University of South Florida

School of Architecture & Community Design

USF College of The Arts

Kristien Ring

Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design
Phone: (813) 974-4031
Email: ring@usf.edu
Websites: aa-projects.eu | LinkedIn

Kristien Ring is a licensed architect in Germany, board member of the German Federal Foundation of Building Culture and principal of the interdisciplinary studio AA-PROJECTS, which is engaged in the production of interdisciplinary projects on future-oriented themes in the realm of architecture and urban planning.

After a bachelor degree in Architecture and Environmental Design from NC State, Kristien earned her Masters at the Berlin Arts University (Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weissensee) and worked for offices such as Shin Takamatsu and Daniel Libeskind in Berlin. Kristien was the founding Director of the DAZ German Center for Architecture in Berlin (2004 -2011), and the co-founder of the gallery Suitcase Architecture (2001 – 2005). Previously, Kristien has taught as a Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield, UK (2014/15), and as Assistant Professor for Architectural Design at the TU-Braunschweig and at the BTU-Cottbus in Germany.

Kristien is the author and editor of the publication SELF-MADE CITY. Berlin, Self-initiated Urban Living and Architectural Interventions, 2013, and URBAN LIVING, Strategies for the future, 2015, both with Jovis Publishers, and co-editor of Building and Living in Communities, 2015, Birkhaeuser. Currently she curated the exhibition and public programs "URBAN LIVING" that was shown at the DAZ German Center for Architecture, Berlin and in Madrid at the CAOM Architecture Center as well as in Prague in 2015—with the accompanying blog: urbanlivingberlin.de. Kristien has curated many exhibitions and accompanying discussions, on current themes in architecture and urbanism, which have traveled internationally. Kristien has presented her published work extensively at international conferences worldwide, including: a TEDx talk, speaking to the British Parliament in London and German Parliament in Berlin, the AIA-CFA in New York, as well as the Venice Architecture Biennale (2014).

Kristien's recent research project SELF-MADE CITY explores the self-determined design of spaces and buildings for living and working and their impact on the quality of the urban development of our cities. URBAN LIVING looks at components of urban development and affordable housing as strategies for the future. Kristien's research expands on these topics, analyzing how our cities become better through densification and community engagement. At the same time, Kristien is committed to raising architectural discourse and creating better public awareness for architecture.