How does your personal background influence the way you approach architectural design?

Jackie Ley. – “My studies gave me a strong foundation, but for me, learning has never stopped there. I am driven by personal curiosity and by the constant desire to keep developing, improving mistakes and trying out new methods. I believe architecture is a field where you never stop learning, because every project, every challenge, and every collaboration teaches you something new. This mindset makes me approach design with openness and flexibility. I always try to question my own process, refine it, and look for better ways of designing and building. For me, architecture is not only about creating spaces, but also about continuous growth and adaptation.

What inspires you the most when designing a project?

“Every project is different and comes with its own qualities and challenges whether it is the site, an existing building or an interior fit-out. You always design with what is already there, and I find that very inspiring. At the same time, the client and the future users play a central role in the design process. It is important that the building makes sense for the way it is used and that people feel comfortable in it. Very often, the first impression and the initial intuitive feeling also guide my approach. This instinct helps to reveal the potential of a project and to develop a design that responds both to the context and to the people who will use the space.

Which project has marked you the most in your career so far?

“My career is still at an early stage, but so far, the project that has marked me the most is the Post headquarters. It was my first construction site and also my first large-scale project, so it was a very important experience for me. Working on it taught me a lot in a very short time, both professionally and personally. It was a strong team effort, and being part of that process helped me grow tremendously. It was also the project where I developed a real appreciation for the construction phase. I found it especially interesting to understand how a project develops from the very beginning and to already think ahead about how things can actually be executed on site. That connection between design and construction has strongly influenced the way I approach architecture today.”