People

Prof. Dr. Philipp Misselwitz is CEO of Bauhaus Earth, a role he has held since 2021.

Philipp studied architecture and urbanism at Cambridge University and the Architectural Association in London.

After working as a global development consultant and curator and the completion of his Ph.D. in 2009 he became Professor of International Urbanism at Stuttgart University in 2010. Since 2013, he holds the Chair of the Habitat Unit at Technical University Berlin, a global research and teaching centre dedicated to advancing alternative material practices, planning approaches, and urban policies to foster and ecological sustainability in the built environment.

His research focuses on the impact of planetary, social, and ecological crises on architecture, urban development, and urban-rural relations.

Since 2017, Philipp has been a visiting professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and a partner at Urban Catalyst, a Berlin-based planning and design consultancy.

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Christiane Walter is Project Implementation Manager at Bauhaus Earth, where she connects research, talent, and stakeholders to advance projects to the next level.

Acting as a bridge between internal research efforts and external partners, she facilitates collaboration and oversees key administrative tasks such as contracts and finances to ensure continued smooth operations.

With a background in literature, media science, and sociology, Christiane combines her academic expertise with over 15 years of experience managing national and international projects at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

At Bauhaus Earth, she also contributes to the social science research team, focusing on participation, just transition, and equity.

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Valerie began her professional journey in tailoring and design before studying work and organisational psychology.

She went on to build the people function in a start-up and later worked in larger companies, combining people expertise with a passion for coaching, facilitation, and agile organisational development.

She is committed to helping people grow, improving processes, and creating workplaces where collaboration can thrive.

Outside work, she co-founded a think tank on equality to promote fair and inclusive cultures.

Benedikt Flock (he/him) leads all things Finance at Bauhaus Earth, drawing on extensive experience in climate tech startups, renewable energy project finance, and sustainability consulting.

He has led initiatives and teams across product, operations, and strategy, with a track record in FP&A and organizational development.

With a background in business economics and sustainability sciences, and a firm belief in regenerative principles, he brings a broad perspective to advancing Bauhaus Earth’s mission.

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Aseman Golshan Bahadori is Head of Communications at Bauhaus Earth. As a senior communications strategist, Aseman has a rich background in working with social impact organisations, using her expertise to effectively convey their missions and values.

In addition to her strategic role, Aseman is a published writer and senior editor, with extensive experience in content production across various media platforms, including film, print, and digital products.

In her spare time, she pursues her passion for poetry and non-fiction writing. Aseman's academic foundation lies in social and political sciences.

She holds a Master of Science degree in migration studies and quantitative research methods. This background informs her professional work, particularly in understanding and communicating complex social issues.

Caroline Wolf joined Bauhaus Earth as Interim Head of Communications in 2024.

She is a trained architect specialised in communication, with a passion for conveying how architecture and urban planning shape our lives and are crucial to a sustainable future.

Over her career, Caroline has built an extensive network and developed her expertise in strategic communication.

She has worked with a diverse range of clients — from small architecture studios to large firms, commercial developers to foundations, and cultural exhibitions such as the German Pavilion at the Architecture Biennale Venice.

She has shared her love for architecture through writing for media, curating and designing exhibitions, and teaching at Bard College Berlin.

When she’s not working, Caroline is happiest exploring both cities and the countryside, uncovering stories about places and spaces that deserve to be told.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber served as Founding Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) from 1992 to 2018 and as Director Emeritus until 2024. Driven by his growing focus on the climate restorative potential of regenerative architecture and the transformation of the built environment, he founded Bauhaus Earth in 2019. He also serves on the New European Bauhaus High-Level Roundtable. In 2023, Dr. Schellnhuber started a new role as Director General of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. He is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, and a member of prestigious academies such as the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the German National Academy Leopoldina, and the US National Academy of Sciences. Recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher, Dr. Schellnhuber has authored more than 300 publications spanning fundamental physics, complex systems analysis, climate research, and sustainability science.

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Prof. Dr. Jürgen P. Kropp serves as Deputy Chair of the Department of Climate Resilience at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and leads the Urban Transformation Research group. He also holds an extraordinary professorship in sustainable development and climate change at the University of Potsdam. With a background in chemistry and physics, his research focuses on the systematic analysis of complex human-environment interactions, particularly addressing urban transformation challenges. His work includes urban climate modelling, heat stress, emissions profiling, damage and structural assessments of cities, and developing solutions. He is the founder of the award-winning Climate Media Factory, an innovative media lab that has created over 100 "edutainment" films, games, and digital tools aimed at bridging science and public engagement.

