I have kept some form of journal or sketchbook on and off since I was nine years old. Over the years, they have taken many forms: sometimes a daily diary for processing my thoughts, sometimes a sketchbook, and often a way of documenting my travels. One of my favorite things to do when I am…
Architecture
Ballard, Seattle: A Neighborhood Guide from an Architect
As an architect who values walkable cities, I really appreciated Ballard and felt it deserved its own neighborhood guide. I did a month-long home exchange in July, which gave me the luxury of exploring Ballard slowly. After four weeks of daily dog walks, trying as many breweries as possible, walking parts of the Burke-Gillman Trail,…
Seattle Architecture Guide: An Architect’s Favorite Buildings and Places
After years of quick visits to Seattle for girls trips with one of my best friends that lives there, I got to spend an entire month in Ballard this summer and had time to explore more deeply. As an architect, I am always interested in historic buildings and neighborhoods, interesting architecture, public art, and adaptive…
Salt Lake City – Self Guided Downtown Walking Tour
The architecture in downtown Salt Lake City surprised me in the best way. I had passed through a couple of times before – once while road tripping with my dog and once on my way to Park City for a girls trip – but I mostly treated downtown as a quick stopover. On a recent…
The Most Charming Towns in the West for Design and Art Lovers
As an architect, I’m always drawn to small towns where design feels integrated into a place. Not just one landmark building, but in storefronts, sidewalks, gardens, galleries, hotels, public art, and the way the town meets its natural landscape. The towns below stand out to me because each one has a strong sense of place,…