Dipl. Ing. Msc. Arch. Barbara Fontana Architect SIA, Certified Consultant for Urban Green and the Greening of Buildings, Graphic Designer

After having travelled a lot, lived in various different places and worked with people from around the world, I am currently working nomadically with my home base in Zurich. Contact me here.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Since Jan 2024 Supporting the team of Architecture Sans Frontières with my expertise and passion as a volunteer from the base in Genève area.

Since 2023 Supporting the association Schweizer Fachvereinigung für Gebäudebegrünung - green roofs, facades and urban spaces.

Since 2016 Various roles from Architecture, Planning, Strategy, Development, Content and International Communications at Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architects for all locations in Vienna, Bregenz, St. Gallen, Paris and Munich. Since 2023 Architecture and Development Switzerland based in Zürich.

Since 2015 Founder and Head of Ki Ma Kami working on various small private projects ranging from architecture and urban green to furniture and graphic design.

Jan - Jun 2023 Part of the discussion board “Use of roof space” with Grünstattgrau Research and Innovation GmbH and IG Lebenszyklus Bau, as well as voluntary activities in the core team of the newly founded association "Placemaking Switzerland" for place and community based creation of livable, socially and ecologically sustainable settlements and neighbourhoods

Mar - Jun 2022 Lectureship together with Arch. Patrick Stremler: Architecture students 4th semester at TH Rosenheim - Faculty for Interior Architecture, Architecture and Design

2019 - 2020 Curatorial Assistant for the lecture series Impulsvorträge of Überholz, University of Arts and Industrial Design, Linz Content Moderator for lecture series and panels in the field of Timber Construction

2014 - 2016 Architectural Designer at Penoyre & Prasad Architects, London
Working on an award winning refurbishment and new build project in central London, the Kantor Centre of Excellence: The Anna Freud Centre & The Family School from conceptual design to detailed planning (RIBA Plan of Work Stages 01-05) Design Team Coordination, Elaboration of Drawings, Stage Reports, Presentations etc.

2012 - 2014 Architectural Designer at dreiplus Architekten, Graz

2010 - 2012 Mentoring of students at Graz University of Technology - Faculty of Architecture

2011 - 2012 Part of the Educational Team at the Az W Center for Architecture Vienna Elaboration and Performing of Architecture Tours and Workshops

EDUCATION

2022 Qualification as Consultant for the Greening of Buildings with Grünstattgrau - Research and Innovation GmbH, Vienna.

2016 - 2018 Postgraduate Interdisciplinary Master in Wood and Timber Architecture: Überholz, experimental laboratory of innovative timber architecture at University of Arts and Industrial Design, Linz: Thesis on Lightweight Timber Construction, Inner-City Densification, Social Housing and Urban Green

2015 Further Training on Branding and Graphic Design at UAL University of the Arts, London

2005 - 2012 Studies and Graduation: Master in Architecture with distinction at Vienna University of Technology and GEIDAI Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Japan

Thesis on the enhancement and sustainable use of structural qualities of existing, grown settlements with Prof. Françoise-Hélène Jourda, Department of Spatial and Sustainable Design and Department of Urban Design.

2010 - 2011 Interdisciplinary Students Project for Regional Development in Developing Countries: Analysis and Adaption of traditional architecture in Turkana, Kenya
Excursions and accompanying projects in Italy, Tunisia, Finland and the Netherlands

2003 - 2005 1st Diploma in Translating and Interpreting - Translation and Cultural Studies: English and Spanish at Leopold Franzens University, Innsbruck and Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid

LANGUAGES

German - Mother tongue English - professional Italian - professional Spanish - fluent French - learning