Professor Vollenbroich studied Architecture at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and ETH Zurich and was a scholarship recipient of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. She also completed studies in Real Estate Economics at the IRE|BS International Real Estate Business School. In 2016, she founded the architecture firm Nidus, which she co-directs with Ana Vollenbroich. From 2011 to 2013, she worked at KIT, and from 2017 to 2022 at the University of Siegen, gaining valuable academic experience.

What aspect of your research fascinates you the most?

What fascinates me most about my research is that it begins at the intersection of architecture, society and the economy. I am interested in how concepts can be developed from existing structures that are both well-designed and economically viable – while also fostering social interaction, creating a sense of belonging and shaping our built environment in the long term.

What does good teaching mean to you?

For me, good teaching means creating spaces for exchange – both theoretical and practical. The goal is to encourage students to ask their own questions, develop their positions and translate them consistently into design work. And in project development and architecture, it is a core competence to cultivate one's own intuition – for places, trends and the potential inherent in a project. The goal of my teaching will be to nurture and refine this process.

What did you want to be growing up?

I have always wanted to be an architect. Today, I know that it is a great gift to have known one's calling at such an early age. Architecture has accompanied me since childhood – first in the form of drawings and models, and now through research, teaching and practice. I therefore very rarely see my everyday life as work, but rather as a continuous exploration of the questions that truly interest me: how we build, how we live, how we shape our environment. This sense of purpose makes my academic appointment especially meaningful to me.

How do you find balance outside of work?

I find balance mainly in my personal life. My wife is an important anchor for me – our time together and conversations give me a sense of calm and perspective. We spend a lot of time outdoors with our two dogs, which helps clear my head and adds lightness to everyday life. I’m also drawn to the North Sea, where I find a special sense of clarity and vastness – in the light, the air, and the sea itself. This landscape continues to inspire my work, showing how strongly places shape our perception.