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, Chief Operating Officer
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.
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.
Sara, Head Educator & Studio Manager
Sara Escuredo is a passionate and enthusiastic interior designer who emphasizes creative thinking. With a background in interior design as well as event planner, after completing her Bachelor in Interior Architecture Design from the Polytechnic University of Madrid - Spain, Sara has been working in the design-build industry where she enjoys the process of bringing the ideas to life. Moreover, as a dedicated mother to a little girl, Sara is fascinated by the interaction with children, finding the perfect combination from design-build and working with children in the mission brought by Petit Architect, where she can apply those skills and be fond of teaching young creative thinkers.
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.
Ann, Educator
Ann Fu grew up in Taiwan, spending her time immersed in the street scenery of Taipei as well as in the forest landscapes that surround the city. She was an architect for ten years, and now resides in Vancouver, BC working as an illustrator and muralist.
Ann often calls upon her love of birding, natural scenes, and her cultural heritage for inspiration, and has a warm art style that invites people from all walks, ages, and creeds to appreciate a more playful side of life.
Niousha, Educator
Niousha Doroudian is an architectural designer with educational and professional experience from all around the world. She studied architecture in Iran, earned her master’s degree in Italy, lived and worked across Europe, spent several years designing in Washington State, and now works as a designer in Vancouver.
Her favorite part of being at Petit Architecture? Working with young minds! Their curiosity and imagination fuel her own and make her feel like a kid again. Whether they're building wild structures, sketching future cities, or experimenting with new materials, Niousha is there to cheer them on and spark their creative thinking.
She’s also a certified yoga teacher and enjoys bringing movement, breath, and a sense of calm into her workshops. And when she’s not designing or teaching, you might find her playing Ukulele, or dreaming up her next creative project.
Riya, Educator
Riya Bhatt is a Bachelor of Design student at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Originally from Richmond, BC, she is passionate about helping children explore architecture through creative thinking, hands-on making, and playful discovery. She has experience working with children as an Events Coordinator at Michaels, where she leads arts and crafts workshops that encourage self-expression and build creative confidence.
Outside of her design work, Riya loves all things artistic — from painting and jewelry making to dancing. When she's not creating, you’ll find her hiking forest trails, running through Vancouver’s scenic spots, or unwinding by the beach.
Sabina, Educator
Sabina Low is a fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism at the University of British Columbia. Born and raised in Vancouver, she has always been drawn to how cities are shaped—and how design can create more inclusive, beautiful, and functional spaces for everyone.
In addition to her architectural interests, Sabina is passionate about fashion, photography, and travel, and enjoys exploring how creativity can take many forms. She’s excited to share her love of design with the next generation of creators and hopes to encourage kids to see the world around them in new and imaginative ways.
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.
Carmen, Camp Counsellor
Carmen Lonsbrough is going into her second year of the Bachelor of Design in Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia. Growing up in Vancouver, Carmen developed a passion for the structure of cities and how design shapes where we live and play. She has a love for combining her artistic abilities with projects that have a positive impact. With a background working with youth, she is enthusiastic about sharing design with the younger generation. Carmen has a history in dance, enjoys watercolour painting, and often goes kayaking or hiking in Vancouver.
Jennifer, Camp Counsellor
Jennifer Shen is a fourth-year architecture student in the Bachelor of Design program at UBC’s School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism (SALA). She is passionate about creative education and enjoys guiding young children as they explore the world of design through hands-on model making, storytelling, and imaginative play. Jennifer believes that learning through making helps children develop confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of creativity. Outside of her academic work, she spends her time drawing, painting, and experimenting with different art forms, from sculpture to mixed media. These creative hobbies often influence her architectural thinking and teaching style.
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!
