Hero Highlight

Welcome to a series where we introduce some amazing people doing some amazing things that are paving the way to a better world.

 A Conversation with Julia Gamolina

Meet Julia Gamolina, architect and f ounder/editor-in-chief of online publication, Madame Architect, where she has published over 150 (and counting…) interviews with women in the industry. Named one of the “Professional Women in Construction’s” ‘Top 20 Under 40’. Julia is not only an inspiration to women in the industry but to women everywhere.

In this conversation, Julia shares her unconventional journey, some eye-opening insights, and her hopes for the future.

What does your life look like these days? What's keeping you busy?

Life is busy these days! Between my work at Trahan Architects, running Madame Architect, and trying to do things like run and see friends, to making sure that I take breaks from the computer screen and stay connected to that what’s most important, my days are full. I wouldn’t have it any other way though - all these different elements of my life fulfill me and bring me great harmony, and I’m happy that I can both write about the industry and be in the thick of it, working in a professional practice.

“The people I got to meet all over the world make it all worth it, and I would do it all over again!”

What made you want to pursue architecture? Did you always know it was the path you would pursue?

I didn’t always know this would be the path for me - some earlier considerations were teaching, fashion design, acting, and journalism! Various factors contributed to my eventual decision to study architecture. I moved around a few times as a kid and became sharply attentive to different urban environments early on, I always loved to draw (and to read and write as well).

I knew that pursuing a professional degree would be my best way forward, for financial reasons and such. So, all of that culminated in architecture. The rigors of architecture school made me question that decision many times, but now looking back, I’m truly grateful I studied it. A design education pays infinite dividends.

“Madame Architect started as an interview project, and over these past two-and-a-half years has grown into a full-blown online magazine for, by, and about the extraordinary women that shape our world.”

What has been the biggest challenge and greatest accomplishment in your career/life so far? 

So far in life, the biggest challenge has probably been being the new kid and having to establish myself in new places a few times over. I often felt like I was playing catch-up. But, looking back, this has also afforded me so much opportunity and richness and has taught me a lot about stamina. The people I got to meet all over the world make it all worth it, and I would do it all over again! 

What is Madame Architect? What is the mission/goal? Give us the breakdown. 

Madame Architect started as an interview project, and over these past two-and-a-half years has grown into a full-blown online magazine for, by, and about the extraordinary women that shape our world. The goal is to showcase the many, many possibilities that there are out there in crafting a meaningful career in the world of architecture, as well as possibilities for someone with a design education.

Another goal also is to get to know the people behind the buildings - so much of architecture, and of design media, focuses on the final product, but less so on the personal lives of the people behind it – and let’s face it, all process and design output come from a seed that is deeply personal and poignant. That’s something I was always very curious about, those very personal stories.

We do a number of things - the interviews are meant to focus on life and career holistically. Then, we have a "Days With" column, where our subjects take us through a day in their lives, to demonstrate how they manage everything in their lives - career, family life, exercise, downtime, all of it. We started "The Expert" because we felt so many interviews with women were focused on their gender, and the equity issues in architecture, and not on these women’s expertise or professional focus beyond this.

So, in "The Expert" we have architects themselves write about their professional and research interests. Finally, "The Strategist" is a business column by Iben Falconer, that we started since so many architects, male and female, have expressed to us that they wish they had had some sort of business training. Finally, "In Ink" by Kate Reggev, focuses on Madame Architects' past. 

“This industry could learn more from its youth, and the perspective they bring”

What drove you to start Madame Architect?

Two main factors: my desire for mentorship and guidance, to find women whose lives resembled what I wanted for myself, and my desire to integrate writing into my career. 

Tell us about some projects that Madame Architect has undertaken? Which are you most proud of? 

In addition to the various columns I described, I’m really proud of the NextGen series we did this summer, focused on those still in school and recently graduated. In seeing so many students, and especially graduates, struggle through a pandemic school year, I really wanted to honor and celebrate them.

What they’re absorbing now will be the foundation of their careers and what they choose to focus on as they advance, thus setting the tone for what the priorities of the industry will be in the next ten, twenty, fifty years. This industry could learn more from its youth, and the perspective they bring, so I spoke with fifteen different young women, from all kinds of backgrounds and with various interests, on what’s most important to them. I look forward to resuming the series again this coming summer. 

