Maria Pomelova

Architect and urban planner, co-founder of the Leapfrog Bureau, one of the leading Russian experts on children's play spaces in the urban environment. She graduated from MARCHI, Faculty of Urban Planning with a degree in architecture, which gave her a strong professional base for working with complex urban structures and public spaces.

Prior to founding the Leapfrog Bureau, Maria was a leading architect at Rakurs Architects, where she implemented complex architectural projects and honed her competencies in designing the environment for people. Today, she is a designer who "knows everything about a child in the city" and specializes in creating unusual, safe and educational play spaces, making the city more friendly to children and families.

Maria is a laureate of the highest award of the Union of Architects of Russia and the VITRA special prize for an interior design within the framework of the reconstruction of the Flacon plant, her works have been recognized by the professional community as exemplary examples of a modern approach to the public environment. She is a member of the Ministry of Agriculture and is a member of the jury of the ArhiWOOD Award, evaluating the projects of other architects, which confirms her status as a recognized expert.

The experience of participating in international workshops in the Netherlands, the USA and Poland on the creation of public spaces has strengthened her competencies and allowed her to integrate the best international practices into Russian projects. As a partner of the Leapfrog Bureau and a speaker at major forums, Maria forms a new language of interaction between the child and the city.