Bienvenue dans mon portfolio, qui met en avant quelques-unes de mes réalisations issues de mes études en architecture, allant de la conception de logements à petite échelle, à des projets de design hospitalier, jusqu’à la planification urbaine.
Mes intérêts se concentrent sur la communauté et la culture, un fil conducteur dans tous mes projets. En tant que designer, je suis curieuse, engagée et pragmatique, cherchant à révéler la beauté de l’existant et à créer une valeur nouvelle issue du lieu et, surtout, des usagers. Je travaille particulièrement bien en équipe ; ainsi, la plupart des projets présentés dans mon portfolio ont été réalisés en petites équipes créatives.
Je rêve de travailler avec une équipe internationale de professionnels passionnés par la création d’espaces inclusifs et de haute qualité. En raison de la portée internationale de mes projets, j’ai choisi de présenter mon portfolio en anglais.
Sincèrement, Amanda
COORDONNÉES
apuerto8@gmail.com
076 266 38 26
ww.linkedin.com/in/amanda-puerto-lichtenberg
Rue de la Tour, 1004 Lausanne
EDUCATION
Aalto University
2020 - 2024 License en Architecture
2024 - Master en Architecture
EPFL
2024 Échange de Master
CONCOURS
1st place prize
European comission
Smart cities marketplace
The Atelier project 2023
Kaira Looro
Maternity center in Senegal 2024
Volume Zero Competitions
Tiny house 2024
EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONELLE
Lindroos Architects
Stagiaire
sept. 2023 - sept. 2024
La Biennale di Venezia
Stagiaire
mai 2023 - juil. 2023
ARKKI
École d’architecture d’enfants et de jeunes
Enseignante
janv. 2022 - sept. 2024
EXPOSITIONS
KNUST - Kumasi trees 2024 | Kumasi, Ghana
Aalto University - Colours of Kumasi 2024 | Helsinki, Finland
Seoul Biennale of architecture and urbanism 2023 Seoul 100-year masterplan exhibition 2023 | Seoul, South-Korea
Aalto University - Home of an artist 2022 | Helsinki, Finland
LANGUES
THE ATELIER PROJECT ‘Imaginative use of city space’
‘Bridging the megacity’
05 03 06 04
TINY HOUSE
‘Off-grid living in the periphery’
‘Maternity center in rural Senegal’
KUMASI TREES
‘Re-greening the city of Kumasi’
COMMUNITY HOUSE
‘Collective housing in Helsinki’
SEOUL BIENNALE
KAIRA LOORO
‘Imaginative use of city space’
01 KOI
The ATELIER project was a student competition conducted by the European comission with the aim of finding solutions for integrating technical buildings into urban environments. Collaborating with Nora Petersen and Laura Salminen, we developed Koi, a design concept that merges technology with vibrant, multifunctional spaces. Our goal was to transform essential infrastructure into engaging areas that encourage social interaction and sustainability.
Project Concept & Design Philosophy
In this project the main focus was to find a way to integrate design with technology, where functionality and aesthetics blend seamlessly. We approached the challenge by imagining the standard sizes of technical spaces, and creating a shell that ensures a dual role as infrastructure and community hubs. During the design process we worked closely with the site, analysing the flows of people, the needs of the neighborhood and the typologies found in the surrounding buildings. We wanted to create a mass that would stand out and leave room for nature.
Architectural Elements
• Efficient Use of Space:
We embedded air pump facilities within a multipurpose framework, allowing technical elements to coexist with public areas.
• Year-Round Pop-Up Spaces: Our design included adaptable spaces for events, en couraging continuous community engagement.
• Wooden Lattice with Biodiversity Features: This element promoted ecological health, integrating plants and insect hotels into the urban setting.
Outcome & Reflection
Through this project, I learned how integrative, thoughtful design can turn technical structures into vibrant, multifunctional spaces that enhance urban life and foster community. The competition submission required a clear concept with concept drawings and most importantly a presentation video of the project. As a new skill I learned during our process to audiovisually present an architectural project through animation and video-editing. The clear and throught-through idea resulted in our team winning the first price of the competition and being able to join the UIA congress in Copenhagen to present our design. This was my first architecture competition, and it taught me a lot about myself as a designer and most importantly as a team member. Working with Nora Petersen and Laura Salminen was a seamless collaboration and through this our individual ideas were really brought to life in a more in-depth way.
