Belqis Youssofzay is the director of Youssofzay and Hart Architects.

Prior to establishing her practice in 2017, Belqis had built an extensive and diverse portfolio of built works across major arts and cultural institutions in Australia including the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Opera House, State Library of NSW and National Parks and Wildlife. In 2015 she was awarded the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship to research 37 leading international art institutions and museums.

The pursuit of culturally significant public works continues in her role as a director, where the practice is developing exhibitions, interiors and installations for a range of cultural institutions including the University of Sydney’s new Chau Chak Wing Museum, Carriageworks and the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

Concurrent to cultural work, the practice is engaged in tackling Sydney’s housing issues relating to density and affordability through their residential projects. In 2017 the practice won an international architecture competition to rethink Sydney’s ‘Missing Middle’ for the NSW Office of the Government Architect.

Belqis is also a passionate teacher in architecture and design and a champion of equality, diversity and inclusivity in architecture.

Photograph by Diane Macdonald