About
Bioclimatic Architect | Sustainability Consultant | Community Engagement Coordinator
Elettra Melani is an Italian architect and consultant with over a decade of experience leading sustainable design and construction projects across Southeast Asia. Her work focuses on bioclimatic architecture, local materials, and community-driven design processes that bridge environmental performance with human wellbeing.
She has collaborated with international NGOs such as Building Trust International, Habitat for Humanity, People in Need (PIN), and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), developing projects that span from cultural and educational facilities to eco-tourism and public infrastructure. Her built portfolio includes the Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium in Siem Reap and the Urban Village Phase 1 development in Phnom Penh, among others.
Elettra advocates for a “do more with less” approach to architecture — promoting the use of bio- and geo-sourced materials, natural ventilation, and passive cooling strategies adapted to tropical climates. She is particularly passionate about participatory design, empowering communities to shape spaces that reflect their identity and support a more resilient, human-centered built environment.