Team

Corentin Fivet · Professor / Lab Head

Corentin’s research and teaching are driven by the need for more sustainable building systems. Merging architecture,  structural design, and construction science, his work explores new circular implementations of load-bearing systems and new design methods for resource-efficient structural typologies.

Associate Professor @ EPFL since 2023 | Assistant Professor @ EPFL 2016-2023 | Postdoctoral researcher & lecturer @ MIT 2014-2016 | PhD in Engineering Sciences @ UCLouvain 2009-2013 | Architecture internship @ Charles Vandenhove, Belgium 2008-2009 | Bachelor and Master in Architectural Engineering @ UCLouvain 2003-2008.

Maléna Bastien Masse · Senior Researcher

Malena’s research interest covers the preservation and strengthening of existing structures as well as sustainable and circular solutions for the construction industry. At the Structural Xploration Lab, Malena works on the reuse potential of architectural components in the Swiss building stock

Senior researcher @ SXL, EPFL since 2020 | Project leader, structural and civil engineer @ INGPHI SA 2016-2020 | PhD in civil engineering @ EPFL 2011-2015 | M.A.Sc. and B.Eng in civil engineering @ PolyMontréal 2004-2010.

Didier Vuarnoz · Affiliated Scientist

Didier’s research interest deals with the creation and dissemination of knew knowledge geared towards sustainable energy systems from nano to regional scale. Within a joint research position between EMPA-TSL and the Structural Xploration Lab, Didier works on the creation and life-cycle assessment of transition/circular scenarios for urban neighborhoods in Switzerland.

Science and Technology Counselor @EDA/SEFRI – Beijing 2020-2022 | Academic Associate and lecturer @HEIA-FR 2019 | Senior Researcher @EPFL  2015-2018 | Postdoctoral Researcher and lecturer @HEIG-VD  2013-2015 | PHD Eng @Kobe University 2009-2013 | Scientific Collaborator and lecturer @HEIG-VD 2000-2009 | Fellow SATW @Okayama + Hokkaido Univ. 2002- 2003 | Eng. degree thermal sciences @HEIG-VD 1996-2000

Léa Boulic · Lecturer

Léa’s interests include the interplay of forces and forms in architectural design and how the structural dimension of a project can contribute to defining and strengthening its architectural concept.

Lecturer @ EPFL since 2021 | Postdoc @ ETHZ 2020 | PhD in Architecture @ ETHZ 2016-2019 | Diplôme d’Etat d’Architecture @ ENSA Nantes 2009-2014 | Diplôme d’Ingénieur @ Ecole Centrale de Nantes 2009-2012

Pierre Zurbrügg · Lecturer

Building on his own practice, Pierre teaches construction technology, building materials, building services and building renovation to bachelor and master students in Architecture. He joined SXL in September 2021.

Lecturer @ EPFL since 2004 | PhD @ EPFL 2005-2010 | Own design office @ Penthalaz VD since 1997 | Ba. & Ma. Arch. @ EPFL 1991-1997 | Research engineer @ Câbleries de Cossonay 1988-1991 | Ba. Elec. Eng. @ HSR Rapperswil 1984-1987 | Apprenticeship in Elec. @ Brucker, Fällanden ZH 1980-1984.

Marirena Kladeftira · Postdoctoral researcher

Marirena’s work explores how digital technologies can expand our creative boundaries, transcending multiple disciplines in order to orchestrate the complex systems that govern our impact on society and the environment at the micro- and macro-level of our materials, design processes, and buildings. She is jointly appointed at the Creative Computation Lab and the Structural Xploration Lab at EPFL where she investigates human-robot collaborative workflows for structural reconfiguration and reuse of damaged timber structures.

PostDoc @ EPFL since 2024 | PhD in Architecture @ ETHZ 2018-2023 | MAS in Architecture and Digital Fabrication @ ETHZ 2016-2017 | Visiting Researcher @ TU Crete 2015-2016 | Dipl. in Architectural Engineering @ NTUA 2008-2015.

Jingxian Ye · PhD Candidate

Jingxian is interested in the research of architectural and structural principles, and their construction logics. Inspired by master builders and learning from the past, Jingxian is pursuing a PhD on component reuse in traditional construction systems and its relevance for contemporary and future applications.

PhD candidate in Architecture @ EPFL since 2019 | member of the ICOMOS International Wood Committee since 2018 | Professional architect since 2016 | Master in Architecture @ ETHZ 2011-2015 | Bachelor in Architecture @ Tongji University 2005-2010

Célia Küpfer · PhD Candidate

Célia nurtures an interest for reuse in architecture since her master thesis, which was awarded an Orlando Lauti Foundation Award. She has been awarded a Doc.ch grant to pursue doctoral research on novel evaluation methods for reuse in architecture.

PhD candidate in Architecture @ EPFL since 2020 | Bachelor and Master in Architecture @ EPFL 2012-2019 | Architect Intern @ Atelier Bow-Wow Tokyo 2016 | Exchange year @ University of Montreal 2014-2015.

Barbara Lambec · PhD Candidate

Barbara developed a passion for banal architecture and its necessary ingenuity linked to the economy of means. She is currently pursuing research on evaluating the reuse potential of architectural components in the Swiss building stock.

