On the Land8x8 Lightning Talks in Denver, CO, Founder + Principal of Studio Siembra, Magdalena (Maggie) Aravena, provided perception into how the apply of panorama structure could be reworked by new fashions of collaboration. A primary-generation Chilean, her service and apply have at all times revolved round folks. “Siembra,” her agency identify, stems from the Spanish phrase “to sow” – “Sowing seeds of optimism, resilience, and sweetness is what we’re doing, or what we needs to be doing with apply.”
Acknowledged as ASLA’s 2021 recipient of the Rising Skilled Medal, Magdalena is an admired skilled throughout the Panorama Structure neighborhood. With seven years of earlier panorama structure expertise, Maggie knew there was potential to assume exterior of the field when it got here to the way forward for her profession. She notes the potential of “leaning away from aggressive and insular practices in the direction of extra collaborative practices the place we attain throughout different corporations and groups to fill wants we might not have inside our personal crew”.
Opening a apply of her personal helped Magdalena to understand three classes that she might not have discovered in any other case:
- BE BOLD. In her case, being daring meant reaching out to the exemplary panorama architect, Gina Ford, founding father of Company Design. By pitching herself as a collaborator, she was capable of fill a niche in technical experience for one mission. This chance allowed Maggie to work with a gaggle of designers she might not have in any other case encountered.
- Prioritize Neighborhood + Mission Alignment. Maggie speaks to the sturdy collaboration and partnership with Kelley Oklesson, from Groundsmith Collective, primarily based in Maryland. By specializing in the individuals who they’re designing for, the kind of mission doesn’t matter as a lot. So long as the 2 are aligned on their values, she is aware of the duo will hold engaged on initiatives that mannequin how they’ll convey magnificence, sustainability, and life to areas resembling center class residential properties.
- Don’t Abandon Relationships. Maggie used this chance to spotlight one other agency talking on the Land8x8 occasion, Studio Superbloom. The 2 studios have tried to collaborate for the previous 12 months on proposals that didn’t find yourself being fruitful. Regardless of that, there was an timeless dedication to make sure that, as collaborators and associates, they’re advocating for each other. Whereas they haven’t been capable of work instantly collectively (but), they’ve cultivated a fellowship as feminine designers who began a brand new path put up pandemic.
Maggie concludes, “I actually hope that all of us, collaboratively, as an trade, lean extra closely in the direction of the collaborative nature that all of us have in us, and we transfer additional away from the competitors. I do know that not each crew is ideal and may benefit from an out of doors perspective, and so I hope that this helps to problem what that may very well be. If we stick collectively, we are able to all come up collectively.”
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This video was filmed on January 19, 2023 in , NY as a part of the Land8x8 Lightning Talks sponsored by Anova Furnishings.
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