Liechtenstein: Cornelia Faisst

Born in 1979 in Lingenau, Austria, Cornelia Faisst is a senior lecturer at the University of Liechtenstein (2016–), a design lecturer with Upcycling Advanced Studio and Basic Crafts and Structure Studio (2019–), and coordinates with Pro Bono Seminar and Projects. She holds a diploma in architecture from the University of Applied Arts Vienna in Vienna, Austria (2006 with Greg Lynn), and completed her master builder examinations (2007). She gained professional experience working for international architecture offices including UNStudio, Graft, and SPAN Architecture, and was head of the Falkeis2Architects branch in Vaduz, Liechtenstein (2011–2019).

Faisst participated the Ashoka Visionary Program in Ashoka, Austria (2021–2022), and served as the co-director of studies for the BSc Architecture program at the University of Liechtenstein (2021–2022). She served as co-director of the Erasmus+projects “Social and Environmental Impact Academy for Architects” and “Society in Motion” in collaboration with the Bergen School of Architecture (Norway) and the University of Applied Arts Vienna, as well as the Erasmus+project “SocioEcoHoods” in collaboration with the University of Münster, the Bergen School of Architecture, and the University of Genoa.

Faisst is a member of the earth HUB team at the Liechtenstein School of Architecture, a member of the municipal council (2025–) and heads the Building and Spatial Planning Committee for the municipality of Lingenau, Austria (2020–). She also serves as president of SIDAI, an association that focuses on supporting Maasai girls and women from Ololosokwan, Tanzania. She has served as a guildmaster of the Lingenau Craftsmen’s Guild (2020-), and on the advisory board for the History Workshop affiliated with the Bregenzerwald Archive in Austria.

Faisst has curated numerous exhibitions related to architecture and architectural history. She is also a prolific scholar with numerous academic publications. She received the Liechtenstein Research Prize for her project “Maasai — Community Art Space” (2018); the MAECENAS OE1 Audience Award for her exhibition, “Maasai Women Builders from Ololosokwan” (2018); the MAECENAS “Recognition Award — Art and Culture” for her exhibition “Maasai Female Builders from Ololosokwan” (2017); and the Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky Project Grant for her project “The Maasai Women Builders.” (2014).