Meet Zarja Krevelj, one of our change makers. She is working as an Architectural Technologist at HLM Architects, chair of the Sustainability Subgroup within the Change Makers, and was an early pioneer in the homegrown mass timber movement at Edinburgh Napier University. 

Early interest in Architecture

Zarja’s interest in architecture began at an early age, inspired by playing The Sims. Zarja says, “I started drawing houses at six, I was always dreaming about how things would look if we could knock down walls.” Her interest in both arts and science naturally led her to pursue architectural technology as a career.

The discovery of Mass Timber

Zarja took a gap year and moved to England to experience life in the UK, before enrolling at Edinburgh Napier University in Architectural Technology. 

In her second year at university, Zarja discovered the exciting, emerging world of homegrown mass timber construction. She became fascinated by mass timber (especially CLT), which sparked a drive for sustainability.  

Joining the Edinburgh Napier beX programme, Zarja travelled to the U.S. where she worked at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the United States. She participated in a study testing hardwood species for CLT panels, providing hands-on experience with the material. She investigated the structural viability of New England timber species, such as Black Birch and Beech, in CLT.

Career highlights so far

Zarja works as an Architectural Technologist at HLM Architects, focusing on sustainable architecture and detailing stages of projects.

She has authored HLM's Embodied Carbon Strategy, including training materials and workshops. Her key projects include an R&D project looking at the regenerative alternative of a school in Wales, exploring the building's potential for regeneration and multifunctional community use, and she has also gained experience in defence projects and student accommodation.

Mass timber and regenerative design

Zarja strongly advocates for timber from sustainably managed forests, highlighting its carbon-sequestering properties and mental health benefits. “There's been studies done proving that it helps with your mental health. It helps with your stress. It decreases your heart rate.”

She is interested in retrofitting and rethinking spaces to maximise their community and environmental value, and she believes locally grown mass timber is a strong lever for community regeneration. By harnessing local resources and supply chain, mass timber construction can unlock local jobs, economies and social value for the surrounding communities.

BE-ST has surrounded herself with driven and inspiring people

Connected to BE-ST through Napier university and projects like BeX, Zarja joined BE-ST’s Change Makers Programme. 

Zarja chairs the Sustainability Subgroup within Change Makers, contributing to projects like ‘Alternative Futures.’

Zarja appreciates the networking, shared goals, and collaborative efforts, and says that the Change Makers programme has created a network of people that rely on, support and inspire one another. "Being surrounded by driven people with diverse ideas is inspiring – it pushes you forward when you need it most."

Advice for others

Zarja describes sustainability in the built environment as a personal mission, tied to a desire to create better spaces for future generations.

Zarja acknowledges that sustainability requires persistence, collective effort, and long-term commitment. "Sustainability in construction is a marathon. We’ve run the first few kilometres, but there’s a long way to go." She advises others to embrace the challenge of addressing industry inertia while chipping away at change daily: “It's a long game. It's not going to happen overnight, so let’s just keep on chipping away every day.”