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PROFILE
PROFILE
I work at the intersection of architecture, urban resilience, and participatory design.
My practice is built on the conviction that good design only holds if the people who live with it shaped it. From technical infrastructure projects in (post)-disaster contexts to speculative design research in academic studios, I focus on the gap between what ideas and what actually gets built.
I bring both hands-on project management experience and a grounding in design research. Whether coordinating multi-stakeholder projects, facilitating community workshops, or contributing to academic work on design pedagogy, I'm drawn to projects where spatial thinking and social process are treated as inseparable.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Emergency Response Specialist (Shelter, NFI, CVA)
– Shelter NFI & CVA Advisor, Lebanon
– Project Manager, Darfur/Chad
– Earthquake Response Manager, Myanmar
Medair HQ
Lausanne, Switzerland
2023 – 2024
Infrastructure, Shelter and Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist
– Implementation of flood resilient shelter research project in collaboration with EPFL
– Urban recovery efforts following the earthquake, focusing on the deployment of mid-term housing solutions in peri-urban contexts
Medair
Juba, South Sudan
Gaziantep, Türkiye
2022 – 2023
Infrastructure, Shelter/NFI, CVA Specialist
– Provided technical leadership for urban flood-resilience infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with international building standards and climate adaptation frameworks.
Medair
Juba, South Sudan
Since 2021
Business Owner: Architecture & Design
2021 – 2022
Team Lead & Instructor for Outdoor Leadership Training
2021
Research & Teaching Assistant
– Participatory socio-spatial methodology for urban baseline assessments, developed in collaboration with University of Pretoria.
– Designed and delivered course modules on GIS-based data collection and community engagement tools.
Chalmers University of Technology,
South Africa, Sweden
2020
Solar Power Technician
Cona, Austria
2017 – 2019
Architect
alp architektur zt, Austria
2015
Carpenter on-site
JSN Construction, Canada
2014
Technical Draftsman
arge.ateliers, Austria
2013 – 2014
Community Service
Nursing Home, Austria
2012 – 2013
Metal Technician
R&S Tore, Austria
PUBLIC & ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
PUBLIC & ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
UPCOMING
Interactive Workshop at Linz International School Auhof (AT)
2026
Guest Lecture
“Cross-Cultural Communication"
Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
Speaker
“From Research to Real-World Impact: Investing in Scalable Local Climate Solutions"
ChangeNOW Summit (EPFL Tech4Dev), Paris (FR)
Speaker
“Academic Innovation meets International Cooperation"
International Cooperation Forum, Geneva (CH)
Guest Lecture
Emergency Architecture: “Design for Failure"
Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
Presentation (110 participants)
“Humanitarian Aid"
Zurich International School (CH)
2025
Interactive Workshop (120 participants)
“Joys and Challenges of Humanitarian Aid"
Linz International School Auhof (AT)
Master Thesis Co-Supervision
“Developing an Innovation Process for Humanitarian NGOs"
Delft University of Technology
Public Interview
“Finding Beauty amidst Chaos and Suffering in Emergency Response"
Kupper Modern Art Gallery, Zurich (CH)
Group Game + Discussion
“Panic Packers" – Decision-making in Emergencies
Gymnasium Schlierbach (AT)
Simulation Facilitation (120 participants)
Refugee Simulation
International School of Geneva (CH)
Guest Lecture
Community Engagement – “How to be a Good Guest"
Reality Studio, Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
Public Presentation
“Holzweg: Humanitäre Hilfe"
HTBLA Hallstatt (AT)
Interactive Workshop
“Leben Retten !/?" – Szenarien in der Humanitären Hilfe
Gymnasium Schlierbach (AT)
Interactive Workshop (130 participants)
“Saving Lives !/?" – Humanitarian Scenarios
Linz International School Auhof (AT)
Top 10 candidates for SDC International Cooperation Award
Innovative Rubber Rope Solutions: Enhancing Housing Resilience and Sustainability
International Cooperation Forum, ETH Zurich (CH)
2024
Guest Lecture
Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation
Reality Studio, Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
Public Presentation
South Sudan — Cross-Cultural Impressions
Kinema Kino Kirchdorf/Krems (AT)
Presentation
Linking Shelter Sector with Academics: Universities from Switzerland and South Sudan Join Forces to Provide Transitional Shelter Response for Flood Emergencies
Africa Shelter Forum 2024
2023
Presentation
Innovation Project: Flood Resilient Shelters in South Sudan
UK Shelter Forum
Guest Lecture
Architects as Humanitarians
Reality Studio, Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
2021
Guest Lecture
Serious Games for Community Engagement
Reality Studio, Chalmers University of Technology (SE)
2020
Guest Lecture & Workshop
“UkuDoba Method” — Participatory Data Collection Tool
Chalmers University of Technology & University of Pretoria (SE, ZA)
Conference Speed Talk
“The Seedling Project”
University of Gothenburg (Global Sustainable Futures)
Public Presentation
Travel Report Kenya & South Africa
Upper Austria (AT)
PUBLICATIONS
PUBLICATIONS
Naidoo, P., Zorn, M. (in preparation). Circuits and Streams: The Flow of Energy and Power Imbalance in Community Engagement.
