Cyprus. She studied architecture in the United Kingdom and Cyprus, and today she runs the architectural research laboratory “The way space begins” in Limassol. She collaborates with the CYENS Research Centre, the MaaSlab Institute, nextbike CY and the Organization for Positive Urbanism (OPU) on the development of innovative applications and services in the fields of built environment, urban greenery, mobility and energy. In recent years, within the framework of the European Cities Mission 2030 program, she collaborated with the Municipality of Limassol, coordinating the preparation of the city’s strategy to achieve Climate Neutrality.

A PhD Researcher in Architecture with Frederick University, EU Climate Pact Ambassador, children’s book author and member of environmental standardization committees both in Cyprus and Europe, Penelope researches and discovers every day new ways in which she can contribute with care to addressing the global climate crisis.