Today we’d like to introduce you to Afra Farry.
Hi Afra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m an architect and native Angeleno who grew up in the Valley and now based in Santa Monica. My design story started from a fairly young age. I’m an architect and native Angeleno who grew up in the Valley and now based in Santa Monica. My design story started from a fairly young age. When I was 13 years old, my parents were house hunting in Los Angeles, and it was through this process that I was inspired to pursue a career in architecture. Walking into one home after another and imagining daily life within each, I couldn’t help but notice the relationship between the places we live and our experience of the world. I decided that creating beautiful spaces for a living is the ultimate way to have a positive impact on people’s lives!
During the summer before my senior year of high school, I took an “Intro to Architecture” career exploration program at Cornell University and it completely opened my eyes to this new way of seeing things. It showed me how our built environment is deliberate and thoughtful and tells a story. Within the dreamy context of an Ithaca summer (hadn’t thought about the Ithaca winters yet…), I began the journey. I got my Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell and went on to get a Masters in Architecture & Urbanism at the AA School of Architecture in London.
After completing school, I was fortunate to get a job with Foster + Partners, working on high-profile commercial projects including headquarters for Apple and Bloomberg. From there, I shifted gears to explore what originally sparked my interest in architecture — residential work — and spent some time in San Francisco working for Walker Warner on the most amazing custom homes. In 2017 I moved back to LA, completed the licensure exams, and officially became an architect!
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?
Sometimes people think that because my career path was determined from a young age, the process was linear and smooth. I wish that were the case! There’s a steep learning curve when you first graduate school and enter the profession. There were moments I’ve reconsidered it and thought about going down a different route. It happens from time to time, and it’s usually right before an important period of growth. But I’ve realized this thought process is just a coping mechanism intended to help work through next steps!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Since moving back to LA, I’ve been working with Venice Beach-based architecture & design studio Electric Bowery on a combination of residential and hospitality projects. The interesting thing about the boutique hotel work is that it feels like a natural progression from residential work. There’s a lot of similarities between the two — it seems like some of the best hotel experiences have the coziness of a home, and some of the nicest homes can evoke the tranquility of a hotel. I’m proud of the work our team did at the Silver Lake Pool & Inn to transform it into a neighborhood oasis. I’m also proud of the single family residences we’ve completed — sometimes, we’ll receive an email or text from a client telling us how much they’re enjoying their new home, and there’s honestly no better feeling! I’d like to think we first and foremost create spaces that are welcoming, thoughtful, and make you want to linger just a little bit longer.
What are your plans for the future?
At this stage, I feel like I’m enjoying my work and hope to grow in more of an entrepreneurial way. Beyond this, I’d like to find ways to engage various communities in LA. Growing up here, the city was a different place than what it is now. In the past fifteen years or so, we’ve been making strides towards increased access to public transportation and have enjoyed a renaissance in the realm of art, food, & culture. The surge in both the creative and tech communities has been a big part of LA’s growth, and there needs to be more opportunities to foster an exchange of ideas between the two!
Which leads me to — I’d love to eventually teach. Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to participate on design juries at various schools, including local ones like USC. What appeals to me is the mentorship aspect of it, and I find myself reenergized by the conversations and by the student work. I still love the practice of architecture, and if I can find a way to balance both practice and academia, I’ll be a happy lady!