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Marc Weissgerber is one of the co-founders of Bauhaus Earth and Executive Director of E3G, a leading international climate change think tank advancing the transition to a low-carbon future. He previously served as Group Managing Director of the European Institute of Technology Climate, as Managing Director and CFO of Veolia, the world’s largest environmental services provider. Marc also held senior international leadership roles at E.ON. He is a founding member of the Economic Council of a ruling party, a Management Group Member of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and a member of its Expert Group on Energy and Climate. Additionally, he serves on the advisory board of the Amazonia Impact Venture. Marc has advised the United Nations, the European Investment Bank, global investment funds, strategy consultancies, and corporations in the cleantech and sustainable investment sectors. He holds Master’s degrees from Frankfurt University and the University of Cambridge, with additional education from Oxford and Harvard.

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Patrizia Haggenmüller is an urban planner with experience in project development and strategic consulting for urban development. Patrizia leads the project “Built by Nature Germany”, where she is responsible for the strategic establishment of a network to promote nature-based building materials in the German-speaking region. Previously, she worked as an internal consultant for urban development. Patrizia was an urban planning trainee at the Berlin Senate, where she gained valuable insights into municipal urban planning and the strategic management of construction projects. Her professional career began at the Bundesstiftung Baukultur, where she focused on promoting high quality architecture and design excellence.  
With her expertise in conceptual and strategic development, Patrizia Haggenmüller is driving forward innovative solutions for a sustainable built environment and the transformation of urban spaces.

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Paul Bostanjoglo is Project Lead of Built by Nature Germany, where he is responsible for the strategic development of a network to promote nature-based building materials in the German-speaking region. He has a background in urban design and law and previously worked as a project lead for new construction and renovation at the Berlin-based housing cooperative “Am Ostseeplatz” eG. He began his professional career at the Edith Maryon Foundation and has since been involved in the development of various real estate projects in Berlin and Brandenburg, focusing on creating sustainable and inclusive living and working environments.

Dr Anne Holsten is a Senior Researcher at Bauhaus Earth. She holds a PhD in Geoecology and has previously worked as a Project Coordinator at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. She specialises in quantifying the availability and environmental benefits of nature-based construction materials. Anne leads our scenario-based research on the future global supply and demand for materials, with the aim of meeting housing needs while transforming the built environment from a carbon emitter into a carbon sink.

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Georg Hubmann is an urban designer and political scientist coordinating the Regional Study of the ReBuilt project at Bauhaus Earth. His work focuses on circular and regenerative practices in architecture and urban design. He is particularly interested in the socio-ecological aspects of material value chains. Having studied in Berlin, Madrid, and Shanghai, Georg has worked on climate action plans for several European cities and has spearheaded numerous community participation initiatives. As a doctoral candidate at TU Berlin, his research delves into political ecology, urban metabolism, and transformation studies, all within the context of addressing climate change.

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Dr. Gediminas Lesutis is a Senior Research Lead with a wealth of experience in qualitative research, policy analysis, international stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. At Bauhaus Earth, he leads the Regenerative Material Atlas study’s scientific and methodological approach, ensures analytical quality, and advises on key methodological and scientific decisions, publications, and research priorities. Gediminas is the author of The Politics of Precarity (2022), and his interdisciplinary research on urbanism, intersectionality, and social justice has been published in globally leading human geography journals. Before joining Bauhaus Earth, Gediminas taught and conducted research at the Universities of Cambridge and Amsterdam and earned his PhD in Politics from the University of Manchester.

Dr. Chaohui Li is a senior researcher at Bauhaus Earth. Chaohui studied economics, systems ecology, and fluid mechanics for a Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD at Peking University. She is also a visiting scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in the Urban Transformation Group. Her research interests include studying the interactions between the climate and human system, particularly how the economic system affects the environment and how the environment impacts humans in return. Her work includes input-output modelling, emission accounting, climate modelling, land use modelling, niche modelling, econometrics, etc. At Bauhaus Earth, she oversees the publication of the Rebuilt Global team, which aims to understand the possibility and feasibility of transforming the future built environment into a carbon sink.

Rosa Hanhausen is a researcher and project lead at Bauhaus Earth. She currently heads research on the regenerative reconstruction of Ukraine. She is the editor of the Bauhaus Earth Manuals and Essay Series and also supports the Experimental Fellowship.Before earning her M.Sc. in Urban Design at TU Berlin, Rosa co-founded a design and art direction studio in Mexico City, working on projects of various scales. Since joining Bauhaus Earth in 2022, she has led exhibition projects such as Mass is More, an intervention at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, and Energy Shapes the City, a contribution to the exhibition Transform! Designing the Future of Energy at the Vitra Design Museum.

