The New Year is typically a time where we take a moment to look back on the year, to thank everyone we’ve worked with, to reflect on our accomplishments and collaborations, and to look forward to the next year. I enjoy writing this piece every year, as it gives me the chance to express how...
Inclusivity is a topic of conversation that is becoming more and more addressed in the world, and it’s about time too. The world is designed to cater to what is considered ‘normal’ to the majority, while ignoring the needs of anyone who fits in their definition of ‘normal’. As a society, we are fortunately moving...
Famous developer Robert Moses created the catalyst for which hip-hop formed and parallels how the Berlin Wall provoked protests and revolution in Germany. His plan for the Cross Bronx Expressway (based on Le Corbusier's plan for the center of Paris) had a devastating impact on communities expelled by the development for decades to come. Although...
Recently I had the honor of participating in a lively discussion with a group of wonderful colleagues, gathered together by my friends Viveca Bissonette and Jeff Hollander of Hollander Design Group in San Diego, and John Rouse of Perception Studio. Our topic was “Top COVID 19 Predictions”, and I was inspired to hear all of...
It was the night after a huge rally at the Boston Common that I personally witnessed activism interpreted differently in the city of Boston. For a couple of hours a night, murals of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others were projected at a large scale on significant buildings in the city of Boston to amplify...
In my quest to “downsize” and consolidate my life into my home on the cape, I still find myself with a lot of stuff – even though we have donated a house full of items to local charities and thrift stores …. So, I have been doing some research on various ways to create efficient...
Venus of the Rags 1967, 1974 Michelangelo Pistoletto born 1933 Purchased with assistance from Tate International Council 2006 In addition to working as an Interior Designer at STA, I have been teaching at the Boston Architectural College since Fall 2013. This past Spring, Lauren O’Brien, a Master of Interior Architecture student who took two of...
As many of you know, STA closes out their week with a Living Lab at the end of each week. Even though we are working remotely these days we still find an opportunity to come together via Zoom to share stories, experiences, and design ideas. Given that travel is limited for summer vacations we took...
My fiancé and I live in a typical neighborhood near downtown Wakefield. We live in a third floor apartment which looks out over a relatively small backyard that gets a decent amount of sunlight throughout the day. Each of us has gardened, or been involved in gardening since childhood. There is a picture of me...
Recently I was honored to participate in a fascinating panel discussion entitled “Designing Spaces that Draw us Together in a Post-Pandemic World”, hosted by the Boston Architectural College as part of “BAC Talks”. The discussion explored the positive impact that design can have in this unprecedented time, at all scales, from the urban context to...
In the current times we live in today it is important for all of us to stay healthy and do our part to help stop the spread of germs. Wearing a mask has become the new social norm. People have taken it upon themselves to make their masks stand out. By wearing customized and personalized...
STA is a firm that embraces different cultures and to commemorate these differences we came together to share some of our team member’s favorite destinations. Enjoy the journey! BALNEÁRIO CAMBORIÚ - BRAZIL - NATHALIA Balneario Camboriu Image source from: https://pininfarina.it/en/work/pasqualotto-yachthouse/ Brazil has a variety of scenes from cold cities with German roots in the southern...
One of the most common interests we have as designers is that we are all creatives, we all draw or paint, or tend to pursue some other art form. Being able to draw or use different media and to express our feelings, seems like essential traits that are inherent in our behaviors. I started painting...
The dark cloud that is the 2020 Pandemic of COVID-19 has made this silver lining more visible than it has ever been. The earth seems to have gotten its act together and cleaned up with record breaking reduction in air pollution, globally. This graph shows direct measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations at ground-level taken...
Today’s digital era finds itself at a crossroads between being a helpful tool that connects us and a distraction from reality and forgotten sense of purpose. I believe our current technologies have the ability to affect change if we rethink the social construct with which we use them. Maybe certain emerging tech can help humanize...
Architectural design education and practices are not the common professions enforced in conversation within African American communities. In fact, less than 2% of architects are African American. For better access and inclusive design education, there must be better outreach to the younger audience. In order to develop the built environment with a diversity of views,...