The name KOI symbolizes the harmony between nature and humans and was born through the organic and flowing form of the structure.
https://youtu.be/Mk7ipNwLyUs
Concept video edited and animated by Amanda Puerto-Lichtenberg.
02 The Sisters
As our third year bachelor’s project, we participated in the “Bridging the Megacity” project for the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2023. The course involved the design of a high-rise structure that integrates commercial, office, and residential spaces fitting in the new bustling 100year masterplan of Seoul’s new bridges. The project focused on form-giving, facade design, and creating a building that enhances its urban surroundings.
Architectural exploration and personal learnings
As my individual project on this course I was interested in exploring contextual design in a dense cityscape and crafting a structure that stood out while harmonizing with Seoul’s urban fabric, using color and form to communicate warmth and connectivity. ‘The Sisters’ became pair of towers embodying unity and individuality, just like sisters. The vibrant red color adds a unique presence to the skyline, inviting exploration and engagement. As an important concept in the project was the connectivity between nature and the urban environment, thus the buildings opens to lush recreational areas both on the ground level as well as on an elevated platform, blurring indoor and outdoor spaces. The project taught me a lot about the technicalities of building design with a large program, as well as creative structural and form-giving.
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Conceptual sketches, using the chosen accent colour to represent warmth and connectivity to the surrounding historical and cultural context.
KAIRA LOORO
‘Maternity center in rural Senegal’
03 Segou Mother’s Center
The Ségou Mothers’ Centre is a maternity facility designed for the rural village of Ségou in Kédougou, Senegal. The project was created as a design proposal for the Kaira Looro competition of 2024 together with Nora Petersen and Laura Salminen. The aim of the project was to create a center that addresses issues like limited access to information concerning childbirth, professional development for nurses, and women’s empowerment in labour and motherhood.
Project Concept & Design Philosophy
This project was an exploration of how architecture can support community health and reflect cultural sensitivity. The site was not given in the competition program, so my team and I carefully studied existing research on challenged rural regions when it comes to newborns’ and mothers’ death during childbirth. We found the town of Ségou, which is both a challenged but also a very potential town with an active and growing community. We positioned the new mother’s center between existing healthcare infrastructure and a water tower to insure easy and safe access. The main values were creating a safe space both for mother’s, their partners, newborns and staff.
Architectural Elements
• Dual Courtyards:
The layout features a public courtyard for education and community events, and a private courtyard for patient recovery, balancing engagement and privacy.
• Sustainable Materials:
Locally sourced clay, bamboo, and thatch were used, combining traditional techniques with modern healthcare needs. Handcrafted bricks and bamboo columns involved local artisans, fostering community ownership.
• Functional and Educational Design:
The center integrates functional spaces with educational initiatives, empowering women during childbirth and encouraging community participation.
Outcome & Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of cultural and ecological harmony in design. It became more than a healthcare facility, it serves as a community space promoting education and empowerment. The challenge in the design process was to design a building to actually be built, with construction details and budget to be handed in. This made the design process very in-depth and fruitfull, and I learned to take into account realistic constraints and details. I also learned about vernacular materials, ventilation systems and how to effectively and safely create a hospital layout.
View from post-natal ward.
View from arrival coutryard with education space.
04 Périphérique
Périphérique is a compact, off-grid housing solution designed for homeless individuals living along the “Le Périphérique” ring road in Paris. Inspired by the need for privacy, safety, and stability, Périphérique aims to transform underutilized roadside areas into dignified living spaces. The project was created for Volume Zero Competitions 2023 edition of the ‘Tiny House’ challenge together with Nora Petersen and Laura Salminen.
Architectural exploration and personal learnings
This project emphasized empathy, practicality, and adaptability. Périphérique was designed as a transitional home, offering 11.5 square meters of personalized space that blends simplicity with functionality. The design process focused on balancing form and function while prioritizing affordability and sustainability. A closed, elongated facade shields residents from road traffic, while multiple units can be grouped to create supportive communities. Features include wood frame construction for low carbon emissions, aluminum roofing for durability, and PV panels for energy independence. The stilted structure adapts to varied terrains, and the design allows for site-specific customization. Skylights introduce natural light, and a solid exterior shell leads to a private backyard, fostering a sense of tranquility. During this project I learned about how minimal, thoughtful design can address urgent social issues and the importance of providing more than shelter; offering dignity, cultural freedom in space as well as community.