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Eda is a trained architect with a background in applied research, sustainable materials, and computational design. She holds a B.Sc. in Architectural Sciences from Politecnico di Milano and an M.Sc. from the ITECH programme at the University of Stuttgart. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate at the University of Kassel. Eda applies her interdisciplinary expertise to drive progress toward net-zero and circular economy goals. At Bauhaus Earth, she supports fellows in developing their projects, manages external partnerships, and ensures alignment with Bauhaus Earth’s mission.

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Theresa Zschäbitz (she/her) is an architect who leads the Bodendreieck and K12 projects at Bauhaus Earth. She also manages the Prototyping Workshop. Theresa specialises in material innovation and experiential knowledge transfer, developing materials, prototypes and demonstration buildings. She bridges research, craft and industry to advance regenerative and scalable construction. Previously, she co-led teaching and research on earth and bio-based architecture with BC architects & studies & materials at RWTH Aachen University.

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Cristina is an architectural engineer and visual designer. Her professional path has included roles as architect, urban planner, and researcher at various institutions and studios. She holds a Master’s degree in Architectural Engineering from the Università degli Studi di Pisa and a Postgraduate Master in Visual Design from the Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan. She has undertaken research and teaching assignments in Germany and Italy and contributed to exhibitions and publications in the fields of architecture and urbanism.

Cristina works across scales — from exhibitions and public-space interventions to building renovation and landscape-related projects. She also develops visual and graphic communicationfor architecture and urbanism. Her research focuses on urban design processes, new urban mobility, and how spatial transformation can be communicated and evaluated in response to societal and environmental challenges.

At Bauhaus Earth, she leads the development of a digital tool for participatory decision-making in bio-based renovation.

Diana is a project lead and researcher at Bauhaus Earth. She holds an MSc in Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design from Universität Stuttgart and a BA in Architecture from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá.She has contributed to a wide range of projects, including climate adaptation initiatives, international collaborations, and award-winning architectural work.Her expertise spans project coordination, research, and design. She focuses on regenerative development, participatory approaches, and bamboo value chains.Diana has worked as a Senior Architect at Simón Vélez Architects, a Research Assistant at Universität Stuttgart, and a Researcher at UN-Habitat. In these roles, she led transdisciplinary teams and delivered innovative, impactful projects.

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Hannah is a researcher working at the intersection of urban systems and material logistics. With a background in Geography and Sustainable Cities, she brings a spatial and systems-oriented lens to the complex flows of building materials and resources. She has experience in urban waste management and the development of circular economy strategies aimed at reducing resource use and promoting reuse across sectors. Hannah is particularly interested in the value chains that shape the built environment – and how they can be reimagined to support a regenerative and sustainable use of materials.

Christian Jonathan is a researcher and project lead at Bauhaus Earth, focusing on bio-based and circular construction, with an emphasis on design strategies, sustainable materials, and value chains in African contexts. He has worked across Kenya, Nigeria, and Italy, particularly on affordable housing and circular material initiatives. Christian is a co-founder of Afro-Reuse, a platform for construction material reuse. His work builds on his doctoral research in Technological and Environmental Design of Architecture at Politecnico di Milano. He also holds an MA in Architecture and Building Engineering from the IUAV University of Venice.

At Bauhaus Earth, he co-leads the development of regenerative, scalable, bio-based construction solutions that are grounded in local resources.

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Adrian Foong is an environmental scientist and researcher at Bauhaus Earth. His work focuses on analyzing building material supply and demand, as well as evaluating the climate-mitigation potential of the built environment using carbon-quantification methods. With extensive experience in data analysis and scientific writing, Adrian has previously contributed to studies on climate-related security risks and has supported various projects and workshops related to climate diplomacy.

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Dr. Lemlem Habtemariam is a researcher at Bauhaus Earth. Her work focuses on assessing resource availability and evaluating the climate benefits of bio-based construction materials, drawing on strong expertise in quantitative and data-driven research methods. Previously, she contributed to research projects at several institutes, including the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. There, she examined the implications of climate change, land-use decision-making and risk management mechanisms for agricultural systems and rural livelihoods across multiple countries in the Global South. She has also contributed to projects in a start-up context focused on regenerative agriculture and carbon sequestration.
Lemlem holds a PhD in Agriculture and an MSc in Forest Ecology.

