Building a Dream: My Journey from the Inside Out
Advocating for the diversification of buildings, biomes, and businesses to establish sustainable legacies.
✔ Why shopping for a throw pillow changed my career path
✔ What my personal journey has in common with permaculture zones 😄
✔ Why conserving the land doesn't always mean leaving it alone
A journey from the inside out: My personal story
My path into architecture has been unconventional.
As a shy kid, I found enjoyment in my imagination, simply drawing in my room, and in the occasional fort my parents let me build in the basement. Simply rearranging the furniture could drastically shift how I felt, and what I believed was possible.
I came to understand that there is a reciprocal relationship to creating spaces. That we shape our environments, and in turn, they shape us.
So when it came time for college, I pursued what I felt was a practical, sustainable major that would allow me to use my artistic skill: interior design. I loved the idea of repurposing what we already had to create beautiful, livable spaces.
But when it came to shopping around for a throw pillow, I was less enthused!
I pivoted to architecture right out of college.
Armed with savvy software skills, remodel experience, and creativity, I landed a job working under an architect. While the projects were conventional, I quickly learned the ropes.
However, natural building methods were always my preference. I couldn't stay away from hands-on workshops like Earthships and The Natural Living School.
I soon applied my architectural skills to a multi-family building project in Kauai using carbon-smart materials and Vaastu principles—which are used to design buildings in energetic harmony with the land and universe.
Sustainable materials and energetic design principles? I'm in!
My work continued in Maui, where I assisted with bamboo construction on a farm, I loved bamboo so much I went to Bali to study the traditional joinery of the craft. I eventually worked for a firm that specialized in prefab bamboo homes.
Bamboo captured my heart, and remains a passion to this day.
In Hawai'i, I also discovered a love for landscaping, growing food, and tending to animals. This taught me about our reciprocal relationship with nature.
Conserving the land doesn't always mean leaving it alone. It involves engagement—the land thrives on relationships.
Today, my rural projects often include master planning, requiring thoughtful agricultural designation. On-site food production is a priority. Shelter alone won't feed us.
It also won't fulfill our need for community.
I learned about this firsthand when I managed a property that was host to a diverse group of people. I was called to create a culture—to build a strong community of shared values. This involved defining public and private spaces. Communal spaces fostered spontaneous interactions, deeper connections, and shared ideas.
Permaculture gives us the concept of “zones,” which represent our living environments.
The inner zones include the areas we're most affected by, and which we have the most impact on. The outer zones require less interaction with us. The zones we have the most interaction with are:
Zone 0: Your home or primary living space, where all the daily hustle and bustle happens.
Zone 1: The immediate area around your home, like your garden or backyard, where you spend a lot of time tending and nurturing.
Zone 2: The semi-managed spaces, such as orchards or animal grazing, that need regular care but aren't as high-maintenance as the closer zones.
Like the permaculture zones, my own journey started internally and gradually expanded.
I began with interior design, where the smallest changes can impact daily life. As my interests evolved, I found architecture—creating structures that connect with their surroundings.
Learning the land itself was the natural next step! Agriculture taught me the importance of working with the land. And with community building, I discovered the power of creating shared spaces.
As I continue to grow, I remain committed to creating vibrant, resilient homes and lifestyles. Thank you for joining me on this journey—I look forward to the possibilities the future holds!
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