Barbara Lydia Ruech

How has your degree influenced the way you think, approach problems or develop new solutions?

Studying architecture has changed the way I see the world. It not only sharpened my thinking, but also gave me the freedom to think beyond conventions and to approach complex ideas with creativity and passion. Encounters with inspiring people, questioning what is familiar and the joy of discovery continue to shape me to this day.

This mindset accompanies everything I do, in my projects, in my collaboration with students and in my vision of architecture as a bridge between innovation and cultural identity.

Which skills or perspectives that you acquired at the University of Liechtenstein help you most today in your professional or personal life?

At the University of Liechtenstein, I learned to think in a connected way and to move beyond obvious solutions. This approach shapes my work, whether as an architect, photographer or within my research project in Japan from 2024 to 2025, The Japanese House and Its Life as My Teacher. Over several months, I immersed myself deeply in the world of traditional Japanese timber buildings: I lived in historic houses, actively participated in their restoration and explored their cultural significance. Each of these experiences is a lesson for me and at the same time an engaging dialogue between past and future.

I understand architecture as a living connection between tradition and innovation, between theory and practice. This understanding is exactly what I pass on in my role as a practice lecturer. My aim is to inspire students to observe the world with an alert and critical eye, to question boundaries and to develop new perspectives with openness and curiosity.

Did you establish networks or contacts during your studies that have accompanied you on your path?
 

Definitely. For me, my studies were not only a platform for creative and professional growth, but also the starting point of a valuable network. The connections with fellow students, professors, craftspeople, architects and artists have inspired me and continue to accompany me to this day. They encouraged me to follow my own path, to initiate unconventional projects and to open new doors from time to time. This network enabled me to gain access to international projects and today serves as a source of new ideas and impulses, which I bring into my teaching activities in Liechtenstein and into my projects.

What concrete contributions do you make today in your profession or industry that also have a positive impact on the country?
 

Through my work as an architect, photographer and practice lecturer, as well as through my collaboration on projects in Japan, I bring new perspectives and sustainable solutions to Liechtenstein. These enrich the local building culture and promote a respectful dialogue between tradition and innovation. My aim is to inspire students to develop future oriented architecture that offers sustainable solutions while at the same time preserving cultural heritage.

In addition, through my international network and projects, I foster the exchange of knowledge and impulses that support the innovative development of the architecture sector.

To what extent do you see the university as a driver of innovation, research or social progress in the country?

For me, the University of Liechtenstein is a place where innovation becomes tangible. It is not only a place of research and teaching, but also one that encourages people to think differently, in complex, interdisciplinary ways and with a long term perspective. This not only advances the architecture sector, but also inspires students to look boldly towards the future and to develop solutions that can initiate real change.

What career advice would you like to pass on to our current students?
 

My advice is this: be courageous. Be curious. And do not allow setbacks to discourage you. Often, it is the journey itself that shapes you, not just the destination. Use your time at the university to experiment, to find your own path and to put your knowledge into practice. Seek exchange, not only within the university, but also beyond it. This will broaden your horizons and open up new perspectives and sources of inspiration. And above all: live your utopias until they become reality, because it is your ideas and your courage that make the difference.