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Aleksandr Karpov is a forest researcher at Bauhaus Earth, specialising in sustainable wood supply through global forest data collection and analysis within the ReBuilt project. Holding a Master’s in Geo-Information Technologies, his work focuses on climate resilience, sustainable forest management, and the use of GIS and remote sensing technologies to address forest ecosystem challenges. Currently completing his PhD, Aleksandr’s research explores forest health monitoring and the climate impacts on ecosystems. His work employstools such as LiDAR, thermal, and hyperspectral data. His hands-on experience managing reforestation projects and cultivating seedlings for restoration reflects his strong commitment to advancing sustainable forestry solutions.

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Alisa has expertise across multiple scales, from urban planning and landscape architecture to building construction, enabling her to approach projects holistically. Her work explores the potential of nature-based materials in combination with local material contexts, construction knowledge, and practical building traditions to address future housing needs. She currently focuses on the Indonesian context, building on prior experience across other regions of the world. Outside her professional work, she draws inspiration from nature through gardening and cooking.

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Francesca Brecha has held roles in research, communications, and policy at Bauhaus Earth. The core of her work lies in engaging diverse audiences and stakeholders with complex technical topics related to regenerative building — whether policymakers, planners, the public, or schoolchildren. Francesca holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University and a dual Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Mobility from TU Berlin and the University of Buenos Aires. Outside her professional work, she is active in movements advocating for tenants’ rights in Berlin and for the participation of migrants and refugees in urban life.

Amelia Mega Djaja is an architect and urban researcher whose work bridges architectural practice and research, focusing on regenerative building strategies and the socio-ecological dimensions of the built environment through participatory approaches. She is particularly interested in the role of bio-based materials and value chains in advancing climate-resilient and equitable construction practices in Indonesia. Amelia remains partially active with Architecture Sans Frontières Indonesia, where she has contributed to socially engaged design processes with urban communities in Jakarta.

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Felix Exton-Smith is a Researcher for the Regenerative Materials Atlas project, where he co-leads the European case studies and contributes to material demand and environmental impact analyses along with strategic planning. With a background in architecture and urban design, Felix is particularly interested in how market dynamics and urban governance can drive regenerative transformation in the built environment. He brings technical expertise in BIM modelling, visualisation and Life Cycle Assessment, with published research on nature-based building applications.

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Arushi Gupta is an environmental scientist and interdisciplinary researcher with an M.A. in Social Work and an M.Sc. in Natural Resource Management. Her work is enriched by her experience in spatial and participatory planning. As part of the ReBuilt regional team, she coordinates research activities for the Bhutan project. Arushi also contributes to the ongoing study of forest-based bio-economies for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

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As an architect and researcher, Lanhua Weng is part of the Global Scoping Study team, contributing to the Regenerative Material Atlas project. Building on her academic background in architecture and architectural typology, her research focuses on regenerative architecture and material-driven design strategies that support the transformation and reuse of existing built environments. Her work investigates the role of architectural typologies, material systems, and theoretical frameworks in advancing sustainable, post-fossil spatial practices.

Erick is an architect and researcher with experience across multiple scales, from architectural to urban design. With a background in Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design, he focuses on regenerative design practices that promote equitable, low-carbon regional value chains for biobased construction materials, strengthening their social and ecological networks. He is currently involved in developing integrated strategies for responsible, hybrid biobased construction.

Gian Marco Morigi is a Researcher, driving regenerative urbanism through ecosystem stewardship, policy innovation, and stakeholder collaboration. Within the ReBuilt project, he leads the Transformation Lab Cape Town case study, focusing on circular construction, nature-based materials, and roadmaps for sustainable urban transformation in the Western Cape. His work bridges scientific analysis with actionable strategies, engaging policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders. With a background in architecture and urban design (Politecnico di Milano, TU Berlin), Gian Marco specialises in urban sustainability, climate resilience, and knowledge transfer. His expertise includes nature-based solutions, decarbonisation and compensation strategies, climate and nature protection frameworks, and innovative governance models for equitable and climate-positive development.

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Kéan (he/him) is a researcher and urban designer who explores nature-based pathways for sustainable transformation in the built environment. With a background in architecture and urban design (TU Munich, TU Berlin), he approaches urbanisation and spatial planning as multi-scalar, socio-ecological processes, integrating perspectives from design, planning, and environmental thinking. Focussing on interdisciplinary ways of working and drawing on skills in design, planning, storytelling, and visual communication, Kéan works at the intersection of academic research and actionable spatial practice.

