Janine Umiker

Janine Umiker is an architect specialising in exhibition scenography, collaborative building practices and material reuse. She completed her master’s degree in architecture at ETH Zurich in 2018, where she worked as an assistant at the Institute for History and Theory (gta), developing an interest in exhibition design, hands-on construction and knowledge sharing. Beyond architectural practice, she has contributed to several collaborative projects, including the scenography for ‘Dringende Ausstellung für ein Recht auf Wohnen’ with Mieten-Marta, advocating for affordable housing in Zurich. Since 2021, she has been a member of gemeinsam bauen wir neu, contributing to the design and construction of projects such as a pavilion at Theaterspektakel Zurich, a mini-golf workshop at Hardgutbrache and an installation on the theme of care for Theaterfestival Grätsche. Her work focuses on feminist building practices, collective craftsmanship and material reuse. She currently works at Zirkular, a company dedicated to integrating reused building materials into construction, an approach she is also developing within gemeinsam bauen wir neu through practical applications in collective projects.

• Build an Apiary
• Carve a Wooden Bowl
• Build Your Little Wooden Boat

List of Collaborators