Architectette inspires, elevates, and connects women+ in Architecture, Design, Engineering, and Construction.
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(Replay) 033 (1/2): Denise Scott Brown: Architectural Theories, Teaching, and Early Memories
Replaying our special episode featuring Denise Scott Brown. Denise Scott Brown is an architect; planner & urban designer; and a theorist, writer and educator whose projects, research, and writing have influenced designers and architects since the 1960s. Her writings have changed the practice of architecture as we know it and her built work spans several continents. Some of her notable writings include Learning from Las Vegas, Having Words, and Architecture as Signs and Systems. She was a long-standing principal of the firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates.
Many of the topics we cover are influenced from the recently published book, Denise Scott Brown in Other Eyes: Portraits of an Architect edited by Frida Grahn.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Denise for two and a half hours (please remember, Denise is in her 90s!) - so this conversation will be divided into two episodes.
In part 1 we talk about:
- We start with the iconic theory: Duck vs Decorated Shed. How did Denise come up with the idea? Why a duck? And did she anticipate her theories’ on academia?
- We next explore Denise’s early teaching days. She shares stories from Penn, UCLA, and Berkeley and we walk about late-night crits and ‘Functions of a Table’.
- We dive into the origin story of Learning from Las Vegas and then hear some stories you might not read in your history books: how Denise met Robert Venturi and started working with him and I also ask where she got her bold, graphic wedding dress (see an image in Grahn's book!)
- Next, we cover the political and social complexities of growing up as a Jewish immigrant in Africa and draw parallels to her teaching during the free speech movement and more recent eras of social reform.
- Denise expresses the importance of creativity in childhood and she shares her earliest memory- from age two!
- If you’re listening closely, you’ll also hear a few shoutouts to the Drexel Community- Paul Hirshorn and John Fry and more unexpectedly, Denise draws a few parallels to Trevor Noah.
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1:01:38
050: Angela Brooks: An Architect's Impact on Policy, Sustainability, and Community
On today’s episode we interview Angela Brooks. As managing principal at Brooks + Scarpa, Angie is responsible for growth in the firm’s housing and policy sectors, leading the firm’s sustainable initiatives, and overall firm management.
Angie Brooks was the first woman ever to receive the Maybeck Award in 2021. She was also awarded the AIA Young Architects Award in 2009. Her firm won the 2022 AIA Gold Medal, 20+ National AIA Awards, the State of California and National AIA Architecture Firm of the Year Award in 2010 and the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award in Architecture in 2014. Angie was also a co-founder and past President of Livable Places, Inc., a non-profit development company dedicated to building sustainable mixed-use housing in the city of Los Angeles.
We talk about:
- How Angie Brooks’ early career in community planning, zoning codes, and nonprofit development set the foundation for her current focus in architecture. She shares an anecdote about her bold job application strategy after grad school.
- We discuss how architects can influence policy and development, highlighting Brooks + Scarpa’s leadership with Livable Places, the Affordable Housing Design Leadership Institute, and LA’s Small Lot Ordinance.
- Angie next shares insights into affordable housing. We cover funding and budgets, energy efficiency and sustainability, design theories, user outreach, and the awards that recognize Brooks + Scarpa’s outstanding work.
- Later, we unpack the complexities of getting affordable housing projects approved and Angie explains the realities of NIMBYism and BANANAS (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything).
- The episode wraps up with a look at the partnership of Angie Brooks and Larry Scarpa and the significance of receiving the AIA Gold Medal as a team.
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Links:
Brooks + Scarpa Website: www.brooksscarpa.com
Instagram: @brooks_scarpa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooksscarpa/
Denise Scott Brown Episode Mentioned: Listen Here
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- Newsletter: www.architectette.com/newsletter (Behind the Scenes Content)
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Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay.
