MEET OUR TEAM
My name is Maïa Tarassoff and back in 2017 I founded Petit Architect Design for Kids with the goal of making architecture more accessible to children and youth, aiming to inspire and help them become educated and involved within their cities.
Prior to moving to Vancouver, BC with my husband and one child at the time, I studied at Ecole d’Architecture de Paris La Villette, earning a Master of Architecture Degree and becoming registered in France as an architect. After graduation, I sought out a career in sustainable design and built energy-efficient social housing dwellings and private residences.
Since moving to Canada in 2013, I have obtained my Passive House Designer Certification and began teaching hands-on programs for ages ranging from kindergarten to grade twelve. My curriculum focuses on sustainability, social impact, and energy-efficiency. My goal with Petit Architect Design for Kids is to educate, engage, and inspire the young generations to design more beautiful, welcoming and sustainable buildings and cities.
Maïa, Founder of Petit Architect
Laura Byspalko is delighted to join the Petit Architect team as Chief Operating Officer, and has 20 years of experience working in the arts and social enterprise. She has co-founded and led an arts and culture consultancy and a pre-eminent arts festival, and worked in business development and marketing roles for leading publishers, tech companies and cultural institutions.
Winner of a Lieutenant Governor’s Arts & Music Award for Outstanding Achievement and nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Arts, Culture and Design in 2019, Laura enjoys playing an active role in her community.
When not blueprinting strategic plans and building spreadsheets for Petit Architect, Laura can be found harvesting veggies in her community garden, strolling her pup along the Arbutus corridor or paddling with her family on the Salish seas.
Laura, Chief Operating Officer
Chelsea, Marketing & Community Manager
Chelsea Coates is a seasoned graphic designer and digital marketing guru with a passion for creativity. Originally from New Brunswick, she moved to Vancouver in 2019 for a change of pace and scenery. She always stays on top of the latest sustainability news, believing that creativity and innovation should be aligned with caring for the planet and that education is the way to achieve this.
With a background in art and design, she enjoys blending aesthetics with strategy to create impactful work. When not painting or reading, she embraces her love of learning, always exploring new ideas as a lifelong student.
Leyla Alipour is an architect, teacher, and researcher with a passion for encouraging creativity through design experiences. With several years of experience in architectural practice and teaching design studios, she brings a thoughtful creative approach to learning. Leyla writes about architecture education, ideation, and the design process, and encourages students to observe, imagine, and create. She is a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia, where she explores art education. She values learning by doing, and welcoming diversity in thought and process. She also enjoys watercolor painting and sketching natural and urban landscapes.
Leyla, Head Teacher & Studio Manager
Sasha, Educator
Sasha Pelejo, originally from the Philippines and raised in Vancouver, is currently in her fourth year of the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism at the UBC.
She brings enthusiasm and versatility to every project, with a strong desire to make a positive impact through design. Her goal is to work in commercial architecture, where she hopes to inspire the entire community, especially younger generations, to take an active role in shaping the future.
During her time in undergrad, Sasha has explored interests beyond architecture and has become passionate about sustainable fashion. Sasha enjoys the chance to teach and learn and is excited to bring this enthusiasm for growth and collaboration to her students at Petit Architect.
Farnaz, Educator
Farnaz Haidari is a creative Interior Designer with over ten years of experience in residential and commercial projects. With a diploma in Architectural Design and a passion for inspiring young minds, she joins the Petit Architect program as an educator.
Farnaz’s approach combines her design expertise with a love for creativity and mindful learning, empowering children to explore the world of design in engaging and imaginative ways. Outside of work, she enjoys Central Asian dance, meditation, and exploring local cafes.
Nishi, Educator
Nishi Praveen is a recent graduate from UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), where she earned her Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism. Originally from Bangalore, she’s been passionate about teaching art to children since she was young. She finds joy in guiding young minds through the creative process, even when it gets a bit messy, believing that sometimes, messiness sparks the best creativity!
Currently, she’s working as a designer at Chernoff Thompson Architects, where she continue to explore and shape innovative design solutions. She is enthusiastic about blending her diverse background in architecture and urbanism with her love for teaching and creativity.
Keira, Educator & Communications Assistant
Keira Santoso is currently in her third year of the Bachelor of Design in Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia. Originally from North Vancouver, Keira enjoys the outdoors, playing soccer, drawing, and plein-air painting. She has previously worked in animation, where she was responsible for creating sets for short films. With a background in art and design, Keira enjoys exploring the process of design with others, and hopes to inspire the younger generation in discovering their own creativity.
Corey, Educator
Corey Sham, born and raised in Hong Kong, has been captivated by architecture, interior design, and the power of thoughtfully designed spaces since childhood.
A visual arts scholarship recipient and graduate of the University of British Columbia with a degree in Psychology, she brings a unique blend of creativity and insight into child development to her work. With over eight years of experience working with children in both forward-facing and administrative roles, Corey combines her artistic background with a strong educational foundation.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that creativity begins with inspiration—she sees her role as providing the ideas and context that ignite imagination, encouraging children to explore, experiment, and express themselves through the lens of architecture and design.
Emily, Educator
Emily Stadnyk holds a Bachelor of Interior Design and over a decade of experience as a Designer, where she developed strong problem-solving skills and an eye for detail. She has recently transitioned into education and is training as an elementary teacher, bringing the same thoughtful approach to supporting children's growth and curiosity. She is continually inspired by the students' boundless creativity and energy. Emily loves spending her time walking the seawall, reading, and picking up local finds at Vancouver's farmers markets.
Lama, Educator
Lama is an architect and sustainability teacher at LaSalle College Vancouver with a passion for sparking creativity in children. Having worked and taught across the Middle East, Europe, and Canada, she draws inspiration from nature and believes every child carries a little artist and a deep sensitivity within. At Petit Architect, Lama brings together her background in architecture, education, and sustainability to nurture imagination and inspire the next generation of creators.
Hannah, Educator
Hannah holds a Master’s degree in Architecture, earned through studies in France and Germany. She has worked as an architectural designer and sustainability consultant on projects promoting low-carbon and resilient buildings, and has spent six years teaching and mentoring youth. Passionate about climate literacy, Hannah is dedicated to empowering young people by nurturing their creativity and awareness of sustainable design. Recently immigrated to Canada, she looks forward to continuing to teach and inspire youth to engage with sustainability through design and creativity.
Join the team
Looking for an exciting opportunity to inspire and educate? We’re always on the lookout for passionate educators to join our dynamic team! If you have a love for teaching, design, and architecture, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our careers page to explore current opportunities and see how you can become part of our mission. Let’s create, learn, and grow together!
