Our team of thinkers and makers.

Belinda Rukschcio is Co-CEO of Bauhaus Earth, a role she has held since 2024. Belinda brings with her extensive expertise in building culture and strategic management. Prior to joining Bauhaus Earth, she served as Deputy Chair of the Board of the Bundesstiftung Baukultur (Federal Foundation of Baukultur) and was Managing Director of the Werkraum Bregenzerwald in Austria. Her career highlights include the coordination of the Austrian Pavilion at the 2008 Architecture Biennale in Venice and the project management for the Haus der Architektur Graz. Belinda Rukschcio studied architecture at TU Vienna and pursued management studies at the German Academy of Management. She has lectured at TU Vienna, Bauhaus University Weimar, and BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

Prof. Dr. Philipp Misselwitz is CEO of Bauhaus Earth since 2021. In addition, he has served as Chair of the Habitat Unit at TU Berlin since 2013, a globally focused research and teaching centre dedicated to advancing alternative material practices, planning approaches, and urban policies to foster ecological sustainability in the built environment. Philipp studied architecture and urbanism at Cambridge University and the Architectural Association in London. He earned his PhD from Stuttgart University with research on socio-spatial development in urbanized refugee camps. His current research focuses on user-driven urban development, co-production in housing across Europe and the Global South, rural urbanisation processes, translocal spatial production, and transdisciplinary teaching methodologies in urban design. He is a visiting professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and a network partner at Urban Catalyst, a planning and design consultancy.

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.

weissgerber@bauhauserde.org

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.

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.

kropp@bauhauserde.org

Aseman Golshan Bahadori is the Head of PR & 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.

press@bauhauserde.org

Barbara-Brigitte Mak is Senior Executive Assistant to the board of management at Bauhaus Earth, focusing on organizational development and strategy. With a background in architecture (Graz University of Technology, University of Tokyo, Universidad del Pais Vasco) and art (UdK Berlin), Barbara-Brigitte has refined her expertise in recent years as a certified foundation manager and expert in sustainability management. She has extensive professional experience in various positions as curator, project manager and director of an artist's studio, working with leading international private and public institutions. As co-director of an artist's estate, she has been instrumental in establishing an archive and exhibition space as a dynamic interdisciplinary laboratory, fostering both artistic dialogue and academic scholarship.

contact@bauhauserde.org

Christiane Walter is the 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.

contact@bauhauserde.org

Architect with vast experience in scientific, curatorial and editorial project management plus financial administration for nonprofit organizations.

rueb@bauhauserde.org

Clarissa is a Human Resources professional with a background in psychology and a strong track record working in early- and mid-stage startups, particularly in projects relevant to the topic of sustainability. With her structured and holistic approach to people management, she keeps all things related to personnel running at Bauhaus Earth. Always eager to level up, Clarissa is currently diving deeper into her field by pursuing an M.Sc. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, specializing in Occupational Health, at FU Berlin.

recruitment@bauhauserde.org

Francesca Brecha is pursuing a Dual Masters in Urban Planning and Mobility at the TU Berlin and the University of Buenos Aires. With a background in civil and transportation engineering, she is interested in the communication of complex technical and scientific topics to a broad audience. Throughout her studies and work, she has gained experience in participatory planning approaches in communities ranging from small towns in Brandenburg to refugee communities in Jordan to informal settlements in Brazil. In Berlin, she is active in movements for tenants' rights and and the participation of migrants and refugees in the city.

Studied geology, experienced in scientific project management and knowledge transfer.

pastrik@bauhauserde.org

Adrian Foong is an Environmental Scientist, and a researcher for the ReBuilt Global Study. His work focuses on analysing building material supply and demand while 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 supported various projects and workshops to do with climate diplomacy. When not immersed in data, Adrian captures the built environment as an avid urban sketcher.

foong@bauhauserde.org

MA student of urban futures with a background in social science. Interested in the participatory creation of future living conditions.

dobelstein@bauhauserde.org

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.

Architecture student at TU Berlin with an interest in circular systems and natural building materials.

be-fellow@bauhauserde.org

Alexine Sammut is a programme manager of the Experimental Fellowship at Bauhaus Earth, dedicated to advancing material innovation through experimental approaches. An architect and creative director with over a decade of experience in renowned art and architecture studios, Alexine has a proven track record of managing teams across disciplines to realise artworks on the international stage, from the Venice Biennale to the MET Roof Garden in New York City. She also speaks frequently at events and teaches a Master Studio at DIA Dessau. Through her mentorship of Fellows and facilitating their prototype development, Alexine explores innovative material solutions to challenge industry norms, regulations, and supply chains—working toward a cultural shift that embraces sustainability in the construction industry.

