Mother knows best, as the saying goes, and it holds true for the designers and architects who shared their memories with us for Mothers Day. From instilling an appreciation for craftsmanship to encouraging a rebellious streak, these designers mothers have had a profound impact on both their personal and professional outlooks. Heres how motherly wisdom has translated into excellent design advice.
George Yabu and his mom, Masako.
Be bold; be curious.
George Yabu recalls his moms fearlessness and moving to Canada from Japan. "This was in the 1930sshe grew up on a rice farm and took it upon herself to immigrate to Canada when she was 19. This was just not done in society back then," he explains. Once in Canada, she learned her stepmothers tailoring trade and assisted with the business. She took it upon herself to learn every aspect of Western fashionsgoing so far as to memorize the patterns for work. "She was always driven to learn how things worked and how to fix things through very clever, cost-effective means," says George.
Keep a problem-solving mindset.
"She looked at things through industrial design and engineering principles, a trait she has transferred onto me," George explains. As a result, he is always wondering about how things work and seeking solutions to challenges. "That is what design is all aboutsolving problems," he says.
Amagansett is George Yabu and Glenn Pushelbergs summertime home in the Hamptons. Note the color and texture of the rugs, which were influenced by Glenns mom, who was a talented weaver.
Glenn Pushelberg,co-founder of Yabu Pushelberg
Glenn Pushelberg and his mom, Shirley.
Create and craft.
Glenn Pushelberg comes from a family of crafters. "My mom had to work when she was young, but in her spare time, she enjoyed copper tooling," he says. Her mother, in turn, was a weaver. "I recall heading to her home which would be filled with looms, fabrics, and yarns," he says. "She would have old boxes of clothing, the contents of which she would rip up to make these beautifully colored rag rugs." Crafting for sheer pleasure and utility remains a large part of their family fabric to this day.
Nina Freudenberger and her mom, Marie.
Accent with color.
Nina Freudenberger says that her mom, an artist, was always careful with color, tending toward more neutral palettesbut with a bold accent. "For instance, my childhood living room carried mostly cream-colored furniture mixed with dark, antique furniture," says Nina, "but then she would find a burnt orange and sienna pillow (one of her favorite shades) and make that the vibe for the room shine!"
Choose foundational pieces that you can design around.
"I watched her change the accents over the years while keeping the primary, investment pieces the same, which I highly recommend for all of my clients now," says Nina. "It gives you much more flexibility and keeps foundational pieces timeless." For instance, her mother went through an animal print phase, and later an Indian textile phase, which created a harmonious, layered warmth around anchoring pieces.
Thanks to her mother, Nina has a passion for experimenting with different patterns. "They make any room pop!" she says.
Layer different styles.
"My mom could effortlessly mix antiques she found and layer them with modern pieces," says Nina, who warns that it is a lot harder than it looks. "It takes careful thought and confidence to do it rightits one of the many things I admire about my mother."
Mardi Doherty with her mom, Helen, and her daughters Chili (background) and Bonnie (foreground).
Challenge conventions.
"As a child, we lived in a modest 1950s home that had a very bold, all-red kitchen, and my bedroom had thick navy and white diagonal stripes splashed across all walls," says Mardi Doherty. These bold moves taught Mardi to think of design as an extension of personality. "I learned to cherish my individuality, reject conformity, and be proud of thinking differently from others."
Previously a church from the 1900s, this contemporary home repurposes the original stained-glass windows.
Keep a sense of humor.
Being able to mentally reframe a situation has helped Mardi immensely. "Its one of the greatest lessons Ive learned from my momnothing is ever as bad as it seems," she says. "In fact, her saying is, When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping, which always makes me smile!" She adds that her mother is very pragmatic, and that "she doesnt think anything is worth stressing too much about," which Doherty applies to her personal and professional life.
Pursue happiness.
"She taught me that its okay to let a great opportunity go if it doesnt make you happy," says Mardi. "This has been applied many times in my business."
Greg Faulkner with his mother, Mary.
Live thoughtfully on the land.
Making frequent trips from his hometown in Northern Indiana to visit his grandparents in Frankfort, Kentuckyagricultural, horse-and-bourbon countryhelped Greg Faulkner appreciate the relationship between people and nature. "In contrast to the intensely built, suburban environment of my hometown, the opportunistic and expedient way in which people inhabited farmhouses that were set upon open rolling hills, valleys, and verdant forestry did not go unnoticed," he says. "This was thanks to my mom, who gave me an appreciation for this natural landscape."
Faulkner Architects marries modernity and rural architecture with this barn-inspired home, which pays homage to the agricultural heritage of Glen Ellen, California.
Lead a project-driven life.
Gregs mother was a multi-hyphenate woman with numerous ongoing projects that included sewing dresses for herself and her daughters, tending to their home vegetable garden, oil painting, and keeping a clean and disciplined home environment. He adds that on the surface, it may not appear like these were architectural lessons, but "they are lessons about achieving a disciplined, ordered, and project-driven life." From his mothers example, Greg learned that any projectpersonal or professionalnecessitates "a consistent determination within a daily, iterative process that allows a constant return to the task with a fresh perspective." Overall, he says that engaging in such projects adds richness and realness to our lives, yielding "tangible results and effects that give us the satisfaction of accomplishing useful work, like the making of a good house."
