Architectette

Barbara Van Biervliet is an architect and engineer from Knokke, Belgium, and the co-owner of the boutique architecture studio Claerhout–Van Biervliet (CVB) which she runs with her partner in life and work, Xaveer Claerhout. The pair also have three children: Jacob, Adriaan, and Johanna. 

At CVB, the team creates sculptural, organic architecture and bespoke interiors for high-end residential, hospitality, and office projects. Barbara is also the co-owner of Metamorphic Art Studio, which pushes the boundaries of design, architecture, and art by implementing physical transformation and metamorphosis.

We talk about:

- The origin story of Periscope House, CVB’s recent work which was featured in the Venice Biennale. Barbara reveals how a simple question about preserving a pristine landscape led to the design for a sunken home with kinetic mirrors that reframe light, views, and inhabitants’ relationship to the earth.

- We explore Barbara’s parallel practice designing and building illuminated art that transforms through touch, motion, and light and how these works blur the boundaries between architecture and sculpture.

- When describing her design process, Barbara explains why 3D modeling, cinematic renderings, and physical prototypes are her essential tools for developing complex ideas.

- To end, Barbara reflects on building a studio with her husband, sharing candid insights on balancing intuition and refinement, motherhood and ambition, and creative guilt while raising independent, art-loving children.

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Connect with Barbara:

CVB Website: https://www.claerhout-vanbiervliet.com/

Metamorphic Art Studio: https://metamorphicartstudio.com/

Periscope House: https://www.periscope-architecture.com/

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Thank you to our Sponsor:

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Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Taruna Gupta is a Senior Associate at HGA Milwaukee where she works on projects that champion holistic design, equity, and sustainability. She is President of Wisco NOMA and is a board member of Women in Design Milwaukee.

Taruna is also Co-Founder and President of Defining Humanity where she leads global initiatives such as 3D-printed schools and housing solutions that redefine architecture’s role in addressing equity and access in communities around the world.

We talk about: 

- Lessons Taruna has learned from practicing architecture in India, Italy, France, and the United States. We talk about the ways in which these roles have expanded her cultural fluency and strengthened her adaptability in terms of the design process, construction techniques, labor models, and metric vs imperial systems.

- The origin of Defining Humanity and how she has helped to build a volunteer network of professionals that collaborate to significantly impact underserved communities worldwide through architectural interventions.

- 3D printing schools in Madagascar and the importance of listening to and engaging communities, ensuring people feel truly heard.

- Taruna's advice for authentic networking, leaning into your passions during conversation, and using the “buddy system” to make professional events less intimidating.

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Connect with Taruna:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarunagupta/

Defining Humanity Website: https://www.defininghumanity.org/

Defining Humanity Instagram: @defininghumanity

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Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On today’s episode we are chatting with Emily Alexander. Emily was raised in Boston and moved to DC to attend The George Washington University where she studied Civil and Structural Engineering. She completed internships with both engineering firms and general contractors and joined Turner Construction Company post-graduation. 

Today she is a Development Manager at Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, plays soccer 2-3 times a week with District Soccer, and was recognized with the 2025 DMV Women Leading Real Estate Rising Star Award.

We talk about: 

- We define the role of development manager and Emily explains her responsibilities across entitlements, design, construction, financing, and client advisory services.

- Next, we dive into DC’s entitlement process and Emily explains how re-envisioning a site can dramatically increase its value.

- Then, we get into architecture and Emily shares what qualities developers look for when hiring architects- things like contextual insight, low-ego teamwork, and clear construction documentation.

- We also explore Emily’s pivot to development from engineering and construction, how dyslexia shaped her strengths, and her mid-career perspective on mentorship within small teams.

- Finally, we take a deep dive into Emily’s most recent project, the Reservoir District. We talk about grocery tenants, community engagement, post-pandemic retail trends, and why long-term affordability remains a core priority for equitable development.

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Connect with Emily:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-alexander-91275320

Reservoir District

Real Estate Consultant Washington DC - Jair Lynch

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Nakita Reed is an award-winning architect with experience in the rehabilitation and sustainable reuse of historic buildings. She is an Associate Principal at Quinn Evans, a LEED-Accredited Professional, and a certified Passive House Consultant.

She serves on the board of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, the Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Heritage Buildings (ZNCC), Built Buildings Lab, and is host of the Tangible Remnants podcast - a podcast that demystifies the building reuse process for building owners and developers.

We talk about:

- Nakita’s childhood curiosity for abandoned buildings and how that led her to a career focused on efforts to restore them to serve their communities again.

- We review the challenges and successes of some of Nakita’s most memorable projects and how her team worked to challenge misconceptions that historic buildings can’t be sustainable, energy-efficient, or adaptable.

- Nakita shares technical insights on documenting and restoring heritage structures using exploratory demolition, laser scanning, dew point testing, and WUFI analysis.

- Finally, Nakita reflects on launching her podcast, Tangible Remnants, as a way to contextualize architecture within race, history, and culture and tell fuller, more inclusive stories about the ways we live and work.

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Connect with Nakita:

https://www.nakitareed.com/

Guide to building reuse for climate action | AIA

Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Historic Buildings

What is WUFI®? | WUFI (en)

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Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Erin Pellegrino is a strategist, designer, and registered architect. Through Matter, her design and fabrication studio, she transforms visionary concepts into extraordinary spaces, objects, and experiences.

