"My Story"
From marketing briefs to architectural blueprints—how I redesigned my life, one plan at a time.
I suspect my love for architecture started before I even knew what it was. Before I was even born, in fact. According to my mother, during her pregnancy, she developed an insatiable urge to visit properties. Open houses became our prenatal ritual. Coincidence? I think not.
Years later, while studying business economics, I moved into my first micro-sized student apartment. That’s when it all clicked. A kitchenette cleverly hidden in what used to be a pantry? Genius. I was hooked. Optimizing small spaces became a personal obsession. I painted the walls in bold colours (which, if you know Switzerland, is practically revolutionary), hunted for clever storage solutions, and read everything I could about turning tiny spaces into sanctuaries. But at the time, it was just a hobby. I had a promising career in marketing, and a career change wasn’t even a thought....yet.
Then came a moment that planted the seed. As I was handing over that beloved apartment, a few prospective tenants asked if I was a professional interior designer. I laughed, flattered. But the word professional stuck in a quiet corner of my mind. It would take a few more years and two devastating events for that seed to sprout.
In a short period, I lost two neighbors, both my age, in heartbreaking circumstances. It was a wake-up call. Life is unpredictable. Why waste it not doing something you love? I realized I didn’t want to spend decades wondering, What if? I needed to live boldly, with purpose. And so, I did the unthinkableI pivoted.
But not without a plan.
1. Get educated – I enrolled in a two-year interior architecture program while keeping my full-time marketing job (and investing more than CHF 10,000 to make it happen).
2. Join the industry – I actively networked, joined communities, and made connections in a field that was completely new to me.
3. Get hands-on experience – Because inspiration without application doesn’t build walls or careers.
The path was far from easy. I’ll never forget my first evening class at the Swiss Design Center. I felt like a tourist in a foreign land where everyone else spoke fluent “architect.” At one point, I considered dropping out. But a kind professor reminded me: you don’t need to see the whole picture right away. You build it—lecture by lecture, layer by layer.
So I did.
I learned how to sketch, draw floor plans, build models, navigate construction norms, work in CAD (2D/3D), and manage a construction site. And while others juggled part-time jobs, I squeezed every ounce of energy into lectures, projects, and late-night drafting marathons. Every weekend became a creative bootcamp. There were tears. And triumphs. And more tears. But slowly, I found my voice in the language of space.
I graduated in 2020, just in time for the world to shut down. But I wasn’t going to let a pandemic stall my dream. I enrolled in The Architectural Imagination by Harvard Graduate School of Design just to keep the momentum going. I passed with pride.
Shortly after, I jumped into my first real project: taking over a stalled family construction site in Africa and managing it remotely (yes, family plus construction plus distance equals total chaos). It was a wild ride, but the results were worth it. It had been my client’s dream for a decade, and I helped bring it to life.
Then came another turning point: I joined the American Institut of Architects (AIA). Doors opened I never imagined. I became a member of the AIA Continental Europe event planning team, was selected as a mentee in the Nexus Emerging Professionals Program, and later served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer. I met incredible mentors, made lifelong friends, and felt fully embraced by this global community.
In 2025, I chose to focus on what I’d been craving all along: real-world, hands-on experience. That’s the chapter I’m writing now.
⸻
Why I Do This
Yes, I have an unconventional background. And maybe that’s not for everyone. But I believe that visionaries who think beyond the resume will see what I bring to the table:
• The courage to start from scratch.
• The discipline to learn and grow relentlessly.
• The passion to create spaces that feel like home, even when they’re not large or luxurious.
• And the drive to keep getting better, one project at a time.
This portfolio is more than a collection of work—it’s proof of perseverance, creativity, and heart. I’m excited for what’s next. And I hope we’ll connect along the way.