spotlight || architect profile
AL: Who is your architect inspiration? DM: Stephen Holl, FAIA, and Edwin Lundie, AIA. Holl’s design process and aesthetic reflects his phenomenology, which in architecture means he favored an approach to design that was highly personal and inward looking. When the Holl-designed University of Minnesota’s College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture expansion and building opened in 2002, I approached Holl at the event. He took one look at me and asked if I got my glasses at that little shop in Venice. When it comes to Lundie, I admire the skill with which he acknowledged and looked toward history to honor and inform his new projects.
Nancy Blankfard, AIA
AL: In a social setting, how do people react when you tell them that you’re an architect? DM: At your typical cocktail party, at least onethird will tell me they wanted to be an architect. Next, they want to know what your opinions are about other architects and buildings.
AL: When will you get a new pair? NB: I try to get a new pair every year. Sometimes I’m successful in finding a new style to mix it up a bit.
AL: What’s distinctive about your process? DM: We are also marriage counselors (kidding). The truth is we do help homeowners work through their priorities and define what’s most important to them about the way they live. That informs the design. Several couples have said they really enjoyed the process and that the scheduled time together allowed them to talk about their home and lifestyle. AL: Who is your most common type of client? DM: They all are so diverse, but I would say that most are the type of people who can’t or aren’t willing to accept a standard answer.
“We need time to process, think and create. It’s usually best done with a homeowner.” —DALE MULFINGER
HGA Architects Minneapolis
AL: Introvert or extrovert? NB: Introvert. AL: Where do you get your specs from? NB: Specs Optical in Uptown. AL: Give us some specs stats. NB: First pair of glasses: college. Color: purple. Shape: pentagonal ovals.
AL: Who is your architect inspiration? NB: Carlos Scarpa. For timeless design and sitespecific interpretation in a modern way. Julie Snow and Cheryl Fosdick are what brought me to Minnesota after graduation. I was lucky enough — or persistent enough — to get a job working with Julie at James/Snow Architects my first two years here. She continues to be an inspiring role model as an architect and educator. We are lucky in Minnesota to have a strong tradition of women in design leadership positions, from Elizabeth Close to Renee Cheng! AL: When did you know you wanted to be an architect? NB: Always! I do remember combing over my mother’s copies of Metropolitan Home. She still has a sketch of a round house I “designed” for her in second grade — she thinks it’s brilliant! I also recall her helping determine my career path a bit. Because I assumed architects had a propensity for math and science, I would answer career-counselor questioning accordingly: “Yes, I love math.” Ultimately all signs were pointing toward my path as an architect. I went so far as to only consider college options that started design studio freshman year. I didn’t want to chance not being accepted to a program in my second year. I went to Tulane University in New Orleans. AL: How do people respond when they find out you’re an architect? NB: In general, people really respect the profession. There’s a bit of prestige that goes with it. Ironically, in the next breath they go on to say they would never use one — they’re too expensive. Then I proceed to explain to them the added value they get when working with an architect, ultimately convincing them to hire an architect!
158 Artful Living
| Autumn 2011
Artful-LivingMag.com