Shaping a Sustainable Future: My Journey to SHAPE

From an early age, I’ve always been aware of how spaces could influence my emotions. Visiting different places, I noticed where I felt secure or vulnerable, welcomed or alienated, relaxed, or stressed. The way a room is designed, how light interacts with a space, it all has the power to shape how we feel and experience the world around us. My passion in shaping spaces began with this curiosity. It started as a love for design and aesthetics, but it quickly grew into something deeper: a mission to create spaces that nurture well-being while acknowledging our connection to the larger ecosystem.

My high school research project, 'To what extent does carbon-neutral living affect the quality of life,' uncovered the flaws in how we build and live in our homes. Guided by insights from Babette Porcelijn's book 'The Hidden Impact,' I began to understand how the human-centric lifestyle impacts our planet, and how simple, intentional changes could reduce that impact. This realization strengthened my mission to design environments that foster harmony between people and the ecosystems they are part of.

Watching the film ‘I Want You To Panic,’ which portrays our collective indifference to the climate crisis, gave me a deeper understanding of the challenge at hand. It posed a crucial question: "What will it take for humans to react?" This moment made it clear that our behaviour and attitude toward the climate crisis are deeply rooted in our lifestyles. It extends beyond the single space we call home; it’s about all the spaces we inhabit, how we use them, and how we move between them.

At 18, my perspective shifted to a more holistic approach, where liveability in relation to changing lifestyles became central. This deepened my ambition to act on my mission. I sought ways to contribute through avenues like architecture and planning firms, but I also found myself drawn to opportunities beyond these traditional paths.

At 20, inspired by a friend's entrepreneurial journey, I saw an opportunity to forge my own path. I wanted the freedom to shape change on my terms. At 22, still working hard on a spatial planning degree, experience was another missing piece. I immersed myself in projects like 'Meier Kern,' envisioning a future where communities could access jobs and facilities without cars, promoting walking and cycling. It became clear that the built environment had the power to transform lifestyles.

This realization ignited my mission. Committed to progress positive change and diversity and inclusion. In doing so, I like to engage in diverse spatial planning contexts, meeting people from different backgrounds, and making spaces more sustainable and inclusive.