Jitske Swagemakers

Research Associate and Architect
University of California, Berkley

Jitske Swagemakers is a Research Associate at University of California, Berkeley, and a licensed architect. Originally from Rotterdam, she holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from MIT, and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Sciences from TU Delft.

Jitske’s work explores how material cycles drive sustainable design and enable new tactile experiences in the built environment. At UC Berkeley, her work integrates forest management and wood construction with a focus on low-carbon, low-tech mass timber systems for achievable housing. She has practiced architecture in the Netherlands, Australia and the United States, contributing to a diverse array of projects ranging from higher institutional and mixed-use commercial to urban master plans and crowdfunded infrastructure. Her work has been showcased at prestigious venues including the Venice Architecture Biennale, the MIT Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.