Our new blog is focused mainly on the inspiration we all feel as architects and designers. So…What inspires you? Some of our staff share their own inspirations.

Joe Flynn, LEED AP, Associate: Inspiration comes in many shapes and forms for me. My heart is always tugged by the rustle of autumn leaves, the fragrance of lilacs in first bloom, the sound of children collapsing in giggles, the sight of the sun as it drips down into the horizon over the sea, the touch of a friendly hand on my shoulder. Helen Keller wrapped it up perfectly for me when she said: “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”

Vivienne Kenny, Architectural Designer: Colors, outdoors, and shapes

Dan Perruzzi, Jr., AIA, LEED AP, Principal: I am inspired by great architecture and urban design.  When I walk in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library, I get inspired by the sense of serenity and peacefulness.  When I walked through Paris (many years ago) I was taken with the civilized character of ordinary buildings, and the beauty of the open spaces, like parks and squares. Boston inspires me.  When I walk, I see new things but am also reminded of the places I visited with my parents as a child. I get inspired by lots of creative works, like great cooking, or furniture making, or art.  Whether I am at the ICA or the MFA, I am inspired by the story the artist is trying to tell and the way they tell that story. I am inspired regularly by the example of other people, some of them ordinary folks, some of them more prominent.  Strength, courage of conviction, believing in a higher purpose inspire me. I also get inspired by a warm June day, but that’s another thing all together.

Melissa Panasuik, Office Manager: My Son Inspires Me. He makes me smile every day. Every time I see him my heart fills with joy. He is a happy baby. So I am a happy mama.

Jane Sullivan, IIDA, LEED AP, Associate: I’m inspired by bright, high contrasting colors and clean architectural detailing. Architectural forms highlighted by natural lighting.  I love abstract art…it keeps you asking what is it and what does it mean…there is no right answer.

Marnie Glover, LEED AP, Interior Designer: What inspires me: deep conversations, space planning, interacting with people, being in nature, hockey!

Barbara Hicks, Associate, Director of Marketing and Media: I’m inspired by typography, bright colors, vivid photography, fall days, clean houses, music with a strong beat or a killer guitar solo, interior design magazines, and road trips, which always leave me feeling nostalgic while simultaneously have me thinking about the future and what I can do to improve my attitude, relationships, portfolio, music collection, life…

Monica Katsoulos, Accounting: Sunshine (makes my soul happy) & Traveling (so many places to go, things to see…)

Kim Smith, AIA, LEED AP, Associate: Cool product design, dance/choreography, nature.

Rui Ribeiro, Architectural Designer:  What seems to inspire me most, is technique.  I know it’s rather vague, but whether it be in architecture, art, manufacturing, etc.  Anything that pushes the “how” as much as the “why.”  A recent example being an artist gallery I visited in New Orleans that showed the artist’s oil paintings. The paintings were generally flat and layered as you would expect from a think oil painting, but in the articulation of certain parts the artist layered the paint so thick it became sculptural.  Now this is just something recent that I have seen.  Architecturally, Shigeru Ban and his paper explorations are a good example.  He takes a material and explores the possibilities.  He explores different techniques to manipulate the material and good, interesting architecture is created seemingly incidentally. With technique, success is in the process, not the outcome. It is, at the very least, unique, which is reason enough to inspire many. Below are images of Shigeru Ban.

Carli Baum, Marketing Coordinator: Really green grass (the kind that feels great on bare feet!), music, sharing ideas, listening, doodling, running

Monica Moreira, LEED AP, Associate: Handbags, shoes, golf, spending time with family, cleaning, paper shredding, and movies!

Alvaro Ribeiro, AIA, Architect: My daughter, because she’s chubby and perfect

John Pearson, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Associate: Beauty, in the natural world, the built world, and in art, music, literature. Human caring and connection, in community and in individual acts of kindness and grace.

Marc Margulies, AIA, LEED AP, Principal: “Art” of all kinds inspires me:  architecture (of course), graphic arts, music, landscape design, dance, movies, the crafts.  I love being challenged by diverse artistic visions, and my own creativity is stimulated by that of others.  How great it is to be human!

Sara Rebeiro, Architectural Designer:  I’m inspired by my boyfriend, Zack. I am very grateful for what he is doing in Afghanistan, but he also inspires me as a person. He is driven yet acts like a 12 year old. He takes life by the horns but doesn’t always take it so seriously and he inspires me to be a better person and to work harder. He never takes anything for granted and has shown me how to appreciate everything in life a little bit more, from family and friends to work.

Cindy Boudreau, Architectural Designer: Life is way too short.  What makes my time simple and worthwhile for me are: people (genuine and lighthearted), animals (innocent and trustworthy), music (bright and moving), nature (calming), and laughing (reaffirming and invaluable). I just want to have fun, it is way underrated!!!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU!?

Tags: Alvaro Ribeiro, Architects Boston, Architectural Firms Boston, architecture, art, Barbara Hicks, Carli Baum, Cindy Boudreau, Dan Perruzzi, graphic design, inspiration, Interior Design Firms Boston, Jane Sullivan, Joe Flynn, John Pearson, Kim Smith, Marc Margulies, Margulies Perruzzi Architects, Marnie Glover, Medical Design Boston, Melissa Panasuik, Monica Katsoulos, Monica Moreira, MPA, Rui Ribeiro, Sara Rebeiro, space planning, typography, urban design, Vivienne Kenny

This entry was posted on Friday, June 17th, 2011 at 4:08 am and is filed under Staff, Work . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.