Andrew Maynard with his mom, Patricia, at his childhood home in Tasmania.
Be wonderfully weird.
"Mom always let me be weird, which was perfect preparation for a life in design," Andrew Maynard says. The permission to be creative and think outside the box has resulted in projects with climbing walls, slides, nets, and secret rooms.
Tower House is a family residence in Victoria, Australia, whose playful plan includes an upper-level hanging net space for reading and relaxing.
Appreciate the outdoors.
During his childhood in rural Tasmanias mountainous landscape, Andrews mother helped cultivate an appreciation for the landscape, encouraging him "to consider it as an extension of our living space."
Build creative skills.
Andrews mother encouraged him and his siblings to build a skill they enjoyedcrafting, knitting, sewing, painting, building. "She pushed me to draw, which has been fundamentally important to my development as an architect, and a skill I feel should be picked up as early as possible," he says.
Place empathy over ego.
One of the most important things Andrew learned from his mother was the value of empathy: "It allows you to keep your ego in check and respond directly to client and community needs." Many of the delightful features he incorporates into homes are rooted in misunderstood subcultures. "Skateboarding, raves, anime, and street artall of which I lovedwere considered almost criminal activities by some, and a waste of time by most," he says.
Bonnie Bridgess mother, Janet, marks the location for a feature tree on the construction site of a BBA-designed residence in Cazadero, California.
Support the work of tradespeople.
"My mom was a general contractor and self-performed all of the work for her residential design-build projects," says Bonnie Bridges. "Demo, concrete, framing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, cabinets, tile, paint, roofingshe did it all." Bridges has since cultivated a deep respect for the skilled carpenters, general contractors, and tradespeople who bring a designers vision to life. "I often say that, after design, my role is to support the contractor as much as possible and be the resource they need to make their (hard) job easier."
The Southern Pacific Brewery in San Francisco is housed in a former machine shop at the termination of an old train line. The spacious shell considers all the functional needs of the client, which included running a bar, restaurant, and full production brewery.
Prioritize functionality.
"I was inspired by my mom to focus on holistic, systems-based design thinking," says Bonnie. Her mother taught her about the importance of emphasizing function and considering about all the systems that go into designing a spacefrom water and electricity, to gas and drainage.
Related Reading: The Best Bouquets to Buy for Mothers Day
See more here:
7 Designers and Architects Share the Best Advice Theyve Gotten From Mom - Dwell
- Demolition of Mary Miss's art at Des Moines Art Center paused - The Architect's Newspaper - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- AIANY and ASLANY announce transportation and infrastructure awards - The Architect's Newspaper - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Termites are nature's architects, building well-ventilated nests - Earth.com - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- JSA/MIXdesign share its work for the Queens Museum and champion participatory design processes - The Architect's Newspaper - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- County okays agreement with architect for renovation county office building - WspyNews - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- hiroyuki ito architects' tenjincho place is a curving slice of nature in tokyo - Designboom - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- An international competition seeks to find a design team for Helsinki's New Museum of Architecture and Design - The Architect's Newspaper - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Coachella debuts its 2024 art installations by Morag Myerscough, HANNAH, and Nebbia - The Architect's Newspaper - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- New University of Mississippi Architect Contributes to 1000 Projects and Counting The Local Voice - The Local Voice - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Similar, but not the same: How qualifying as an architect differs between the US and UK - Building Design - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Charles E. Dagit Jr., award-winning architect, civic leader, and champion sailor, has died at 80 - The Philadelphia Inquirer - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Renowned architect to visit Stuckeman to juror student design competition - Penn State University - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Architects win citation for Raleigh County Sheriff's Office Headquarters design - MSN - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Trial begins for man accused of throwing Des Moines architect over a railing to his death in 2016 - KCCI Des Moines - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- 'It will be breathtaking,' Notre Dame's chief architect says; iconic cathedral reopens Dec. 8 - Detroit Catholic - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- The reflection of a city in motion. West Bund Orbit by Wutopia Lab | The Strength of Architecture | From 1998 - Metalocus - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- The best new metal songs this week: April 12 2024 - Louder - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Architecture and the Right to Housing - Canadian Architect - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Architect Tipton Housewright Says Too Much Parking is 'Bad Urban Design' - CandysDirt.com - CandysDirt.com - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- Why architects sorely need a new approach to resourcing projects - Architect's Journal - April 17th, 2024 [April 17th, 2024]
- former textile workshop transforms into modern machiya residence in kyoto - Designboom - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- MoDus Architects wraps school in tartan pattern for "warmth and familiarity" - Dezeen - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Architect Eyal Weizman on Mapping Israel's Genocidal Campaign - Democracy Now! - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Aural Art Show Brings Aestheticism to Architects - PantherNOW - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- 125 Greenwich Street by Rafael Violy Architects catches fire in Manhattan while under construction - The Architect's Newspaper - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Barcelona Architects Association visit the Spotify Camp Nou works - FC Barcelona - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Disagree Better Architects, Not Arsonists - National Governors Association - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Construction Underway for Music Venue in Midtown Sacramento - San Francisco YIMBY - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- House of Reclaimed Gold / OutOfTheBox I Eco-Architects - ArchDaily - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Baracco+Wright