Working with detailed drawings to show the character of the inhabitants as well as using a 1:20 model to explore materiality, structural elements and lighting and interior design.
KUMASI TREES
‘Re-greening the city of Kumasi’
05 Re-greening Kumasi
As my first Master’s studio, I participated in the Kumasi Trees project by KNUST and Aalto University. The collaborative project focused on sustainable urban development in Kumasi, Ghana. The project began with a month-long field trip, where students from both universities conducted in-depth fieldwork and community engagement to gather data about seven neighborhoods, their urban fabric and life. The project was the first step in a longer collaboration to develop a 30-year strategic plan to re-green the city. As part of the studio, the main focus was on cultural context research, different fieldwork and data collection methods as well as extensive urban design on several scales. My personal studio work was made in a group of four, Stefano Ramponi, Jules Coffineau-Rolland, Daniela Ala-Keturi and I. As well as our design project, the studio included the curation of an exhibition and production of a publication.
Project Concept & Approach
Our approach combined bottom-up community insights with top-down global strategies, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In our design work for all seven sites we emphasized local engagement, sensory research, and interviews to ensure designs were rooted in local realities. The project addressed global challenges like climate resilience to combat extreme heat or heavy erotion due to rain, all while respecting the cultural and aesthetic values unique to Kumasi.
Design Principles
• Embodied Experience: Human-centered research focused on understanding residents’ needs, ensuring designs felt authentic and empathetic.
• Inclusivity & Local Engagement: Fostering community participation through workshops, encouraging a sense of ownership over public spaces.
• Heritage & Sustainability: The project balanced future development with respect for Kumasi’s heritage, aiming for long-term sustainability.
Photograph from one of the researched neighborhoods. Amanda Puerto-Lichtenberg
Outcome & Reflection
The project proposed seven development pathways to promote re-greening and community cohesion. It highlighted how urban planning can start with small, actionable steps, such as introducing green spaces and furniture concepts. In our proposals we aimed to add trees in precise areas, where they wouldn’t disturbe existing street businesses but would rather create a more enjoyable atmosphere for new livelyhoods. Through conceptual sketches, mind-maps, masterplans, graphs and territorial sections we were able to create a large base for future development in the urban areas. Our design concepts and the outcome of ours and the KNUST students’ fieldwork data were exhibited in Ghana as well as in Aalto University. On Aalto University’s side my group also published a book by the name Colours of Kumasi, which went more in-depth in our personal process and designwork.
This experience taught me the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and empathy in design, emphasizing that real-world engagement can lead to sustainable, community-owned solutions. Our vision was to set an example for integrating culture, nature, and growth in urban planning, showing how greener cities can lead to a brighter, sustainable future.
Exhibition curated by our team of four Aalto University, Helsinki
COMMUNITY HOUSE
‘Collective housing in Helsinki’
06 Community house
As our third year of Bachelor’s housing studio the aim was to create a multi-storey community house to learn the importance of communal living in housing design. The project aimed to revitalize traditional residential buildings in Helsinki by fostering community interaction while all while preserving individual privacy. The design emphasized creating adaptable, shared spaces that connect residents with nature and each other.
Architectural exploration and personal learnings
The challenge was to design flexible living spaces. In my personal project I created a simple main structure with a garden wing, including shared areas encouraging spontaneous community activities. In the core of the building is a multiuse main hall which acts as a dynamic, versatile space acted as a central hub for gatherings, quiet waiting, and access to other common areas. The layout of the apartments was optimized for functionality, ensuring comfort despite a smaller footprint, suitable for families of all sizes. The building opens up into a surrounding forest, allowing natural light and views of greenery to create a calming atmosphere that promotes well-being. In this project I mainly learned how to balance a large program into a compact and functional ensemble.
ROSKAKATOS
Community spaces offered on the first floor of the building in form of shared workshops, living room and multiuse entrance hall.
