Students 2024

Roma Adhikari is a dedicated architect from Bhutan with a profound commitment to sustainable urban development, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. As one of the pioneering architects in her country, she was among the first cohort to study architecture at the Royal University of Bhutan, where she excelled academically, earning prestigious accolades, including the Presidential Scholarship. With professional experience spanning both India and Bhutan, Roma brings a unique perspective to her work, strongly influenced by Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness philosophy, which prioritizes a balance of economic, social, and environmental well-being.
Currently, Roma is a key team member at APECS Consultancy, where she has contributed to several notable architectural and urban development projects, including the Om Chhu Riverfront development and the design of a Material Recovery Facility for North Thimphu. Her commitment to community extends to her volunteer work, where she has designed infrastructure for LHAK-SAM, an organization that supports individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and developed architectural models for a Hindu temple.
Motivated by a vision to foster sustainable urbanism in Bhutan, Roma aspires to deepen her knowledge and skills through the MSc IUSD Double Degree program. Her personal interests, such as volunteering at animal rescue centers and engaging in carpentry, reflect her dedication to community, creativity, and service.

Shraddha Adhikari is an Architect from Nepal, committed to sustainable development and improving quality of life in her local communities. Graduating from Kathmandu Engineering College in 2019, she developed a thesis project for an “Animal Welfare Center” in Kathmandu, incorporating Animal-Aided Design to align urban planning with conservation goals. Recognized in the ‘Thesis Exhibition 2019’ at the Institute of Engineering, her project inspired her focus on holistic, inclusive spatial design.
Her professional experience includes four years in Kathmandu, working on eco-friendly residential buildings, flood-resilient structures, and projects tailored to Nepal’s environmental needs. She believes rural and urban planning must complement each other in developing countries, as the absence of one limits the effectiveness of the other. Currently, Shraddha is a key member of Everest Construction & Consultants SARL in Guinea, West Africa, where she contributes to high-rise apartment and industrial facility designs.
Shraddha chose to pursue the IUSD master’s program to deepen her expertise in holistic urban and rural design, especially with strategies vital for developing countries like Nepal. Her overarching career objective is to create sustainable and inclusive cities,  aiming to improve the quality of life for vulnerable urban communities in her home country.

Habiba Al Harrasi (Muscat, Oman) obtained her BSc in 2021 from The German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech), where she studied Urban Planning and Architectural Design (UPAD).  During her studies, she was introduced to the concept of adaptive reuse and renewal of neglected spaces, participating in workshops and excursions abroad with an intent to explore the possibilities of integrating historical contexts into modern urban environments. In 2020, she joined a semester exchange program in UHasselt, Belgium, which lead her to the various approaches culture has on influencing the different design thinking, creating more holistic ideals towards spaces. With a passion for the arts in multidisciplinary terms, these interests have influenced her Bachelor Thesis; The Interaction of Art and Architecture through circular approaches and adaptive re-use methods” where she worked on repurposing an abandoned textile building-turned parking lot in Mutrah, focusing on ways to reinvite the public in to prevent the occurring hazardous activities. Before joining IUSD, she worked as a teaching and research assistant at GUtech for two years, in parallel she began experimenting with artistic installations, photography and enhancing her BIM skills. Post IUSD, she aims to establish an organization in Oman that is dedicated to repurposing abandoned spaces for cultural and social purposes.

Isaac Ataaba is a young urban planner from Ghana. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Development Planning in 2019 from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, graduating among the top five percent of his class. His undergraduate thesis focused on assessing the effectiveness of the National Sanitation Day celebration in Ghanaian cities, identifying the challenges urban areas face in maintaining cleanliness, and proposing sustainable waste management solutions to enhance urban liveability.

Isaac has accumulated approximately three years of professional experience as an Urban Planner with PSS Urbania Consult Limited, one of Ghana's leading urban consultancy firms. At PSS Urbania, he has contributed to a variety of national, bilateral, and multilateral projects, including preparing Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDP), conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), climate-resilient urban planning, drafting Resettlement Action Plans (RAP), and reviewing public policies.

As an urban planner, Isaac is passionate about climate-resilient, sustainable cities, urban design, and smart city concepts. His commitment to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities) motivates his ambition to further explore urban planning, design and sustainability, with a focus on integrating smart city design and programming. He aims to position himself as a cutting-edge urban planner.