Architects realizes a light-filled back building - The Architect's Newspaper - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- HMC Architects is one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2 - Fast Company - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- AE Works Announces Strategic Acquisition of WTW Architects, a Pillar in Pittsburgh's Architectural Legacy - StreetInsider.com - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- DINGWALL Streams ARCHITECTS' Bassist Ripping Through "Doomsday" - GearGods - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Exclusive: Connie Booth, One of the Chief Architects of PlayStation's First-Party Studio System, Is Joining EA - IGN - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Bookstore in the Blast Furnace / hyperSity architects - ArchDaily - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- The Dalmore Luminary Series 2024 Edition revealed - Wallpaper* - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- MAD Architects' Forthcoming Lishui Airport: a White-Feathered Bird Ready to Soar - Archilovers.com - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Neon surprises await in this Cologne home by DIIIP architects - Yahoo Lifestyle UK - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Count down to Architect'24, the ASEAN's largest building technology exposition - Nation Thailand - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- foster + partners designs 'the star,' a hollywood tower wrapped in spiraling gardens - Designboom - March 23rd, 2024 [March 23rd, 2024]
- Kasper architects + associates Inc. seeks DDRB approval for facade renovation of Downtown office | Jax Daily Record - Jacksonville Daily Record - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Fernando Lara looks beyond famed architects to uncover deeper themes throughout history | Penn Today - Penn Today - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Photographing the BEM - The shared learning building (BEM) at cole Polytechnique - World-Architects - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Among the Clouds Art Center / Yuan Architects - ArchDaily - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- The Most Talented Landscape Architects in Arizona - Iconic Life - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Gallery of MVRDV, Orange Architects, and LOLA Unveil WrtZ Masterplan in the Netherlands - 2 - ArchDaily - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- MVRDV, Orange Architects, and LOLA Unveil WrtZ Masterplan in the Netherlands - ArchDaily - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Why Architects Should Watch "Perfect Days by Wim Wenders - Archilovers.com - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Croxatto and Opazo Architects front Chilean home with rotated terrace - Dezeen - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Exploring the Legacy of Modernist Landscape Architect Dan Kiley - ArchDaily - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Rethinking Marketing? The Rise of Narrative Architects | by Meir Amarin | Jan, 2024 - Medium - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Check Out This Ultra-Luxe Half-Floor Residence At One Thousand Museum By Zaha Hadid Architects Asking $8.5 Million - PROFILE Miami - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- 16 Materials Every Architect Needs to Know (And Where to Learn About Them) - ArchDaily - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Holcim and Zaha Hadid Architects team up to print circular bridge - Global Construction Review - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- MSG withdraws its application to build a Sphere in London - The Architect's Newspaper - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Kooo Architects designs rural hotel to blend with village in China - Dezeen - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Deep-finned colonnade frames home extension by Will Gamble Architects - Dezeen - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Designer and Architect Neri Oxman Accused of Plagiarism - Hyperallergic - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- With 'Hand and Machine,' architects revert to analogue forms of expression - STIRworld - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Ontario landscape architects seek legislative update for profession - qpbriefing.com - January 13th, 2024 [January 13th, 2024]
- Paying Tribute to the Influential Architects We Have Lost in 2023 - ArchDaily - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Five international work opportunities for architects and designers - Dezeen - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Architects OMA reinvent the art museum in Buffalo - The Globe and Mail - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Architect Shigeru Ban of Japan visits Maui to offer sustainable housing option in wake of wildfire - Maui Now - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- James Gunn shares photo of some of the DCU architects - Batman-News - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- MAD architects' nanhai art center in china emerges from the lake like endless ripple of water - Designboom - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- MAD Architects imagines Nanhai Art Center like "a continuous wave of water" in Foshan city - World Architecture Community - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Preliminary Application for 1581 University Avenue in Central Berkeley - San Francisco YIMBY - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Kapoor named new CEO of DMR Architects - ROI-NJ.com - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Kadre and Lehrer Architects team up for a new transitional housing community in Los Angeles - Archinect - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- sa Hjort Architects completes blocky home on Sweden's southern coast - Dezeen - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Repurposed Imperfection-Embraced Buildings - Trend Hunter - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Architects recommend awnings for temperature control, design accents - Palm Beach Daily News - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Vote for US Building of the Year 2023 - - World-Architects - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Client Solution Architects Achieves ISO Recertification for IT, InfoSec, Quality Management Systems; Tim Spadafore ... - ExecutiveBiz - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- The Multiple Facets of the Architect: Exploring the Works of lvaro Siza Vieira - ArchDaily - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Meet the American Institute of Architects' First Black Woman President - The Story Exchange - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Civic Architects and VDNDP "embrace imperfections" for university retrofit - Dezeen - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Architect Coke Florance Remembered for Influencing Nation's Capital and Colleagues - CoStar Group - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]
- Five international work opportunities for architects and designers - MSN - January 5th, 2024 [January 5th, 2024]