I am a Senior Architect with over 20 years of international experience delivering and assuring high-quality architectural projects across Europe, the USA, and Latin America. My expertise combines technical assurance, design review, and multidisciplinary coordination with a strong focus on interior architecture, refurbishment, and the transformation of existing buildings. Over the years, I have worked extensively on retail interiors, workplace environments, and refurbishment projects, developing concepts that give existing spaces a completely new identity while respecting their technical and functional constraints. My experience ranges from interior fit-outs and rollout concepts for international retail brands to the redesign and modernization of older buildings and industrial environments. A central part of my work is identifying the hidden potential of existing structures and transforming them into attractive, functional, and emotionally engaging spaces. I enjoy reimagining outdated or purely functional environments into places with atmosphere, character, and a strong architectural identity. This includes spatial reorganization, material and lighting concepts, façade integration, user experience, and the coordination of technical requirements with high design quality. Having worked internationally and for many years in Germany, I am highly familiar with the technical, regulatory, and coordination aspects of complex refurbishment and interior projects, including collaboration with consultants, contractors, clients, and multidisciplinary teams throughout all planning phases. I am particularly interested in projects where architecture can create a visible transformation — especially in converting industrial or existing buildings into inspiring contemporary environments with a strong identity and user experience. This opportunity would also represent an exciting next step for me as an independent architect and freelance consultant, bringing together my international background, technical expertise, and passion for transformative interior architecture.

Gema Diaz-Matthias

I am a Senior Architect with over 20 years of international experience delivering and assuring high-quality architectural projects across Europe, the USA, and Latin America. My expertise combines technical assurance, design review, and multidisciplinary coordination with a strong focus on interior architecture, refurbishment, and the transformation of existing buildings. Over the years, I have worked extensively on retail interiors, workplace environments, and refurbishment projects, developing concepts that give existing spaces a completely new identity while respecting their technical and functional constraints. My experience ranges from interior fit-outs and rollout concepts for international retail brands to the redesign and modernization of older buildings and industrial environments. A central part of my work is identifying the hidden potential of existing structures and transforming them into attractive, functional, and emotionally engaging spaces. I enjoy reimagining outdated or purely functional environments into places with atmosphere, character, and a strong architectural identity. This includes spatial reorganization, material and lighting concepts, façade integration, user experience, and the coordination of technical requirements with high design quality. Having worked internationally and for many years in Germany, I am highly familiar with the technical, regulatory, and coordination aspects of complex refurbishment and interior projects, including collaboration with consultants, contractors, clients, and multidisciplinary teams throughout all planning phases. I am particularly interested in projects where architecture can create a visible transformation — especially in converting industrial or existing buildings into inspiring contemporary environments with a strong identity and user experience. This opportunity would also represent an exciting next step for me as an independent architect and freelance consultant, bringing together my international background, technical expertise, and passion for transformative interior architecture.

Available to hire

I am a Senior Architect with over 20 years of international experience delivering and assuring high-quality architectural projects across Europe, the USA, and Latin America. My expertise combines technical assurance, design review, and multidisciplinary coordination with a strong focus on interior architecture, refurbishment, and the transformation of existing buildings.
Over the years, I have worked extensively on retail interiors, workplace environments, and refurbishment projects, developing concepts that give existing spaces a completely new identity while respecting their technical and functional constraints. My experience ranges from interior fit-outs and rollout concepts for international retail brands to the redesign and modernization of older buildings and industrial environments.
A central part of my work is identifying the hidden potential of existing structures and transforming them into attractive, functional, and emotionally engaging spaces. I enjoy reimagining outdated or purely functional environments into places with atmosphere, character, and a strong architectural identity. This includes spatial reorganization, material and lighting concepts, façade integration, user experience, and the coordination of technical requirements with high design quality.

Having worked internationally and for many years in Germany, I am highly familiar with the technical, regulatory, and coordination aspects of complex refurbishment and interior projects, including collaboration with consultants, contractors, clients, and multidisciplinary teams throughout all planning phases.
I am particularly interested in projects where architecture can create a visible transformation — especially in converting industrial or existing buildings into inspiring contemporary environments with a strong identity and user experience.
This opportunity would also represent an exciting next step for me as an independent architect and freelance consultant, bringing together my international background, technical expertise, and passion for transformative interior architecture.

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Language

German
Fluent
English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
French
Intermediate

Work Experience

Senior Project Architect & Planner at Apoprojekt
May 1, 2024 - Present
Leading planning team for international office projects, managing planning budgets and resources, and ensuring client satisfaction.
Project Lead / Senior Architect at KONRAD KNOBLAUCH
May 1, 2019 - March 31, 2023
Led Marc O’Polo international retail expansion and delivered over 20 German stores, including design and execution planning.
Senior Project Architect & Planner at ASP Architekten
April 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024
Managed interior renovation and fit-out projects, including site supervision and execution planning.
Architect at FMP Design Engineering GmbH
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2019
Worked on various architectural projects, providing detailed design and construction documentation.
Architect at Architekt Karl
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2014
Performed architectural duties focusing on design and team coordination.

Education

Master in Energy and Sustainable Building Design at De Montfort University
October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006
Registered Architect in Bolivia – Qualification Examination at Universidad Mayor de San Andres
April 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002
Degree in Architecture at Universidad Mayor de San Andres
August 1, 1991 - December 31, 1995
Bilingual International Baccalaureate at United World College of the United States
August 1, 1989 - June 30, 1991

Qualifications

Registered Architect in Bolivia
April 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002