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52:27
(Replay) 005: Eva Baker: An Architect Specializing in Laboratory Planning
Replaying our interview with Eva Baker AIA, LEED AP BD+C. Eva is an architect who specializes in laboratory planning. She is currently a Senior Associate and Director of the Philadelphia Office of HERA Laboratory Planners.
We talk about:
- Eva's pairing of a Bachelor degree in Chemistry with a Master's degree in Architecture so that she could combine two of her passions.
- Whether she followed the advice of her mentors to focus on general architecture before diving into laboratory expertise.
- I ask Eva what are the important components to consider when designing a lab including structural modules, safety, flexibility, MEP, and equipment and then we also talk about emerging trends in laboratory design like the integration of automation.
- We discuss her long path to working at HERA and how consultancy functions differently than an architecture firm.
- We talk about her favorite types of projects, skills she looks for when hiring, and how long it takes (spoiler- two years!) to become a lab specialist.
- Eva also shares about the challenges she faced when she returned from maternity leave, had to balance office work and pumping, late nights working "parent hours", the constraints of childcare, and the societal and self-imposed stress of motherhood and career progression.
- We end by talking about the importance of sharing responsibilities at home so that she and her partner can pursue meaningful careers as well as a successful family life.
More Episodes You Might Like:
039: Morgan Chawaga: Burnout, Meditation, and Mental Health In Architecture
036: Jill Bergman: Specializing in Healthcare Architecture
19: Joann Lui: Mental Health, Architecture, and Building Community
(Bonus 009): Q&A with Architecture Graduates - Maithili Awasarikar
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47:02
(Replay) 014: Patrícia Akinaga: Impactful Landscape Architecture in the US and Brazil
Replaying our episode with landscape architect Patrícia Akinaga. She is president of Patrícia Akinaga Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Environmental Planning in São Paulo, Brazil and, at the time of recording, she is a Principal at Studio MLA in San Francisco. That’s right- she successfully leads two firms in two distinct countries!
Patrícia has a Bachelor of arts in Architecture and Urbanism, Master in Landscape Architecture, and PhD in Ecological Urbanism and Environmental Planning. Her work includes public spaces across 4 continents and encompasses masterplans, parks, campus planning, hospitality, green infrastructure, transportation planning, mixed-use developments and more.
We talk about:
- Her advanced degrees and how she considers others’ degrees when hiring for entry level and mid-career roles
- How her passion for what she does fuels the incredible amount of time and energy required to be a leader in the US and Brazil
- Cultural and environmental differences
- How ideas could be shared in more impactful way across communities
- Patricia shares about some of her favorite projects
- The political, economic, social, and health impacts of landscape architecture and how it has the power to transform communities
More Episodes You Might Like:
(Bonus 005) Licensure in Landscape Architecture with Claire Kern
020: Dena Prastos: Pairing Architecture and Engineering for Resilient Waterfronts
015: Cristina Mazutis: Architectural Signage and Rebranding Red Elephant
004: Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman: Cities, Women, and Urban Anthropology
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51:51
049: Architectette's 2024 Highlights with Caitlin Brady
Join Architectette Host, Caitlin Brady, in a fun, informal podcast to wrap up 2024. Thanks for listening and see you on January 13, 2025 for our Season 3 launch!Connect with Architectette:- Website: www.architectette.com (Learn more)- Instagram: @architectette (See more)- Newsletter: www.architectette.com/newsletter (Behind the Scenes Content)- LinkedIn: The Architectette Podcast Page and/or Caitlin BradySupport Architectette - Leave us a rating and review!- PatreonMusic by AlexGrohl from Pixabay.
Architectette inspires, elevates, and connects women+ in Architecture, Design, Engineering, and Construction.
Every other Monday, host Caitlin Brady features a new podcast guest to share their unique stories and experiences as women in AEC. We encourage and inspire more women and minorities to become licensed architects, promoted to leadership positions, connected in a strong community, and champion equality and inclusion. This podcast is your mentor on-the-go!