Zorn, M. (in preparation). “A Seat at the Table” – Speculative Design as Pedagogy.
Zorn, M. (2021). Let’s roll the dice! Exploring games and play as an inclusive design method. [Diploma Thesis, Technische Universität Wien].
Dunn S., Zorn M. (2023). Workshop and Distribution Report. South Sudan: Distribution of Flood Resilient Shelter.
FEATURED
FEATURED
Farinea, C. et al. (2021). Public play space: Turning urban space into public places with games and play. Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia/Public Play Space.
UkuDoba: A Methodological Framework for Effective Socio-Economic Data Collection. (unpublished)
Daschill O. et al. (2022). Transforming Lviv 2025 - City for People. Institute of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture. Vienna University of Technology.
Aufschnaiter H., Stabauer C. (2019). Rebauty II research, design and transformation | W 2018. Vienna University of Technology, Department of Spatial and Sustainable Design 2019ReBeauty II - Research, Design & Transformation.
Exo R. et al. (2019). Wiener Reserven - Studio Städtebau 19/20. Institute of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture, Vienna University of Technology.
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
2026
CAS in Intercultural Leadership
Columbia International University, USA/Germany
2021
MSc in Architecture
Vienna Technical University, Austria
2020
Architecture and Planning Beyond Sustainability (Erasmus Scholarship)
Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
2017
Architecture & Urban Planning (Erasmus Scholarship)
Catalonia Technical University, Spain
2012
Technical College for Wood Technology and Design
HTBLA Hallstatt, Austria
TRAINING & CERTIFICATES
TRAINING & CERTIFICATES
Data Science for Humanitarian Impact – Geneva AI Initiative (26h)
EPFL AI Center + SDSC
Generative AI Law and Ethics
eCornell
War & Peace: Who is right? Who is left? – Democracy and peace in times of war (40h)
Technical University Berlin
Democratizing Sustainability (180h)
Technical University Berlin
Humanitarian Project Management (40h)
Medair
Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation
Swiss NGO Platform
Law and Disaster Risk Reduction
IFRC
Strengthening Community Resilience
IFRC
Live the Code
IFRC
Proposal Writing Training (40h)
Medair
Emergency Response and Security Training (50h)
UK
Core CVA Skills for Programme Staff (50h)
CALP
First Aid Course (16h)
Red Cross Austria
VOLUNTEERING
VOLUNTEERING
2024
Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz (Austrian Red Cross)
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
2015 – 2023
Construction Consultation
Torchbearers International, Sweden
2018 – 2020
Project Design & Implementation
Small scale urban intervention (“Parklet”), Austria
2017
Architectural Design: Community Gym
Torchbearers International, Sweden
2016
Maintenance & Construction Work
South Asian Institute for Leadership and Cultural Studies (SAILCS), India
MEMBERSHIPS
MEMBERSHIPS
Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz (Austrian Red Cross)
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Member of Global Sustainable Futures Network
GSF: Progress through Partnerships, Sweden
Member of “Architecture without Borders — Austria” (AoGA)
Part of ASF International
LANGUAGES
LANGUAGES
English
C2 — Professional working proficiency (Kaplan Test)
German
C2 — Mother tongue
Spanish
B1 — Conversational
French
A1 — Basics
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