OFREIA


Office For Revealing Encounters In Architecture emerges in the footsteps of StudioSer Architects and is led by architect Rina Rolli.

The practice explores the potential of architecture conceived as a matter of encounter. Whether these encounters involve materials, time, or people, at the heart of the practice lies a continuous effort to reveal and highlight the essence and singularity of a place, its community, and its history.

OFREIA draws inspiration from the location at hand, believing that architecture must be rooted in—and find its reason for being within—the environment it inhabits. By learning from and engaging with the social and historical fabric of a place, traces of the past can be discovered and reimagined as newly defining characteristics. This approach allows for precise, site-specific interventions reduced to what is essential, while still carrying a strong presence, juggling between the urban scale and the minute detail. Architecture, in this sense, becomes an act of careful listening and observation.

OFREIA understands sustainability not only in ecological or economic terms, but also as a matter of cultural and social embeddedness. The practice explores how, through attentiveness and precision, even the smallest architectural gesture can lead to lasting and meaningful transformation. Central to this approach is a posture of carefulness: only through sustained engagement with local conditions and everyday realities can interventions emerge that are socially grounded and enduring. When inhabitants see themselves reflected in what is built, when an intervention weaves itself into the layers of collective memory, it cultivates care, responsibility, and identification. In this way, architecture becomes part of the shared realm, contributing to the resilience and vitality of a place.

Rina Rolli

2025 – Ongoing Founding Partner of OFREIA GmbH, Zurich
2025 – Ongoing Tenure Track Professor for Architecture and Caring Society, BFH (Berner Fachhochschule)
2025 – 2026 Visiting Professor for Architecture, City and Territories, EPFL Lausanne
2024 – 2025 Guest Lecturer at the Department of Interior Architecture, SUPSI Mendrisio
2024 ProHelvetia Research Travel Grant for the Exploration of Public Space Appropriation in Japan
2024 Solo Exhibition Shy Conquer, Tokyo and Zurich
2024 Book Publication Shy Conquer, Zurich
2023 Advanced Training in Building Construction Site Management, BBZ
2022 – Ongoing Founding member of MILK Cultural Space, Zurich
2021 – 2025 Research Assistant at the Chair of Jan de Vylder, ETH Zurich
2020 – Ongoing Founding Partner of Piccolli Furniture Design, Zurich and Basel
2019 – 2025 Founding Partner of StudioSer Architects, Zurich and Lugano
2019 – 2020 Project Leader at Studio Sito Architekten, Zurich
2019 Successful Assessment for commercial pilot at Swiss International Airlines, Zurich
2019 Contribution to the XII International Architecture Biennale, São Paulo
2015 – 2019 MSc in Architecture, ETH Zurich
2013 – 2015 BSc in Architecture, ETH Zurich

Aknowledgements

Swiss Architecture Yearbook 2025/26 Project Monte - Finalist*
Werkbundpreis 2025 Project Monte - Finalist*

Prix SIA 2024 Project Monte - Finalist*
European Prize Public Space 2024 Project Monte - Finalist*
Architectural Review 2024 Project Monte - Finalist*
Premio SIA Ticino 2023 Project Monte - Winner*
Flaneur d’Or 2023 Project Monte - Category Winner*
Best Architects 2023 Project Monte - Winner*
Bauweltpreis 2023 Project Monte - Winner*
ArcAward 2023 Project Monte - Category Winner*
Wilde Karte 2023 Project Monte - Finalist*
Foundation Award 2023 Project Monte - Finalist*
Die Besten 2023 Project Monte - Finalist*
Eulen Award 2021 Project Monte - Winner*

*Acknowledgments to StudioSer Architects (Rina Rolli, Tiziano Schürch) 

Lectures


2025 Technische Universität München*

2025 Architekturforum Ostschweiz*
2025 Southeastern University Nanjing*
2024 Istituto Svizzero Milano Swiss Talks*
2024 Bund für Schweizer Architektinnen*
2024 Fondazione Courmayeur*
2024 CCCB Barcelona*
2024 Architekturforum Winterthur*
2024 Architekturrat Schweiz*
2024 Hochschule Luzern*
2024 Universität Linz*
2023 Universität Bochum*
2023 Universität Siegen*
2023 Swiss Live Performance Archithese*
2023 Fachhochschule Bern
2023 Politecnico Milano
2023 EPFL Lausanne*
2022 Politecnico Torino*
2021, 2025 Accademia dell’Architettura Mendrisio*
2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 ETH Zürich*

*Lecture invitations extended to StudioSer Architects (Rina Rolli, Tiziano Schürch)

Guest Critic

2025 Studio Paola Viganò EPFL*
2024 Studio Momoyo Kaijima ETHZ
2024 Studio Tom Emerson ETHZ
2024 Gueststudio Lillit Bollinger ETHZ
2024 Studio Scaramellino Politecnico Milano*
2024 Studio Muck Petzet AAM*
2023, 2024 Studio Elli Mosayebi ETHZ
2023 Studio Maria Conen ETHZ
2023 Studio Frassoldati Politecnico Torino*
2023 Studio Camponovo Baumgartner EPFL*
2023 Studio MacIver-Ek Chevroulet FH Bern
2023, 2024, 2025 Studio Intermediate and Advanced HSLU*
2021 Studio Azara ETSAB
2021 Studio Sergison AAM*

*Invitations extended to StudioSer Architects (Rina Rolli, Tiziano Schürch)