Alisa Marielle Schneider has expertise throughout multiple scales, from landscape architecture and urban planning to architecture and building construction, enabling her to approach projects with a holistic perspective. This integration of macro and micro perspectives shapes her work with the ReBuilt Global Study, where she evaluates the potential of nature-based materials to address future global housing demands. Committed to advancing sustainability in the building sector, Alisa conducts Life Cycle Assessments comparing conventional and nature-based construction methods across different regions. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys gardening and cooking, drawing inspiration from nature in both her personal and professional life.

schneider@bauhauserde.org

Amelia Mega Djaja holds a MA in Urban Design and a BA in Architecture. She currently supports the planning and communication for the Bali case study of our ReBuilt project, while also contributing to Building for the Future, a series of knowledge publications by Bauhaus Earth. With experience in participatory design and research, Amelia is particularly interested in how architecture interweaves with socio-ecological issues and collaborative approaches to city-making. She remains partially active with Architecture Sans Frontières Indonesia, where she has contributed to participatory design for cooperative housing in Jakarta—a topic she also explored in depth in her master’s thesis.

djaja@bauhauserde.org

Angelika Drescher has managed the ‘ProtoPotsdam’ and ‘Deep Demonstrator Epizentrum Bauwende Brandenburg’ at Bauhaus Erde since 2022. Previously, from 2016, Angelika headed the project management department of Terra Libra Immobilien GmbH, a Berlin-based subsidiary of the Edith Maryon Foundation/Basel. There she developed the basic structure for the sustainable conversion of the former Kindl brewery in Neukoelln in the ‘VOLLGUT.Berlin’ project; 2009 to 2016 self-employed as co-founder and partner of ‘die Zusammenarbeiter GmbH’ for property development for the common good, support for participatory planning processes and sustainable neighbourhood structures; Founding board member and development of Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft Spreefeld Berlin eG (since 2010), cooperative housing construction with a focus on community functions and connection to the neighbourhood, today a mixed model; 1995 Dipl.-Ing. Architect at the University of Kassel and 2004 Dipl.-Des. Electronic Business at the UdK Berlin.

Anne Baltruschat is a project manager for the Regenerative Building Alliance project at Bauhaus Earth, where she leads the development of the affiliated EU Policy Lab. She designs strategies for communication and knowledge transfer and brings expertise in concept design, empirical social research, and public fund management. Anne holds an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development from Uppsala University. Before joining Bauhaus Earth, Anne worked with Baufachfrau Berlin, a non-profit dedicated to participatory learning and diversity in the built environment. Passionate about transdisciplinary practice, she also freelances at Spore Initiative, an intercultural space for dialogue and mutual learning focusing on climate justice, ecological regeneration, and biocultural diversity.

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

Christian studied political science at Sciences Po, and Architecture at Columbia University and TU Berlin. His work at Bauhaus Earth for the Sediments and HLH projects focuses on advancing innovative materials and assemblies to support the global regenerative transformation of the built environment. Through prototypes and demonstration buildings serving as living labs, Christian bridges scientific research and practical application, striving to make these advancements both accessible and impactful. By collaborating with industry partners, he works to integrate these solutions into systemic practices which enable scalable change. Christian also shares his expertise through teaching engagements at academic institutions worldwide. As a founder of Studio Suddo Neuve, a collective exploring materials at the intersection of tradition and innovation, he co-authored Back to Earth, a comprehensive manual on earth block building published by Bauhaus Earth.

Architectural engineer and visual designer with experience in planning, visual communication, and research. Interested in the sustainability of urban environments at various scales.

Diana Barrera-Salazar holds an MSc in Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design. She serves as a regional coordinator for the ReBuilt project, where she utilises her expertise in leading transdisciplinary, international teams. Throughout her career as an architect, she has contributed to award-winning architectural designs as well as to various climate adaptation initiatives, and further specialised in the value chains of bamboo construction. Alongside designing and coordinating regenerative, often participatory, projects, Diana has worked as a researcher at UN Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities.

barrera@bauhauserde.org

Dilara Ucar is a Masters student in urban design with a background in city and regional planning and architecture. As a project assistant in the Experimental Fellowship at Bauhaus Earth, she supports documentation, research, partner coordination, and event management. Alongside her role, Dilara contributes to the Wits-TUB-UniLag Urban Lab at TU Berlin’s Habitat Unit, and has gained experience working on various project phases in architecture offices in Berlin and Istanbul.

