Dr. MONICA TUșINEAN

Freie Architektin BDA

Partner @Plantrafik Architekten PartGmbB






about:

guest columns:

recently:

Monica Tușinean is an independent Romanian architect, researcher, and author based in Germany. 


She completed her design-driven doctorate at TU Berlin, where she explored non-invasive adaptive reuse strategies for industrial heritage alongside speculative design methodologies. She currently leads a research project on transformation strate

Monica Tușinean is an independent Romanian architect, researcher, and author based in Germany. 


She completed her design-driven doctorate at TU Berlin, where she explored non-invasive adaptive reuse strategies for industrial heritage alongside speculative design methodologies. She currently leads a research project on transformation strategies at the University of Stuttgart, and has taught at both KIT and Universität Stuttgart.


Monica is a partner at Plantrafik Architekten, where she and her colleagues focus on the reuse of industrial sites and the adaptive transformation of existing building stock. In 2026 she has been appointed as a board member of the BDA - Bund Deutscher Architekten und Architektinnen.

recently:

guest columns:

recently:

2026:


Publication

"Design Phenomenographies: Adaptive Reuse and the Reanimation of PostCommunist Industrial Ruins" 

STH Press Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, Emanuele Carrai:  "Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse.

Volume 1", STH Press


Publication

Protection though Transformation: Feminist design theory between preserv

2026:


Publication

"Design Phenomenographies: Adaptive Reuse and the Reanimation of PostCommunist Industrial Ruins" 

STH Press Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, Emanuele Carrai:  "Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse.

Volume 1", STH Press


Publication

Protection though Transformation: Feminist design theory between preservation and architectural transformation"

Lena Beetz, Christian Dietz, Aaron Wunner und Miriam Zimmermann, Neuwerk #12 - Magazin für Designwissenschaften: "Intervention", Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle


Lecture

“Reflections on Sites of Love and Labour”, 

EASA (European Architecture Students Assembly),Rauenstein


Lecture

“Research in the Debris: Disrupting Architectural Paradigms”, 

Internationales Bauhaus Kolloquium, Weimar 


Lecture

“Hill House, not sane”

Nordic Summer University in Saulkrasti, Latvia 


Lecture

“DUPLICITY / DUPLICITÄT: Betwixt intimates and strangers”, 

Seminar + Vortrag

Freie Universität Berlin - Nordic Summer University


2025:


Publication

Drawing x Across x University Borders

i2ds University Porto


Lecture and Workshop

Fix It! Europaforum Freiburg


Lecture

FATUK - Forschungswerkstatt

University Kaiserslautern

with Prof. Adria Daraban


Workshop

Drawing sessions 

With architecture students FH Potsdam, Rome, Italy


Conference Lecture

Adaptive Re-Use

University of Pisa


Conference Lecture

Heritage and Adaptive Reuse 

Ierek Conference Egypt


Lecture

Forschungsdrang!

Architekturschaufenster Karlsruhe


Baunetz-Campus Podcast

Entwurfsbasiert promoviert: Was erzählen uns industrielle Ruinen?


Conference Lecture

Heritages 2025

Critical Questions 

Contemporary Practice 

University of Greenwich, London


Partnership

Plantrafik Architekten

Stuttgart


Publication 

Nordic Journal for Artistic Research

Exposition: ViS Journal


ArchiKon 2025 

Ressourcenwende 

Moderator - Materialien für die Wende


Joinery Compendium

Moderator - Wechselraum BDA


Schulbau Symposium VHS

Moderator - Education Architecture


2024:


Doctoral degree from the Technische Universität Berlin.

magna cum laude

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Title of the dissertation:

"Protection Through Transformation"

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December  2024, Berlin


DrawingxAcrossxAlong University Borders - Panelist - Practice Sharing

i2ADS + FBAUP University of Porto. 

Abstract

16-19. October


Finalist (#9)

International Architectural Competition - Industrial Site "Rulmentul"


FAUS - "...und morgen?" - Panelist

Uni Stuttgart 14.October


EASST-4S - Panelist

"Making and Doing Transformations"

Amsterdam, NL, 16-19. July


Kamingespräch - Roundtable Talk

IRGE, Uni Stuttgart, 12. June


Jour Fixe - Panelist

Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Stuttgart, 30. April


Cities Building Culture - Panelist

Visual Methodologies for the  Transdisciplinary  Study of Heritage

RWTH Aachen, 21-23. March


Schulbau Messe - Moderation

Internationaler Salon und Messe für den Bildungsbau, Stuttgart, 29.February


KNTXTR

 "Greenwashing in Design Education"- Read it here:  LINK


2023:


Ph.D. School Tbilisi, Georgia

Neighborhood Heritage

'Cities building culture'


