Born and raised in Germany she holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture from the RwtH in Germany, as well as an M Arch from the University of Pennsylvania. She is licensed in the U.S. as well as in Germany. Helena considers Architecture a Health Care Profession, and has made the creation of spaces, which foster positive emotional connection to place her primary area of exploration. She views human attachment to and caring for place as essential for true sustainability as well as for physiological well-being.

Helena is a biophilic consultant and facilitates biophilic design workshops and design charrettes. She is a contributor at the biophilic design hub Human Spaces, and a steering committee member for the Biophilic Cities Network. Locally, she is the founder of bioPhilly, a grass roots organization, which seeks to promote wild habitat biodiversity in Philadelphia. Helena is a guest speaker at various universities on the connection between architecture and health. She works with selected graduate and PhD students on thesis projects in biophilic sustainable design.