Degree(s)

BFA Architecture, M. Arch

Professional interests

Design, Housing, Art & Photography

BSA involvement

Housing Innovation

If you could give the you of 10 years ago advice, what would it be?

I would tell my younger self that there are fields adjacent to architecture that offer the opportunity to create in ways that you could not have imagined, including those that merge your passions and interest in housing, urban design, planning, history, policy, and so much more!

When did you first become interested in architecture as a possible career?

A friend of mine in high school told me about architecture when I began exploring potential career paths. As an artist and creative person, I was interested in how architecture represented both an art form and a field that created physical manifestations of real needs in a way I hadn’t considered prior to that moment. As someone who grew up listening to elders who discussed openly the histories of people and society, I was very intrigued to see how architecture could become a lens by which to unpack how and what decisions were made to create a building or series of buildings in a particular place. To me, it has always been an opportunity for learning about not only design, but also policy, economics, sociology, and so many other elements that together create our shared built environment.

People work in non-profit for a variety for reasons. What has your career path looked like, and what motivated you to become involved?

My career path has taken on a few forms thus far. As a M. Arch student at MassArt, I interned at Madison Park Development Corporation during a time where they were working on a Request for Proposals with DREAM Collaborative. This was my first experience at a non-profit dedicated to creating mixed-income housing in Roxbury. Upon graduating, I went on to work at Stull & Lee, one of Boston's first Black-owned architecture firms, which reimagined the infrastructure of the city for a short period before becoming the BSA and Housing Innovation Lab’s first Housing Innovation Design Fellow. As a fellow I was tasked with leading projects that would be shared across both organizations, such as launching the Future-Decker initiative and supporting other ongoing housing innovation initiatives. Since transitioning over to the BSA fully, I have had the pleasure of continuing our Future-Decker initiative, and also identifying future projects for the organization related to housing design and production in the region.

How do you believe architecture/design can have the greatest impact shaping a community?

I believe that architecture/design has the ability to not only create and shape neighborhoods, cities, and environments, but it can also help people imagine new possibilities that do not yet exist. Cultivating this imagination can have a lasting impact as it can move people to become involved and engaged in efforts that affect not only their needs, but the needs of the collective.

What is the most effective step you’ve taken in your work toward a more sustainable built environment?

Integrating efforts related to sustainable development into all our housing work. As we look towards the future, it is imperative that we holistically consider all possible challenges and opportunities to create housing that can not only be built efficiently but also lasts for generations to come.

Have you won any awards from the BSA or another establishment that you are particularly proud of? Please share some of the elements from that project you would like to see shape the future of the profession.

In 2021, I and other team members of the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Housing Innovation Lab received the BSA Commonwealth Award for outstanding contributions to the physical form and civic life of the city of Boston. This award served as a reminder to continue building upon the work that had been done by both New Urban Mechanics and the Housing Innovation Lab, and particularly how the work is never done alone. Collaboration with residents, architects, and numerous organizations who are all committed to providing more housing opportunities for everyone is something that I hope continues to shape the future of the profession.

What are some changes that you have implemented in your firm (or for yourself) to address issues of equity in your profession?

Language access, in all senses of the word, is something that is very important to me. I was inspired by the ways in which the City requires the translation of informational materials for residents in the 13 most spoken languages in Boston. As part of our Future-Decker work, we had language interpreters present at community meetings, translated Triple-Decker questionnaires prior to the launch of the 2-phased initiative, and translated numerous other materials including the Request for Ideas.

Beyond this form of language access, I similarly consider how certain terms within and outside of the field of architecture often leave out those who are most impacted by design and construction processes – the same individuals and families that could benefit from engaging with these processes to improve them or find ways of creating alternative ways to support their communities. Within the field of architecture itself, understanding the language of design and its implementation can be daunting to those who are just starting their own journeys in the field, and language can be used as a tool to invite more individuals to engage and participate in efforts that honor their values, passions, and interests. I hope to continue to create pathways of entry into discussion topics related to housing if not for everyone, then for as many folks as possible interested in learning more about how design shapes their everyday.

Which one of your current projects excites you the most?

We most recently completed the Future-Decker initiative by showcasing the results and lessons learned from this multi-year initiative exploring the possibilities of creating middle-scale housing in Boston in an exhibition that is currently on view at the Waterfront Square Gallery. Although this initiative has come to an end, I am excited about the future of the BSA’s housing work as this and other initiatives have provided us with great understanding of the current state of housing in the region, and how design can help inform new efforts for housing creation – from sustainable and green housing initiatives, to collective ways of living, and so much more!

What are you reading right now?

Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, by Sara Bronin

Where do you find inspiration?

Anything related to indigenous methods of construction inspires me greatly! We now often talk about the need for sustainable building practices and I am always in awe of how such practices have and continue to account for not only the needs of humans, but also the needs of collective ecosystems.

How has design improved your daily life?

I grew up in Luanda, Angola during a period of rapid urbanization. This was the first time that I saw housing development take place at a rapid and large scale across an entire city to provide housing to individuals and families who fled to the capital city during the civil war period. The design of these housing development projects was what struck me the most: large apartment buildings that created entirely new neighborhoods. Since then, I have always paid attention to the role that design, housing and urban, plays in mine and others’ daily lives. The use of durable materials, the creation of accessible spaces, the design of beautiful buildings, have all contributed to improving my quality of life. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity and privilege of experiencing great design, whether built by homeowners who slowly built their homes using locally sourced materials, or by larger entities investing in changing the built environment for the better.