Haritha B Nair comes from India and received her Bachelor of Architecture from RIT Government Engineering College in Kottayam, Kerala. After graduating, she gained significant knowledge in sustainable architecture during her two-year work experience in Auroville, India, which is recognized as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness. In the realm of architecture, she embraced a deeply personal perspective, believing that architecture should connect on a profound level with individuals and their unique experiences. She is driven by the ambition to create designs that not only enrich the lives of society and its people but also leave a positive, lasting impact on nature. In every architectural endeavor, she makes it a priority to avoid wastage and minimize environmental impact within my capacity. She firmly believes that a conscious and thoughtful approach to architecture can enhance people's lives while preserving the beauty and balance of the environment. She also believes in the importance of designing both built and unbuilt environments in a way that improves people's physical and mental well-being, going beyond just their physical layouts.

Fatemeh Borji obtained a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Iran University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in urbanism engineering from the University of Bojnourd. Her master's thesis explored the effects of local pedestrianism on quality of life, and during her master's thesis, she found her passions in urban sustainability and social life. Her research contributions include several published papers, addressing various aspects of urban life such as the formation of urban transportation and the factors influencing local walkability. She has followed her interests in Transportation Planning, Sustainable Development, Social Planning, Public health, and Quality of Life. Professionally, she served as an Urban Planning Expert at Aso Shahre Midia (ASM) Consulting Engineers from 2020 to 2022, where she focused on data analysis, land use planning, and socio-economic assessments.
Additionally, she was a key member in projects that aimed to enhance social interactions in public spaces and develop resilience indicators for urban development. Her academic and practical experiences uniquely position her to contribute to sustainable urban planning initiatives. She would like to continue her studies and expand her knowledge in areas such as promoting sustainable transportation, optimizing urban spaces, and designing livable neighborhoods. She wants to pursue her passion for the development of sustainable cities and find innovative solutions to improve the quality of urban areas, and IUSD is a perfect fit to develop her knowldege and aligns her researh interests.

Gréta Fazekas is a landscape architect with a passion for creating vibrant, livable cities. Originally from a small village in Hungary, she values a strong sense of community and aims to recreate this connection in urban settings. Her academic background includes a bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture, Urban Management, and Design from Budapest, where she developed an interest in participatory planning, tactical urbanism and sustainable city development.
Gréta's hands-on experience spans large-scale urban planning and small-scale garden design. She contributed to revitalizing an abandoned area in Budapest and engaged in practical projects like playground and front yard designs. She held roles in urban design and digital cartography at Budapest’s 8th district Municipality and the National Land Center and assisted the chief gardener at Tata Municipality.
Inspired by architecture, art, and nature, Gréta sees her profession as a means to enhance everyday urban life. She is particularly interested in the IUSD, and eager to address challenges related to housing, climate, and urban aesthetics. Gréta's goal is to design spaces that are walkable, green, and welcoming places where people come together and thrive.

Walter studied Architecture in Bogotá, Colombia, where he is from. He has developed his professional experience in projects of various uses, including single-family homes, shopping centers, and multi-family housing, working with clients, construction companies, and design workshops. He has been involved from the conceptualization stages through the development of technical documentation and design coordination to monitoring during construction.
Throughout his professional experience, he has been interested in the use, implementation, and promotion of BIM methodology in the different companies he has been a part of, using it as a tool to optimize processes and integrate designs from various disciplines into information-rich models that promote efficiency in design, coordination, maintenance, and sustainability.
From 2020 to 2024, he was part of the design team for social housing projects of various scales in several regions of Colombia, where he recognized the urgent need for integration with the city, the environment, and the built context. This commitment to addressing social and environmental challenges, along with respect for the communities involved, motivated him to choose the IUSD program.

Felipe was born and raised in Bogotá – amidst the Colombian Andes— having close ties to both his Chilean and Antioqueno roots. He graduated as an RIBA Part I Architect at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (United Kingdom) wherein he started delving into urban studies researching coproduction and informality in Medellín, Colombia. His early career ranges from studying homelessness, slum housing, and street vending, to designing corporate mixed use masterplans. His main goal during his time at the IUSD is bridging the gap between these two apparently incompatible realms; being able to envision strategies that are sensitive to the local but aware of the regional. He has worked as an urban design advisor for the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Adani Airport Cities of Ahmedabad and Lucknow in India. He also pairs up his passion for Urban Studies with street and documental photography as well as his curiosity for remote sensing and data analysis, which are tools that he believes are two equally important sides of the same coin.