Patricia Jeglitsch (she/her) leads the Holz-Lehm-Hybrid project at Bauhaus Earth. She is a researcher working at the intersection of technical and material innovation, prototyping and application, with a focus on regenerative building materials and the advancement of circular value chains. She translates research into built demonstrators at different scales and continuously refines methods for project-accompanied applied research. With a Master’s degree in architecture, she has gained experience across all project phases, integrating ecological systems and vernacular building practices. Inspired by the diversity of global building traditions, her work has taken her to countries including Portugal, Brazil, South Africa and Thailand. Notably, she initiated a renovation project in Porto that resulted in Portugal’s first urban hemp–lime building.

Tino Imsirovic is an urban designer and researcher in the ReBuilt project. He leads the Bhutan Case Study, focusing on developing pathways for a circular and regenerative construction sector in Bhutan. He holds an M.Sc. in Urban Design and, as a researcher at TU Berlin, contributed to global projects on urban-rural urbanization in Germany and China, as well as water-sensitive urban development in Southeast Asia. Beyond academia, Tino has worked as a freelance urban designer working on participatory planning projects in Germany and the UK.

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Tobias Seydewitz brings a unique academic and professional background to his role as a researcher at Bauhaus Earth. His career spans hands-on work as an arborist and lumberjack, as well as scientific research at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. With an MSc in Forest Information Technology and a BA in Bioinformatics, he plays a pivotal role in the ReBuilt Global Study and Timberhaus projects, where he investigates sustainable timber sourcing strategies in the context of climate change and urban development. When Tobias is not focused on trees, he’s climbing rocks – a passion he enjoys sharing with the next generation as a volunteer youth coach.

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David Bauer (he/him) is a chartered architect and urban researcher, currently leading work on East and West Africa within the Hilti Global Study.

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Sebastian Klemm is a Master Carpenter and the lead craftsman at Bauhaus Earth, overseeing our workshop – the lab. With extensive experience in interior design, complex furniture making, and structural timber construction, Sebastian is responsible for turning the Bauhaus Earth’s prototypes into functional, real-world creations.

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Clare Murray (she/her) is Strategy and Market Development Lead at Bauhaus Earth. She focuses on evaluating and advancing market opportunities for nature-based materials. She brings applied research experience across climate and energy systems, spanning finance, industry and agriculture. Her work includes translating climate scenarios into risk metrics for financial institutions. She has contributed to developing corporate climate target-setting at the Science Based Targets initiative and developed carbon removal methodologies for regenerative agriculture. Clare holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Renewable Energy Management, and has worked across Europe, Latin America and Australia.

Cara Emberger (she/her) supports Bauhaus Earth as a student assistant for material innovations and development. She holds a BA in Art and Multimedia and Media Informatics from LMU Munich and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Architecture at the University of the Arts Berlin. Cara is actively engaged in her academic community, contributing to a student-led café and having previously served as a student representative at the Institute of Architecture and Urban Studies at UdK Berlin.

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Lisa Vescovi (she/her) supports Bauhaus Earth as a Student Assistant. She has studied and worked in Germany, Italy and Japan and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Architecture at TU Berlin. Her work focuses on the intersection of ecological and social dimensions of architecture, with a strong interest in hands-on practice.

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Amalia Ardian (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Technical University of Berlin. During her Master's studies Amalia had the opportunity to take part in various participatory projects in an international context. Her interests range from vernacular architecture and public spaces to co-creation processes and participatory planning. Currently, Amalia is pursuing a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the Technical University of Berlin.

Alec Rovensky (he/him) works as a student assistant at Bauhaus Earth. He is supporting research into nature based building materials for the Regenerative Material Atlas. He is pursuing an M.Sc. in Architecture Typology at the Technische Universität Berlin on a Fulbright Study Grant. Previously he oversaw the creation of a new overnight residency programme for designers on Governors Island in New York. He holds a B.Arch from the Syracuse University School of Architecture where he completed his thesis about the integration of ceramic and digital fabrication methods.

Sonny O’Neill (he/him) has a background in urban socio-ecological research with experience in the UK, Germany, and Finland. His academic interests have spanned the intersection of social class, urban food systems, biodiversity, infrastructure, and place attachment. His previous professional experience includes academic research focusing on food systems and international development in Germany, as well as practical experience in a timber-based construction firm in the UK.

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Currently pursuing a Master at UdK Berlin, Gloria Berthold has a keen interest in bio-based materials, woodworking, material reuse, and circular systems. She is driven by a passion for contributing to climate justice. Gloria assists the workshop team in planning and executing projects.

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