PhD candidate in Architecture @ EPFL since 2020 | DSA Patrimoine @ ENSA Paris Belleville 2013-2015 | Licence, ADE, and HMONP @ ENSA Marne la Vallée 2007-2013 | Année d’échange @ TU Eindhoven 2010-2011.

Raphaël Wegmann · PhD Candidate

Raphaël’s research interests span a variety of fields, such as Computer Simulation, Statistical Learning, and Circular Economy. He is currently pursuing a PhD on evaluating the reuse potential of architectural components in the Swiss building stock.

PhD candidate in Civil Engineering @ EPFL since 2020 | MRes in Engineering @ University of Cambridge 2018-2019 | MSc in Civil Engineering @ ETHZ 2014-2017 | BSc in Civil Engineering @ EPFL 2011-2014.

Jonas Warmuth · PhD Candidate

Jonas is interested in form-finding and optimization techniques for the conceptual design of structures. He concentrates his research on the development of computational tools and methods intended to support architects and engineers in early design stages.

PhD candidate in Civil Engineering @ EPFL since 2020 | Master in Structural Engineering @ TU Munich 2017-2020 | Exchange master project @ ETHZ 2019-2020 | Bachelor in Structural Engineering @ Erfurt Institute of Technology 2013-2017.

Maxence Grangeot · PhD Candidate

Maxence’s research explorations relate to digital-analog fabrication and structural reuse. At SXL, he participates to various research and teaching activities, and conducts a PhD thesis on new means of fabrication for upcycling structures.

Sc. A. @ SXL 2021-2022 | R. A. @ IBOIS 2020 | T.A. @ CNPA 2015-2016 | B.Sc and M.Sc in Architecture @ EPFL 2014-2021 | Project Leader, J. Architect @ Fujimoto 2018-2019 | Intern @ OMA 2017-2018 | Intern @ Ishigami 2017

Maria Sivers · Affiliated PhD Candidate

Maria is passionate about the circular economy ideas and reuse in the construction sector, combined with entrepreneurship and innovations. She is a fellow of the EPFLInnovators Programme co-funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie.

PhD candidate in Architecture @ EPFL since 2019 | Project manager & entrepreneur since 2011 | Internship @ Parliament of Ukraine | Research assistant @ KNUBA 2009-2019 | Research exchange @ TU Munich 2008-2009 | Professional architect since 2005 | Bachelor & Master in Architecture and Reconstruction @ KNUBA/ University of Kyiv 1999-2005.

Leo Kleine · Teaching assistant

As teaching assistant Leo combines his interests for architecture, structural design and sustainability. In 2023 he joined the SXL after gaining experience as competition- and project architect, assistant and as volunteer in climate protection.

Teaching Assist. @ SXL since 2023 | Own architecture practice since 2023 | Volunteer @ Protect Our Winters Switzerland since 2018 | Teaching Assist. at HSLU 2019-2023 | Project arch. @ Meili Peter Partner 2018 – 2019 | Competition arch. and team lead @ Penzel Valier AG 2015 – 2018 |  Master in Arch. @ ETHZ 2013 – 2015 | Bachelor in Arch. @ ETHZ 2009 – 2013

Léa Ganteil · Teaching assistant

Léa’s research interests revolve around the structural conception driven by existing stock, achieved through the integration of parametric methods and artisanal craft. Her master thesis was about repurposing small wooden bars for structural use in collaboration with a carpenter. Throughout her professional journey, she has maintained a strong focus on optimizing an efficient approach to structures, encompassing both existing and new constructions.

Teaching assist. @ SXL since 2023 | Architect @ CCHE since 2023 | Project Leader @ Ipas 2021-2023 | Architect HMONP @ Encore Heureux 2021 | R&D Architecture @ Arep 2020 | R&D Architecture @ ChartierDalix 2018 | Intern @ Fujimoto 2017

Kristina Kröll · Affiliated PhD Candidate

Kristina has a strong interest in developing design tools to seamlessly integrate reused elements into construction projects, promoting circular economy principles. She is passionate about the interface between resource-efficient architecture, structural solutions and computational design. Her PhD position is part of the Eurotech PhD Program at TU/e Eindhoven and is a collaboration with the Structural Xploration Lab, EPFL.

PhD cand. in Architecture @TU/e Eindhoven and EPFL since 2023 | Research Assist. @Structural Design and Construction and @BIM Institute, U. of Wuppertal 2019-2023 | Arch. @agn Niederberghaus & Partner 2020-2022 | Junior Arch. @HPP Architekten 2019 | Ba. and Ma. in Arch. @U. of Wuppertal 2013-2019 | Exchange year @U. of Missouri, Columbia 2018-2019 | Junior Designer @Archi-Tectonics, NYC, USA 2016.

Sibylle Vuillemin · Teaching assistant

During her master’s degree, Sibylle focused on the question of obsolescence and how it is profoundly linked to ruptures in the relationship between users and buildings. She continues to work on her interest in alternative construction methods and understanding of construction materials through the project rebuiLT, as well as in her position as teaching assistant.

project coordinator @rebuiLT since 2022| Master in Architecture @EPFL 2021-2023 | Teaching Assist. CAO and BIM @CNAP 2022| Intern @Tectoniques-Architectes&Ingénieurs 2020-2021 | Bach. in Architecture @EPFL 2017-2020.

Teresa Messina · Administrative Assistant

Teresa joined EPFL in September 2022. At SXL she ensures the success of every administrative process.