Rizwan is a trained architect, self-taught musician, artist, and educator who blends these passions into his work. Born in Varanasi, he has travelled extensively across India, drawing inspiration from its vibrant landscapes. His fascination with nearly every art form fuels his engagement in discussions about cities, religion, politics, and fiction.
Beginning his architectural journey in 2013 and then co-founded the ‘Multilogue Collective’ with the mission “to empower people to understand and change the policies that shape their lives.” Rizwan later joined CnT Architects, where he expanded his interest in urbanism and social transformation. This drive for meaningful urban growth later inspired him to establish an upcycled-waste restaurant in his hometown after spending a year in the Himalayas, where he immersed himself in vernacular techniques and lived alongside locals.
Collaborating closely with Indian designer Siddhartha Das who has worked on projects that shape the public realm, including museum complexes and cultural exhibitions. Rizwan's work merges art, music, and socio-political themes to provoke conversation. He has a passion for puns (though not yet a ‘PUN-dit’) and embraces his freedom of expression, inviting curiosity in all his endeavours.

Hediyeh is a Landscape Architect with a passion for designing sustainable and resilient urban environments. She holds a Master of Arts in Landscape Architecture from Tarbiat Modares University and a Bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture from Soore University, both in Iran. Her academic background provides her with a profound understanding of design principles and an innovative approach to urban landscapes.
Currently advancing her studies at the University of Stuttgart, Hediyeh is engaged in Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design (IUSD), her favorite field of study. This program allows her to explore her interests in creating sustainable urban solutions that align with socio-economic and environmental goals.
Her professional journey includes impactful roles at the Iranian Architecture Center, where she excelled in landscape design and environmental planning.
Driven by the desire to redefine urban spaces, Hediyeh focuses on enhancing human-nature interactions and urban resilience through eco-friendly practices. Her career is marked by ambition and creativity, as she seeks to contribute to visionary projects that promote a harmonious balance between nature and urban life.
She is committed to creating spaces that not only meet the needs of today but anticipate the challenges of tomorrow, making her a vibrant contributor to the future of urban design.

Jonna Künne studied Art History and History, gaining valuable experience in urbanism, art, and community engagement. At the Index of Political Iconography in Hamburg, she researched political symbols in architecture and published an article on controversial architectural heritage. Her projects have included research on the Garden City Garbatella in Rome, where she explored historical and sustainable urban planning methods. Jonna presented at the Ljubljana Art Expo, where her talk, "Art Creates Spaces - Urban Spaces," highlighted how art can redefine urban environments and engage communities. To further her understanding of sustainable urban design, she completed an online course with Lund University, focused on sustainable city planning through both historic and modern techniques. In an internship with the City Development department in Nürnberg, she contributed to a report on the Sponge City initiative, centered on resilient green infrastructure. Jonna is passionate about promoting sustainable, inclusive urban design that addresses both environmental and social needs and is eager to expand her knowledge  through the Master Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design.

Hyunmin Lee (Seoul, South Korea) is an Urban Planner who completed her studies in Urbanism and Architecture at Handong Global University in 2014, where she developed a deep interest in the relationships between spaces and people within cities. After graduating, she worked at a private urban planning firm focusing on historic preservation, which collaborated closely with Seoul municipal authorities and national agencies. She gained practical experience through various urban projects, including district unit plans and urban renewal initiatives based in Seoul.
Over the past nine years, she has worked on multiple urban plans and began to ask important questions about how urban policies shape lives and relationships. She also wondered what cities gain or lose in the process of development, and how other cities outside Seoul approach similar challenges. Additionally, with growing concerns such as the pandemic and climate crisis, she questioned how urban planning should adapt to uncertain futures, and what her role as an urban planner should be. These questions inspired her to apply to the IUSD program, where she plans to continue exploring these topics further and gain insights that will help create more sustainable and resilient cities.

