Maya Angelou once said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” It’s an insight that consistently motivates Katie as she works to design spaces that are as sustainable and universally accessible as they are meaningful to the people who live, work, study, and play within them. Her studio work at Cal Poly SLO, which spanned diverse explorations from adaptive educational spaces for primary students to envelope-pushing skyscraper designs, set the stage for her current role as project designer working on projects across ABA’s health & wellness, education, and community practices. Drawing inspiration from pioneering women architects such as Julia Morgan, she supports teams not only with her imagination but with her thoughtful and multi-faceted focus on people as the heart of architectural experiences.
To celebrate the firm's 40th anniversary, staff were challenged to share their imagination and design thinking by creating a row house concept. Here is Katie's.
Statement:
This townhouse design harmonizes aesthetics and function, drawing inspiration from the golden ratio (approximately 1.618) to create balanced proportions throughout. The façade features a dynamic interplay of rectangular and spiral forms adhering to the golden ratio, lending a sense of natural harmony and visual appeal.
A stained-glass clerestory window is on the first floor to capture sunlight and introduce a vibrant focal point and playful interaction of color and light within the interior. A private balcony on the third floor sits back behind the rest of the façade, offering a secluded retreat for relaxation and connection to nature.
A privacy screen placed along the golden ratio curve provides some separation from the street while allowing dappled light to filter through, to create a sense of intimacy and tranquility. Integrated plant boxes on the second level introduce greenery, softening the urban landscape and fostering a sense of well-being.
Warm neutral colors as the base palette create a calming backdrop for the vibrant stained-glass windows and plants around the row house.