“There are so many women making significant contributions to the field that are often under-recognized.”

How do you go about choosing which woman to feature?

There are many factors important to consider. In general, for the magazine at large, we aim for as much variety in origin, background, home base, and focus, as possible. We also look at women who are doing something different and who have really forged their own unique path in the industry, for example, architect-turned-doula Kimberly Holden, or architect-turned-CEO Jean Brownhill. I’d say in general, we love to hear about the stories of those who have made significant contributions to the industry, who are original, and those who mentor and pay it forward. 

Why is raising awareness about women specifically in the industry so important?

Raising awareness about women specifically in this industry is very important because there are so many women making significant contributions to the field that are often underrecognized. Some of this is because of gender bias, some because of the “lone genius” model propagated time and time again, the one name on the door.

“Follow your intuition and true interests - I’ve hardly heard anyone talk about a career strategy or secrets to success.”

Raising awareness is also important because there’s no one way to have a meaningful career in architecture, and we need to show all kinds of options to those interested in working in the built environment, so that very talented people whose perspectives we need, would know that there is space for them here, and space that will be celebrated and make a difference. 

What’s something you’ve learned from the many women you’ve interviewed/encountered that stands out in your mind? 

What stands out is their optimism and great love for the work - for the making of buildings and cities. It’s by no means a surprise - just incredibly energizing. The other thing I’ve learned is that almost everyone says to follow your intuition and true interests - I’ve hardly heard anyone talk about a “career strategy” or “secrets to success.” Instead, everyone talks about making decisions that feel good at the moment, focusing on that which you like and believe in, and nurturing your friendships. 

“No woman wants to be known as a ‘woman in architecture’- they want to be known as a great architect, period.”

Having interviewed so many women from different parts of the world, are there any issues that overlap? Similarities? Differences?

The most prominent overlap is that no woman wants to be known as a “woman in architecture” - they want to be known as a great architect, period, and to be recognized for their work and contributions instead of their gender. One difference I’m noticing now relates to mentorship - some talk about feeling quite lonely and not having a lot of mentorship or guidance for doing that which they want to, some talk about having male mentors, and some about seeking out female mentors specifically. There are also differences based on the country they’re practicing in, and some of the cultural idiosyncrasies related to that. 

“I’ve grown in having interacted with so many different women - you learn what people care about, how to best empathize, how to see things from all kinds of perspectives.”

Is there anything you’ve learned about yourself through your journey as founder and editor-in-chief of Madame Architect? How have you personally grown from when you first launched it?

I do feel like I’ve grown tremendously, but at the same time, I just feel like me! I’ve never felt more like myself in doing this work, I think because it all started from a very genuine place and because the start of Madame Architect simply combined my biggest interests - getting to know people and their life stories, and writing about it. I will say that of course that I’ve grown in having interacted with so many different women - you learn what people care about, how to best empathize, how to see things from all kinds of perspectives. I also learn every day from our readers, and from the notes they send in response to individual interviews. I love hearing what resonated most with everyone. 

What are your hopes for the future of women in the industry? How do you think we could get to a better place?

My hopes for the future of this industry is that women continue to be attracted to it and to make a significant impact within it and that more and more women will be in leadership and decision-making roles. We will get there, I’m sure of it, through celebrating the wonderful role models paving the way already, by redefining what makes “good” architecture, and by ensuring that design professionals, of both genders, feel valued for their work. 

“Make room for good surprises, evolution, and adaptability - there are way too many things out of our control to get too attached to goals that are too specific.”

Are there any special projects you’re currently working on?

There are! I can’t go into too much detail, but I’ll share that it’s all about telling the stories of these architects, these women, in all kinds of ways. Madame Architect and this interview format is one way, but there are many others. Stay tuned!

What is the best piece of advice you could give to women navigating this industry?

Be honest with yourself about what you truly like and love, from the small scale of things you like to do during the day, to a bigger scale of themes and issues you care about in the world at large. Make room for good surprises, evolution, and adaptability - there are way too many things out of our control to get too attached to goals that are too specific. And finally, find the people that support and encourage you, and that you feel good around.

For more information about Julia Gamolina and her work head to https://www.madamearchitect.org/