Caroline, a neuroscientist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, holds a Bachelor’s degree in neurobiology with a minor in public health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her passion for sustainability and the environment led her to the University of California-Berkeley, where she studied Urban Planning and Environmental Design. There, she participated in projects focusing on urban mobility, transit-oriented development, and affordable housing in San Francisco. 
Along the way, she has taken on service and leadership roles with non-profit organizations close to home, participating in transforming brownfields into community spaces, art exhibits, and gardens within underserved communities, alongside protecting urban waters by integrating green infrastructure. 
Moving forward with IUSD, she hopes to learn, through an international lens, the knowledge and skills to design and plan while influencing policy for more livable, sustainable, and accessible cities. To bring her education full circle, she hopes to take on opportunities to research and explore the field of neurourbanism and understand how the built environment influences public health and the human mind. 

Ayesha is an architect passionate about bridging socio-cultural and environmental gaps through sustainable urban design. Born in Odisha and raised in Delhi's informal settlements, she developed a deep understanding of urban complexities and inequities, forming interests in how human habitats and settlements adapt to environmental, social, and cultural pressures.
During her bachelor’s from Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics (2020), Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, she engaged with diverse communities and contexts, mapped over 200 vernacular domestic architectural typologies in rural India, and also developed strategies for hyper-resilient cities, focusing on refugees and displaced populations. Her final year thesis, "The tale of a city (designing an urban history complex)," in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, integrated sustainable design with cultural preservation and facilitation, establishing a holistic approach to urbanism, which was then selected by her university to be published on international platforms.
In her four years of professional experience, she has collaborated with leading architects and conservationists in both government and private sectors, working on projects spanning heritage management, urban design, and township planning, focusing on context-responsive architectural solutions.
Now, as part of the IUSD program, she focuses on how cities in the Global South can address socio-cultural and environmental challenges while evolving sustainably. Committed to the transformative power of participatory design, she aims to create resilient, inclusive urban environments that promote social equity and empower vulnerable communities.

Silvia Ruiz Franco received her B.Arch from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá and has four years of professional experience in architecture. She began her career in an interior design office, where she developed a strong foundation in design principles, before transitioning to Martínez Arquitectura, an architecture studio, where she worked on infrastructure design and urban projects. Silvia has contributed to educational and cultural public projects in Bogotá, collaborating with public agencies to address significant urban challenges. These experiences have enabled her to engage with complex, large-scale projects aimed at promoting equality within the city.
Her passion for urbanism has been a guiding force throughout her career, with a particular focus on how city planning can enhance social structures. During an academic exchange at USP (Universidade de São Paulo), she broadened her understanding of urban landscapes, further deepening her interest in urban design and its role in fostering inclusive and sustainable cities.
Silvia remains committed to improving urban environments through her work with public agencies in Bogotá. She is particularly invested in developing sustainable design solutions that address gender inequality and social disparities in urban contexts, and she is eager to continue advancing her expertise in these areas.

Jasper Schmidt works as an artist and urban practitioner for the "Verein gegen Müdigkeit", which specializes in co-creative public space making in difficult urban environments. Previously, he was program head at the German American Institute in Heidelberg and Mosaik Deutschland, where he was responsible for various open educational programs in the field of media and technological literacy and curator and amplifier of project based interventions in the context of bottom up urbanism in cooperation with local activist communities and young people. He was the founder of the "Raumfänger", an urban pop-up space dedicated to imagine new forms for interaction and space production in the public realm. Jasper holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Politics and Economics from Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen and is a senior fellow of the Alfred Landecker Democracy Fellowship. In his professional career he has been looking for new forms of inclusive community building on both the micro and macro levels of modern cities. In his practice he focused on the empowering and critical perspectives of art in public interest, with the aim to create urban interventions and spatial concepts to enable personal growth and co-creative social design. 

 Zhang Xinwei is a landscape architect with over ten years of experience working in Shanghai. She is originally from Inner Mongolia, China, and has a deep appreciation for nature and the arts. As a landscape architecture project manager in Shanghai, she has the privilege of combining her professional expertise with her personal interests, namely nature and aesthetics. She has gained valuable design skills and team management experience while leading teams to complete tenders for landmark projects. She has also had the opportunity to incorporate nature and aesthetics as much as possible into the steel and concrete-oriented urban regeneration. She is convinced that the process of urbanization cannot be separated from the intervention of nature. Her deep respect for nature motivates her to engage in outdoor activities such as hiking and climbing snow-covered mountains. These experiences allow me to connect with the immense power of nature, which she then brings back to the city to inform her creative and design thinking.