Moderation:  ArchiKon AKBW + 

'Neue Arbeitswelten'


Wechselgespräche 

IBA27/BDA - Junge Raumpraxis


Queens of Structure

Podium Discussion

Frauen in der Bauwende 

(feminist practices for change in  construction industries)


Publication

CA2RE+ 3rd edition

Frameworks of Design-Driven Research


Kolloquium PEP 6

Entwurfsbasierte Promotion Berlin


2022:


Guest Lecture 

Adaptive Re-Use @ Kent State University, Ohio


CIPA - International Congress for Architectural and Landscape Heritage @ Malagueira, Portugal

poster + publication


Constructive Disobedience

Symposium @ TU Braunschweig

KIT EntwerfenKonstruieren (Prof. Ludwig Wappner) 


Architecture Beyond Capitalism

workshop @ the architecture lobby


 creative days stuttgart

input lecture @ hospitalhof


sustain. build. repeat 

Symposium @ ZKM Karlsruhe


D.A.R.A. 

Symposium Design and Research in Architecture and Landscape 

Leibniz Universität Hannover


Hidden Histories: Gender in Design

Design History Society, London


PEP - Kolloquium Programm entwurfsbasierte Promotion  

TU Berlin


2021:

Moderation AIP-Kongress “Young Archikon” - Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg


Ca2Re (Conference for Artistic and Architectural (Doctoral) Research)"Reformulations"

 Ljubjlana 


PEP - Kolloquium Programm entwurfsbasierte Promotion 

TU Berlin


Wiss. Veröffentlichung: Ca2Re - Strategies of design driven research, erste Ausgabe 2021


Relevante Lehrveranstaltungen 2021/22:

Seminar - Adaptive Re-Use


Masterentwurf - Umnutzung und Transformation des Geschäftshauses “Münchner Freiheit” 


Stegreif - Adaptive Transformation der Innenhöfe Geb. 20.40


2020:

Workshop Methodology in Research by Art or Design - HafenCity Universität Hamburg 


DARA Symposium and PhD Peer Review Design and Research in Architecture, Hannover


"Intentions" Ca2Re+ (Conference for Artistic and Architectural (Doctoral) Research) Trondheim


PEP - Kolloquium Programm entwurfsbasierte Promotion, 

TU Berlin


2019 bis dato:

Entwurfsbasierte Promotion „Approaching industrial heritage sites in a post-socialist landscape“ Technische Universität Berlin, PhD Adviser: Dr. Ignacio Borrego


2018:

Kolloquien „Programm Entwurfsbasierte Promotion“ (PEP0 + PEP1) TU Berlin 


Freie Mitarbeit Schleicher Ragaller Architekten Stuttgart (Wettbewerbe)


Ausstellung - Wechselraum Stuttgart Framed: Arbeiten der 

Studierenden am KIT


2017 bis dato:

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin – Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, IEB Prof. Ludwig Wappner 


Selbstständige Arbeit als Architektin 


Freie Mitarbeit Schleicher Ragaller Architekten Stuttgart (Wettbewerbe)


Freie Mitarbeit Plantrafik Architekten Stuttgart (Wettbewerbe)


2017:

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit – Universität Stuttgart

 Institut für öffentliche Bauten, 

Prof. Alexander Schwarz 


Selbstständige Arbeit als Architektin 


2015

Eintragung in die Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg, berechtigt zur Bauvorlage


2012 – 2017:

Architektin – Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei Architekten Stuttgart (Projektleitung und Wettbewerbe) 


Consulting + Ausführung Teatrul Radu Stanca, Sibiu „Fabrica de Cultura“ (basierend auf der Diplomarbeit “Wastelands” 2012)


Lehraufträge Universität Stuttgart:
IRGE Prof. Markus Allmann - Einführung in das Entwerfen 3. 


Semester (Entwurf) IÖB Prof. Alexander Schwarz - Standpunkte der Baukultur (Vorlesung)


2012:

Diplom Universität Stuttgart: "Wastelands - Transformationen einer Industrieruine" Prof. Markus Allmann, Prof. Arno Lederer
(Anerkennung Diplompreis Uni Stuttgart, Shortlist Baunetz Campus Masters )


2011:

Praktikum EM2N Architekten Zürich


2008-2011

IÖB Prof. Arno Lederer - Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft, stud. Tutorin Entwerfen und Darstellung Mitarbeit an der Publikation "Raumpilot - Lernen"


2007-2012

Architekturstudium Universität Stuttgart


Mitglied EASA (European Architecture Students Assembly) - Workshops und Summer Schools: 


Elefsina, Griechenland - “Index City”
Letterfrack, Irland - “Adaptation”
Brescia, Italien - “supermARCHnet”

