Holcim Foundation Fellowship

In September 2025, ETH Zurich hosted the fourth cohort of the Holcim Foundation Fellowship in Brussels, where I was selected as one of 15 international Fellows. Brussels served as a living laboratory for change, bringing together designers, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore real-world strategies for advancing a circular built environment. The program focused particularly on adaptive reuse—the renovation and transformation of existing buildings as an alternative to demolition and reconstruction. Throughout the fellowship, we collaborated with a wide range of stakeholders, including architects, clients, developers, investors, construction firms, industry representatives, and policymakers. Through site visits, workshops, and critical discussions, we explored diverse methodologies, examined key challenges, and analyzed the complex processes shaping the built environment. By interrogating prevailing norms, narratives, and institutional frameworks, the Fellows developed interdisciplinary approaches to designing incentives that can accelerate systemic change. The fellowship emphasized the intersection of design, finance, and culture, highlighting how these domains can collectively support the transition toward more circular and regenerative urban practices.