Fanelsa Niklas

Prof. Niklas Fanelsa (born 1985) is a tenure-track Professor of Architecture and Design at the TUM School of Engineering and Design. He advocates application-oriented architectural practices addressing contemporary societal challenges through real-world laboratories, prototypes, and transdisciplinary collaborations. His work emphasizes circular building systems, holistic design, and rural-urban commoning structures.

• Education: Architecture degrees from RWTH Aachen University and Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Prior roles: Founder of Atelier Fanelsa (Berlin/Gerswalde), research associate at RWTH Aachen, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, and Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Research focuses on extending architectural practice through transdisciplinary methods, including start-up collaborations and experimental project formats. Notable awards include the German Academy Rome Scholarship (2022) and Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship (2019).

Key publications explore vernacular architecture, rural commoning, and sustainable design strategies. His work has been featured in major exhibitions like the Venice Biennale and Oslo Architecture Triennale.