Marianne
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Name and credentials:
Marianne Amodio, recently registered architect with the Manitoba Association of Architects, Leed AP, Board Member, Architecture for Humanity Vancouver
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City and country of birth:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Education:
Master of Architecture (2001) University of Manitoba
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Achievements:
American Institute of Architects Certificate oOf Merit for thesis work
Royal Architecture Institute of Canada Honour Roll for thesis work
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship for academic excellence
RAIC A.L. Buckwell Memorial Scholarship For Design Excellence
Dan Muir Memorial Award For Design Excellence
5. A few of my favourite things:
Plants
Friends and family
A good haircut
A nice dinner, lovingly made
Books
Art
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Tell us about your practice as an architect.
My practice as an Intern Architect has mostly revolved around my love for both residential work and in my belief that architecture is a social and political act intended for the betterment of society. This is something that can occur on as small a scale as a beautiful millwork detail in a custom home or as large as the deliberate inclusion of serendipitous gathering places for larger buildings. I have also attempted to balance my work with a consistent effort of giving back to our community and I do subscribe to the philosophy that you have to give in order to get.
At UBC, I give my time in the form of guest-critting or by participating on Master student thesis committees. Recently, I have been giving my time to Architecture for Humanity Vancouver where we have conducted several projects such as the 20x20 prefab competition with Azure magazine and IDSwest, as well as my own pet project with Arts Umbrella where we run projects with elementary school-aged children dealing with how social issues can be resolved architecturally.
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What architectural work are you most proud of?
I don’t think I have done it yet.
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What was it that brought you to architecture?
A bit of a fluke, really. My father has worked in urban planning for many years so the love of drawing, of buildings and of art came early, but I spent many years searching for an outlet for both my rational mind and my passionate artistic emotions. I never articulated the desire to become an architect until after my first year of architecture school, but being there was a natural fit.
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How many children do you have? Ages?
A boy, Mica, four years old with Harley Grusko Intern Architect.
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How do you manage to practice architecture while raising children and running a household?
Nothing is done without the support of my partner, Harley. We share in most of the responsibilities surrounding the care of our son. While the days can be hectic, it is worth it. I can’t imagine my life without my son and I can’t imagine my life without architecture.
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Can you recall an instance where the dual responsibilities of being a parent and an architect came to a head?
In my own mind, I have had to make the distinction between my role as a mother and my role as a working professional. This was done deliberately so that the roles don’t become confused in my own mind and in the minds of others. There are times, however, when these dual responsibilities came to a head when I was working in a traditional office paradigm: once when my son was sick and I had to miss out on a work-related meeting or when I was obliged to leave at a certain hour to pick him up from daycare.
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Do you think that being a parent has actually influenced your approach to architecture?
I became far more sensitive to the quality of my work. I made a deal with myself when I returned to work: that the quality of work, and the people I was working for and with, had to be of a high enough calibre to merit leaving my son. If it was not, I would have to find a solution that fulfilled this requirement.
Plus, I can now do about 12 different tasks at once.
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“There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall.”
- Cyril Connolly, Enemies of Promise, 1938
What do you think about this quote?
This quote carries the implication that creativity and motherhood cannot coexist. I would say that this is a malignant modern sentiment but is emblematic of a traditional paradigm that unbelievably can still rear its ugly head from time to time. I find it to be almost laughably untrue: most people who have children are generally amazed at their innate creativity and without even seemingly trying to do so. Easily, some of the best ideas I have heard have come from the mouth of my four-year-old son. Having a relationship with a child has only re-enlightened me to the simple truths of the world that have become shrouded by living too long. Through interacting with children, we can only strive to re-learn what adulthood has taken from us. I would say that anyone who believes this quote to be true is likely not creative enough to see the opportunities inherent both in parenthood and in childhood.
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What is the best piece of advice you would give to a would-be parent/architect?
The advice I would give to anyone who asked: Life is long. You will live many chapters. Be patient: your life may not look like what you thought it was going to look like but you have the time to do everything you want to do.
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If you could change public policy that impacts on child-rearing, what would that be?
I would change any ideology or bylaw that prevents the full participation of children in our cultural and social life. In our society, there are places of social acceptance for children but they are mostly surrounding events where children are the primary user. By separating children from normative social and cultural happenings, we draw a line between us and them: between adults and children and between parents and non-parents. A more tolerant and accepting set of rules would go afar in building a myriad of understandings and opportunities.