be-fellow@bauhauserde.org

Dr. Anne Holsten is a senior researcher and coordinator of the ReBuilt Global Study at Bauhaus Earth. Holding a PhD in Geoecology and having worked as a project coordinator at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, she specialises in quantifying the environmental benefits of nature-based construction materials. Anne leads our scenario-based research on the future supply and demand for regenerative building materials worldwide, aiming to address housing needs while transforming the built environment from a carbon emitter to a carbon sink.

holsten@bauhauserde.org

Dr. Gediminas Lesutis is a Senior Political Economist with a wealth of experience in qualitative research, policy analysis, international stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. At Bauhaus Earth, he is part of the ReBuilt team, working to advance and implement the concept of a regenerative and socially just built environment. 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.

lesutis@bauhauserde.org

Eva-Maria Friedel is a Senior Researcher at Bauhaus Earth, specialising in Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Construction. With a background as an architect, certified earth builder, and energy consultant for residential buildings, she brings a broad range of expertise to her work. She consults on various projects and leads the Life Cycle Assessment within the ReBuilt project. Before joining us, Eva worked on a variety of projects as an architect and contributed to several initiatives across South America, including the design of a school built from bamboo and clay in Colombia. She also contributed to the “Catalogue of Measures for Sustainable and Circular Building”, commissioned by the Berlin Senate to assess CO2 emissions, grey energy, and circularity of high-rise building components. Eva is an active member of Architects for Future and a passionate advocate against the demolition of the existing buildings.

friedel@bauhauserde.org

Eveline van Engelen has spent the past decade working to make architecture education and learning more accessible and impactful for a wider demographic. With degrees in communications, art history, and architectural and urban history, she has gained experience in large international architecture offices and focused her career on fostering international collaboration in education. As the Project Lead for Bauhaus Earth’s New European Bauhaus Academy (NEBA) project, Eveline plays a central role in advancing its mission: to train, upskill, and reskill the construction ecosystem—aligning with the New European Bauhaus’s vision of a carbon-neutral building sector and a beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive transformation of the built environment.

Felix Exton-Smith is a Student Research Assistant for the ReBuilt Project, contributing to the Global Study team with expertise in BIM modelling, Life Cycle Assessment, and architectural design. He brings a detail-oriented and analytical approach, leveraging parametric workflows to tackle complex challenges in construction's environmental impact and urban design. For his master’s thesis in Architecture Typology at TU Berlin, Felix explores how Berlin can balance economic growth, affordable housing, and environmental sustainability.

Georg Hubmann is an urban designer and political scientist coordinating the Regional Study of the ReBuilt project at Bauhaus Earth. His work explores and demonstrates pathways toward a regenerative built environment that can achieve a global impact, emphasising the socio-ecological dimensions of material strategies and value chains. Having studied in Berlin, Madrid, and Shanghai, Georg has crafted 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.

hubmann@bauhauserde.org

Architecture student at TU Berlin with an interest in natural building materials and woodworking.

Having studied architecture and urban design in Darmstadt, Berlin, and Istanbul, Johanna Westermann focuses on social and ecological transitions at the intersection of research, design, and communication. Her extensive experience spans research on participatory urban development in German municipalities to practice-oriented research on integrated water management in Southeast Asia. At Bauhaus Earth, she is a research and regional coordinator on the ReBuilt team, and also co-authors our Knowledge Product Collection.

westermann@bauhauserde.org

A trained joiner and architecture student at TU Berlin, Johannes Silbernagel contributes to Bauhaus Earth’s KIS project in collaboration with the Kommunale Immobilien Service of the City of Potsdam. He researches and analyses the existing buildings and material stocks on KIS's administration campus, helping to optimise resource use both effectively and sustainably.

Architect and former employee at the Natural Building Lab. Experienced in woodworking.