Manchester, UK - “Identity”


2005 – 2007

Architekturstudium Universitatea de Arhitectura si Urbanism Ion Mincu Bukarest


2005

Abitur - Bacalaureat, Sibiu, Rumänien

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Persönliches

Geb. 14.08.1986 in Hunedoara, Rumänien 


Interessen und Schwerpunkte:
Entwurfsbasierte Forschung in der Architektur
Experimentelle Bestandserhaltung von Industrieruinen
Adaptive Transformationen im Rahmen nachhaltiger Konzepte für erhaltenswertes Kulturerbe Bauen und Erhalten von intraurbanen Brachen unter Aspekten der "kritischen Fürsorge" Entwicklung von Entwurfslehrkonzepten für den Umgangs mit bestehenden Strukturen



guest columns:

guest columns:

guest columns:

AI in Architecture: Awe and Autophagia

Read @ Kontextur


Greenwashing in Design Education

Opinion Piece for KNTXTR

www.kontextur.info


«It appears that architecture schools are buying into an erroneous dichotomy of beauty vs. sustainability and are struggling to marry didactic tradition with the architecture and construction practices the climat

AI in Architecture: Awe and Autophagia

Read @ Kontextur


Greenwashing in Design Education

Opinion Piece for KNTXTR

www.kontextur.info


«It appears that architecture schools are buying into an erroneous dichotomy of beauty vs. sustainability and are struggling to marry didactic tradition with the architecture and construction practices the climate emergency requires.»


Read  full text here @kntxtr


Master Of None

Opinion Piece for KNTXTR


«The prevailing reality for most employed architects is the continuous confrontation with an anachronistic view of the occupation and a (perceived) inability to imagine another working model from within a dysfunctional system.»


Read full text here @kntxtr

teaching

guest columns:


2025

Universität Stuttgart

IRGE/GEN

Seminar and Research project on Strategies of Adaptive Reuse


2024 Guest Critic

Metropol X - KIT

Professur Internationaler Städtebau und Entwerfen


2023 Guest Critic

Design Studio IU Architecture Stuttgart


2022 Guest Lecture 

Adaptive Re-Use @ Kent State University, Ohio



Since 2017 

Scientific Assistant and Lecturer

K


2025

Universität Stuttgart

IRGE/GEN

Seminar and Research project on Strategies of Adaptive Reuse


2024 Guest Critic

Metropol X - KIT

Professur Internationaler Städtebau und Entwerfen


2023 Guest Critic

Design Studio IU Architecture Stuttgart


2022 Guest Lecture 

Adaptive Re-Use @ Kent State University, Ohio



Since 2017 

Scientific Assistant and Lecturer

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
Fakultät für Architektur
Institut Entwerfen und Bautechnik 


x


Selected Seminars

Adaptive Re-Use @ KIT


winter 2021/22

summer 2022

winter 2022/23



Selected Masters' Design Projects

Transformation + Re-Use @KIT


"Trash To Treasure"

Transformation of Thermoselect Site

Karlsruhe Harbor


Transformation Retail Mall  “Münchner Freiheit” 


Stegreif - Short design project

Adaptive Transformation der Innenhöfe Geb. 20.40 @KIT




Teaching @ Universität Stuttgart

2015-2017


2nd Year Studio Project

Introduction to Design


Masters' Design Project

"Theatre in Transylvania"


Lecture 

"Standpunkte der Baukultur"




PODCAST 'Baustelle bauwesen'


 via Philip & Michael Kalkbrenner|14.12.2022


Greenwashing is a popular marketing tool that many businesses are using today. This goes so far that the feeling is conveyed that we can all save the environment and thus the world by buying a certain product: the more of this product that is bought, the better.



Too often we fall into the trap of


 via Philip & Michael Kalkbrenner|14.12.2022


Greenwashing is a popular marketing tool that many businesses are using today. This goes so far that the feeling is conveyed that we can all save the environment and thus the world by buying a certain product: the more of this product that is bought, the better.



Too often we fall into the trap of greenwashing!



Philip and Michael talk greenwashing in construction with Monica Tusinean in today's issue. Monica is a research associate at the Faculty of Architecture at KIT and likes to throw up about the industry and the idol hype in the architecture industry.



Together with her, we think about the following questions: What forms of greenwashing are used in our industry? How "green" is cement really, or are we just being fooled when we see the modernized concrete mixers of a major German cement manufacturer? What about away from cement? Are there projects that are described as sustainable and only remotely related to it? Is there greenwashing in science? That and much more. Stay tuned.



Covering these questions and a lighthearted exchange about the construction industry in general awaits you in today's episode of Construction Site. 


Have fun listening!


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tusinean (at) plantrafik.de