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Meet SharonMeet Sharon
September 17, 2019

Meet Sharon

Chloe Spiess

Why did you study Architecture?

I fell in love with the fact that architecture encompasses so many fields, from art, history, sociology, psychology, engineering, design…all for the purpose of creating spaces for life to happen. I love the idea of designing at a human scale, being able to approach architecture at a ground level to design and curate for the human experience. 

My architect hero?

Charles & Ray Eames: “Choose your corner, pick away at it carefully, intensely and to the best of your ability and that way you might change the world.”

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My two favorite buildings?

The Bradbury Building in Los Angeles built in 1893 designed by draftsman George Wyman

I find the Bradbury to be one of my favorites because it is the epitome of a hidden gem. The interior is the most notable part of the building. A narrow entrance lobby then opens up to a cathedral-like center court from which lights up the building in its entirety. Details of cast-iron and polished oak work in harmony with the Italian marble, terra cotta and unglazed bricks. The overall impact is mesmerizing.

 

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House in Ubatuba in Ubatuba, São Paulo built in 2009 designed by spbr architects.

This house is one of my favorite buildings because it is a project that points to the conservation of site and natural environment and combines it with the use of simple materiality and structure used to its full potential. It uses simple approaches to frame and value what is already present. Taking advantage of all that is offered rather than taking away and having a large footprint. The house is fully structured by three reinforced concrete columns with four beams which lay on top of them to support the slabs. They are arranged in a way that allows for access to the all the valuable views of the site. The final result seems as if the house is integrated into the environment and should have been there in the first place. 

 

 

 

Top songs on my playlist? 

-       Days Like This by Van Morrison

-       Goodie Bag by Still Woozy

-       Somos by Buika 

Days Like This van MorrisonDays Like This van Morrison

 

 

Your Favorite Food?

Anything Italian, if there’s pasta, cheese, or prosciutto…     I’m in. 

 

 

If I could live inside a work of art, I would choose…

Bal Du Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir 

Auguste_Renoir_-_Dance_at_Le_Moulin_de_la_Galette_-_Musée_d'Orsay_RF_2739_(derivative_work_-_AutoContrast_edit_in_LCH_space)Auguste_Renoir_-_Dance_at_Le_Moulin_de_la_Galette_-_Musée_d'Orsay_RF_2739_(derivative_work_-_AutoContrast_edit_in_LCH_space)

Secret ambition?

I would like to dabble into production design one day to be able to produce architecture for cinema. 

 

Favorite San Diego experience?

San Diego is filled with too many invaluable experiences, sunsets of every color on the spectrum, and many hikes that take your breath away. To me though, I have discovered that San Diego is filled with such a creative community all over town. Whether it be art, architecture, culinary, or music. My favorite pass time is to discover these secret talents around town. One in specific is Latin Jazz night at Border X every Thursday night. It is the epitome of San Diego living: tacos, local beer and a jazz crew that livens up the room like you’ve never seen before, and that will give you the true San Diegan experience of being a local. 

What’s next?

Next step is to start my thesis in the fall, graduate undergrad strong and then we’ll see. 

If you were given a Billion dollars, what would you do with it?

If suddenly I was given a billion dollars I would first pay off all my student loans, and most likely get myself an Italian villa to start with.

 

 

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