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IN FLU EN T I A L WO M E N O F D ESIG N | SAN FR ANCISCO “I was drawn to architecture because it combines art and science, and I’m driven by ambition to be the best in my field.”
CURRENT CREATIONS Lee designed interiors for more than 70 residences at the Stanly Ranch Auberge property in Napa. “I was able to bring a sense of warm California modernism to the homes,” Lee says. “We also recently completed the lobbies and amenity spaces for MIRO’s twin towers in San Jose, California, where I was able to offer lots of different types of spaces for the residents and bring a sense of refined luxury to the city.”
THE FUTURE IS FEMALE
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Today there are more women coming up in architecture and they are able to see more female mentors and role models in the field. Lee thinks this is a positive evolution and notes that she would also like to see more women in related positions of power. Lee explains, “If more women ran corporations and civic organizations, I think many more female architects would get the chance to do much bigger and bolder projects.”
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When dealing with the everyday, it’s important to take a step back and refocus. A principal at Edmonds + Lee, architect Vivian Lee turns to beautiful objects and spaces for inspiration when needed. She says, “When I feel overwhelmed by the less glamorous minutiae of architecture, I think about how aweinspiring an extraordinary space can be.” Her company is a boutique practice with large-firm capabilities. Lee runs the multi-family division, and partner Robert Edmonds focuses on single-family. “We work closely together and are constantly inspired by each other,” Lee explains. “This lends our large-scale work a sense of livable intimacy and our small-scale work a sophistication and clarity.” Clearly the strategy is working, as the team creates incredible spaces. What’s Lee’s goal for the future? “The chance to do a civic project that inspires the general public would be a dream.”
Above Life unfolds brilliantly at Auberge Stanly Ranch in Napa, a collection of 70 private homes with interior design by Edmonds + Lee. Top A loft-style, flipped-plan home, the Switchback House blends the team’s knowledge of San Francisco’s urban context and codes with their crisp material and architectural aesthetic. Photography Top by Joe Fletcher