* AURY *
* ELE *
Always appreciative of history and cultures, she frequented a classical studies high school and went on to study languages and journalism for her first degree.
She has lived in Italy, U.K. Switzerland, Vietnam. A volunteering experience in Hanoi Vietnam was her final motivation to becoming an architect: she spent 6 months in a school for the blind that wasn’t truly accessible. She decided she could and should do more than simply bring ink to paper.
* NIL *
Nilufer is a Turkish architect whose curiosity has always been shaped by movement. Having lived in Egypt, Cyprus, Italy, and Turkey, she developed a deep appreciation for the different ways people inhabit their surroundings and build a sense of belonging. Her interests span across architecture, yacht interior design, restoration, and the relationship between people, nature, and the spaces they call home.
For Nilufer, architecture starts with curiosity rather than answers. She is drawn to projects that require careful observation, where understanding a place, its history, and its people becomes just as important as the design itself. Whether working on land or at sea, she believes thoughtful architecture should respond to its context, preserve what is valuable, and create spaces that feel authentic rather than imposed.
As a founding member of the Aspera Astra Architectural Collective, Nilufer contributes through architectural research, design development, and collaborative thinking. She sees the collective as an opportunity to exchange ideas across disciplines while exploring architecture as a tool for more meaningful and resilient futures.
* VARSH *
* TEA *
For Teodora, architecture begins with curiosity. She is driven by the desire to understand how places, people, and natural systems interact, believing that thoughtful design starts long before the first sketch is drawn. Research is at the centre of her process, whether it means exploring a site's history, studying the way communities use space, or looking to nature through biomimicry to better understand how design can respond to its environment.
After studying Architecture in the United Kingdom and completing her Master's degree in Building Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano, she developed an interest in regenerative design, BIM methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Living in Romania, the United Kingdom, and Italy has shaped her appreciation for different cultures, landscapes, and ways of approaching architecture.
Rather than pursuing novelty for its own sake, Teodora is interested in purposeful innovation. She believes that meaningful architecture often comes from rethinking and adapting existing ideas rather than constantly reinventing them. She is particularly interested in sustainable design as a long-term responsibility—creating solutions that are well considered, adaptable, and capable of making a lasting impact through small but meaningful changes.
Her favourite stage of every project is the transition from research to design, where observation, analysis, and experimentation come together to shape an architectural response. She enjoys tackling complex challenges, seeing constraints not as limitations but as opportunities to develop more thoughtful and resilient solutions.
As a member of the Aspera Astra Architectural Collective, Teodora contributes through architectural research, design development, and the exploration of innovative strategies that connect people, place, technology, and the natural world.
* MO *
Mohamed grew up with a deep awareness and appreciation for the spaces we navigate in our everyday lives. Coming from Omdurman - a historically rich city defined by an identity of pride and resistance, featuring scattered fragments of architecture built in response to both conflicts and celebrations - he realized early on how buildings can steer human behavior. This environment taught him that vernacular architecture is the result of not only environmental challenges, but also complex social and political realities.
Growing up alongside the rapid acceleration of physical and digital technologies, Mohamed found himself naturally drawn to their intersection. Driven by a passion for design, he focuses on mastering tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) to shape adaptable, efficient solutions within any given context.
Taking the opportunity to study in Italy deepened his understanding and love for vernacular design. It solidified his core architectural philosophy: monumental architecture is beautiful, but responsible architecture is good, helpful, and beautiful.
For Mohamed, joining the Aspera Astra Architectural Collective fulfills a proud mission to address societal, environmental, and cultural issues through design, as architecture remains the everlasting evidence of human progression.