As a researcher in the ReBuilt project, Kilian Schneider leads the Berlin-Brandenburg case. In close collaboration with stakeholders from the area, he is working to advance the region’s transformation into a Regenerative Resource Region. Kilian’s academic background in Geography and Urban Design brings a nuanced and substantial understanding of Brandenburg’s particular spatial dynamics. Grounding his expertise in cultural communication and strategic foresight, Kilian develops narrative-driven approaches to tackle the challenges of a regenerative future through film, photography, and spatial solutions.

kilian.schneider@bauhauserde.org

Kéan Koschany is a Master’s student in Urban Design, exploring new perspectives on the multi-scalar processes of urbanisation. As a research assistant at Bauhaus Earth, he applies his academic insights to actionable spatial practices, contributing skills in planning, graphic design, and layout development. Kéan is currently working on the Bhutan case study of the ReBuilt project, which serves as a substantial part of his master’s thesis, due for completion in spring 2025.

koschany@bauhauserde.org

Laila Wiens supports the ProtoPotsdam team as a student assistant in the programme development and management of the pavilion. From 2021 to 2024 she was responsible for communication and public relations at the Haus der Statistik in the ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG. She is currently doing her M.Sc. in architecture with a focus on urban planning at the TU Berlin and is particularly interested in topics of common good-oriented and sustainable urban development. In her projects and works, artistic positions, collectivist approaches and interventionist urban appropriation are repeatedly thematised as instruments of bottom-up urban development.

wiens@protopotsdam.org

As a student assistant on the ReBuilt team Lanhua Wenig is working on the Cape Town case study. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Architecture Typology at TU Berlin, following her undergraduate studies in architecture at the Spitzer School of Architecture in New York. Lanhua’s interests lie in inventive methods that tackle the challenges of regenerative architecture by finding a balance between historical and contemporary urban landscapes — exploring design approaches and theoretical frameworks to promote a regenerative post-fossil future.

weng@bauhauserde.org

Experienced in political science and public policy.

contact@bauhauserde.org

Micha Kretschmann is an architect and key contributor to the Sediments and HLH Projects at Bauhaus Earth, specialising in material innovation, manufacturing, and knowledge transfer. Dedicated to translating scientific research into practical applications, he develops new materials, prototypes, and demonstration buildings as Living Labs. Bridging theory and practice, Micha fosters collaboration between craftspeople, researchers, manufacturers, and students, to advance regenerative architecture and its real-world implementation. Committed to finding scalable and affordable solutions, he works closely with industry partners to push the boundaries of sustainable construction. As a founding member of the Senegalese earth-building collective Studio Suddo Neuve, Micha co-authored Back to Earth, part of the Bauhaus Earth Manuals series.

Nina Peters combines strategic planning, research, and hands-on action with a deep expertise in community-driven development. Since joining Bauhaus Earth in 2023, she has been pivotal in advancing the ProtoPotsdam pavilion and plays a key role in the B4 Network, fostering bio-based innovation within the Berlin-Brandenburg region. With a strong academic and professional foundation in architecture and urban planning, Nina is committed to shaping a more sustainable built environment through collaboration. In her professional career she worked on multidisciplinary research projects in Uganda, the common-good oriented and cooperative redevelopment at the Haus der Statistik in Berlin and the establishment of a network for urban practice.

peters@bauhauserde.org

Architect specialized in regenerative construction, with a strong interest in circular value chains, bio-based material production, and climate justice.

Ramsha Tauqueer is pursuing an MSc. in Environmental Planning, with a strong background in sustainable development, urban planning, and environmental management. As a student assistant on the ReBuilt project, she supports an interdisciplinary team of around 15 researchers in exploring the global and regional availability of nature-based construction materials, including timber, bamboo, straw, and hemp. Her work involves analysing spatial data at various scales, managing knowledge, synthesising research findings, contributing to scientific publications, and supporting capacity-building efforts.

contact@bauhauserde.org

Architect and urban designer, member of BB2040 and former Teaching Assistant at Habitat Unit, TU Berlin; experienced in exhibit design and curatorship.

be-fellow@bauhauserde.org

Salomé’s interest in socio-ecological transformation, social justice, and critical political economy has shaped her academic journey across Vienna, Paris, and Berlin. She holds a BA in Sociology and is currently pursuing an MSc in Socioeconomics at the WU Vienna. At Bauhaus Earth, Salomé supports the ReBuilt project with research and communications.

kofler@bauhauserde.org

Sebastian Klemm.

Tino Imsirovic is an urban designer and researcher at ReBuilt, where he leads the Bhutan Case Study, focusing on developing pathways for a circular and regenerative construction sector in Bhutan. He holds an MSc in Urban Design and, as a researcher at TU Berlin, contributed to global projects on urban-rural urbanisation in Germany and China, as well as water-sensitive urban design in Southeast Asia. Beyond academia, Tino has gained practical experience as a freelance urban designer with participatory planning projects in Germany and the UK.

imsirovic@bauhauserde.org

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.

seydewitz@bauhauserde.org