LIZA ZAICEVA

A graduation project exploring how architecture can give spatial form to the personal memories of migrant communities. Set in Logieweg – Blikfabriek, a post-industrial district in the south of Antwerp. Co-housing clusters around shared courtyards — translating memory, ritual, and community into built space.

A visionary redesign for the southern entrance of Naples, created during an international week-long workshop in Dortmund. My personal role covered conceptualisation, sketching, and graphic production. The proposal introduces a multifaceted waterfront development: a residential complex, a lush green park, and the Marine Museum — designed as a landmark cultural hub and symbolic gateway for both tourists and residents. A residential tower frames the city's iconic views of Vesuvius.

A community church designed for a Young Architects Competition, created in collaboration with an international team. My personal contribution covered water-filtering system conceptualisation and render creation with post-production. The church is a place of gentle transitions — from quiet reflection to shared community ritual. Built with local participation: residents helped construct woven wall panels using traditional wattle weaving. Rammed earth walls, thatched roofs, and woven branches combine village textures with modern construction. Rainwater is collected dramatically from the roofs and filters through the church walls to provide drinking water for nearby villages.

A multi-purpose public building designed around the principle of adaptability and design for disassembly. The building is fully demountable, with stackable floors made from Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) that can be reconfigured as needs change. A semi-permanent core functions variably as a canteen or workshop space. The concept extends underground with an infrastructure designed to connect seamlessly with surrounding buildings through a plug-and-play system — allowing for straightforward future modifications and expansions.

During my internship at Elephant Studio, I contributed to multiple project phases. In the feasibility phase I explored massing scenarios and programme distribution through spatial and parametric analysis using Grasshopper. In the Final and Technical Design phases I worked on technical detailing of monolithic heavy balconies in textured concrete, produced 3D physical models, and created architectural renders for design communication. I also produced detailed 3D modelling and interior design renders for a high-rise residential project in Amsterdam.

A birdwatching platform for ornithologists on Łęgi Dębińskie in Poznań — a built installation created during the MOOD FOR WOOD woodworking workshop. The circular timber platform sits directly on the riverbank, composed of natural stones, a simple bird-watching table, and handcrafted timber elements. Designed as a quiet gathering and observation space where visitors can connect with the natural landscape and wildlife. Tutors: jeju.studio, Iwo Borkowicz, Adam Siemiaszkiewicz. Photography: Dawid Majewski.

Exhibition design for Luminary, a fintech company. The project creates an immersive brand experience for a financial technology event — combining spatial design, custom furniture, and lighting to guide visitors through the product offering and brand identity.