Check Out Marlene Ramirez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlene Ramirez.

Hi Marlene, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The Architect’s journey is not short nor easy. Mine began in 11th grade when I was exposed to architecture by my art teacher, Ms. Emily Goff who then pushed me to join a summer architectural program at Cal Poly Pomona. Later studying at Cal Poly Pomona, I felt part of something great. I highly attribute my motivation to that architecture program where we are pushed through a wheel of grit and tenacity.

After working at several firms, it occurred to me that the profession did not support a healthy work-life balance. Expectations of automatic overtime were the norm and weren’t looking to budge. This was on top of the lengthy licensing process which I felt experienced enough to start at the time I was close to giving birth to my daughter. These are the reasons why half of the students studying architecture are female but females only make up 17 percent of registered architects in the US. After passing all my licensing exams, I felt that I had no choice but to start my business, and in 2018 started Reli Architecture. I did not want to follow the conventional architectural office approach, so it is still in its learning and infancy stage but growing.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it most definitely has not been smooth. There is a lot of learning to be done during these formative years and the time it takes to learn, keep up, and grow is hard to manage. A big struggle right now is being able to grow effectively and efficiently especially during this pandemic.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an architect who is very passionate about the environment and living a healthy productive life. The spaces I design nurtures a person’s comfort and their connection to the outside environment. I specialize in residential design more specifically Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Daylight is a big component in my spaces and I prefer every single space to receive natural daylight in some form. I like to blur the lines between the interior and exterior and privatize small outdoor spaces to bedrooms and living rooms. It is the attention to detail in a space I know somebody will inhabit, for them to live with dignity and in comfort, that sets me apart from others.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
That’s a great question because it is very subjective. To me, success is achieving the goals that matter the most to you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ReliArch.com

Image Credits
Tauska Trusaun-Kennedy, David Alli Photography