The Ghiabi Family Trust has partnered with the Graduate School of Design (GSD) at Harvard University to establish a Research Fellowship in Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development. This new initiative supports early-career researchers focused on the integration of environmental design principles into modern urban settings.
The fellowship, administered independently by Harvard GSD’s Office of Research, offers funding for a full academic year, including a project stipend and access to advanced facilities. Its goal is to empower young architects and urbanists to explore pioneering ideas that combine architectural excellence with sustainability imperatives.
The first recipient, Elena Marquez, a Spanish architect specializing in adaptive reuse and ecological design, is working on a project titled “Living Structures: Integrating Biodiversity into Urban Architecture.” Her research investigates how cities can incorporate natural systems—like micro-forests, green walls, and urban wetlands—directly into buildings and public infrastructure.
“The vision behind this fellowship is simple but ambitious,” said Professor Jonathan Levine, Director of Urban Studies at Harvard GSD. “It’s about equipping a new generation of architects with the intellectual and creative tools to design cities that not only function but thrive ecologically.”
The Ghiabi Family Trust’s role is to provide strategic funding, respecting the academic independence of the institution. Rather than dictating research topics, the Trust supports frameworks that allow universities and researchers to explore frontier ideas in architecture and sustainability.
In addition to the individual fellowship, a public lecture series titled “Sustainability and the Future of Cities” was launched as part of the initiative, featuring prominent figures from academia, industry, and policy circles. These lectures are open to the broader Harvard and Boston communities, reinforcing the Trust’s belief that knowledge must be shared widely, not confined to academic circles.
The collaboration with Harvard GSD is part of the Trust’s broader vision of nurturing excellence where art, science, and responsible development meet.