Erin is the co-founder of Out of Architecture, a career resource community and talent services agency, and co-author of ‘Out of Architecture: The Value of Architects Beyond Traditional Practice’ (Routledge, 2022). Her commitment to expanding design’s impact extends to academia, where she has taught at Harvard, Cornell, The New School, CUNY, and NJIT. At NJIT she co-leads the design/build program focusing on public interest design.

Her work has earned global recognition, including an Autodesk BuildSpace Fellowship, AIA New England Design Honor Award, Core77 Design Award in Built Environment, two Architizer A-plus awards, a Paul M. Heffernan International Fellowship, and a nomination for the EU Mies Van der Rohe Award. She holds an M.Arch II from Harvard Graduate School of Design, a B.Arch from Cornell University, and an MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.

We talk about:

- How Erin built a multidimensional career across architecture, academia, and entrepreneurship. 

- She reflects on early lessons from working with Tod Williams Billie Tsien and how her in-office experience shaped her decision to question a typical path in architecture and eventually carve her own path.

- Erin explains how Out of Architecture blossomed from conversations about burnout and evolved over a series of secret coaching calls to expand into publishing a book, launching a podcast, and creating a global platform for architects seeking greater balance and fulfillment.

- We critique the profession’s lack of transparency regarding labor and pay and Erin lists a few practices she would change.

- In closing, Erin reminds architects that their power lies in their relationships between people, materials, and spaces.

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Connect with Erin:

Out of Architecture.

Matter.

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Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Bryce Batts is a dynamic business consultant, speaker, certified Career Coach, and Co-founder of Career Collective, bringing over 15 years of experience as a recruiter in the AEC industry.

With a fierce commitment to empowering women, Bryce helps organizations overcome barriers to hiring by developing innovative talent acquisition strategies. Her expertise enables companies to attract and retain diverse talent, fostering a more inclusive workplace.

We talk about:

- The ways in which the 2008 recession and pandemic impacted hiring in architecture, with both events prompting widespread layoffs and shifts in talent retention across the AEC industry.

- We also discuss some popular issues facing today’s workforce. Bryce details why mid-career professionals with 8–12 years of experience are in high demand, yet hard to find and why early career staff commonly lack mentorship.

- We also discuss how firms are turning to hybrid work models, satellite offices, and creative benefits to stay competitive in attracting top talent.

- Bryce gives advice how listeners can optimize their LinkedIn profiles with keywords, detailed project experience, and referrals to be ready when an opportunity arises.

- We end by chatting about Bryce’s podcast Wine After Work and her new book The Career Architect which both shares stories and career design strategies to help AEC professionals build fulfilling, resilient careers

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Connect with Bryce:

Bryce's Website: www.brycebatts.net

Career Collective Website: www.mycareercollective.com

Bryce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-batts-recruiter/ 

Bryce's IG: https://www.instagram.com/brycebatts/

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BONUS EPISODE!!!

In this compilation episode, our 2025 Architectette guests share where they draw inspiration. Hear from our guests in architecture, interior design, consulting, business development, urban planning, and more about where they seek their sparks of joy!

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- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)

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Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On this special *double feature* listen to our interview with Angela Mazzi, then head over to the Architecting Podcast to hear Angela interview Caitlin!

Today's guest, Angela Mazzi is dedicated to enhancing quality of life through the built environment. Her research on salutogenesis, equity, and socio-cultural contexts illuminates how design impacts well-being and the ways the design process impacts designers.  It’s her mission as a firm principal at GBBN, industry leader, and mentor with the AIA NAC/FAIA Mentoring Program, and AIA Align Mentoring program to advocate for healthy innovation-focused practice models. 

She founded Architecting, a community consisting of an award-winning podcast, classes in stress management and high performance to explore and eradicate systemic codependency in the AEC industry.  She is the author of two books, Career Crisis and Time Builder and is currently writing a third: The Design Ecosystem.

Angela is Past President of the American College of Healthcare Architects, Past President of AIA Cincinnati, and Secretary of AIA Ohio. She is a peer reviewer for Health Environment Research and Design (HERD) Journal, 2022 recipient of the HCD10 Top Architect Award, and 2024 recipient of the AIA Ohio Gold Medal.

We talk about:

- Angela explains how adopting a mindset of “ask forgiveness, not permission” opened doors to leadership and long-term professional influence. She reflects on how her involvement with the AIA expanded her understanding of architecture’s role beyond buildings.

- We next discuss the concept of salutogenesis and Angela outlines how salutogenic design improves outcomes for patients, families, and clinical staff during moments of stress.

- We also talk about Angela’s prolific podcast, Architecting, where she addresses burnout, disillusionment, and strategies for building a meaningful, resilient career in AEC.

- Angela discusses the importance of setting stretch goals such as the Nobel Peace Prize and why she encourages architects to shift their mindset, question systemic norms in the profession, and embrace the power of design to influence health, equity, and social change.

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Connect with Angela:

https://architectingpodcast.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/architectingcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamazzi/

https://www.instagram.com/architectingpodcast/

https://www.youtube.com/@architectingpodcast

X: @AngelaMazzi

https://www.gbbn.com/

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- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Angie Scott, Ph.D., Allied IIDA, and Allied ASID, is a well-known expert regarding well-being and inclusive design in the built environment. She is the CEO, Principal Design Researcher, and Strategist at Culturwell. Through evidence-based design and strategy, her consultancy aims to improve retention, sense of belonging, and well-being in built environments by collaborating with innovative leaders in architecture, healthcare, housing, and education. 

Her previous positions include the Community Concept Lead and creator of the WELL Equity Rating at IWBI, and a tenure-track professor of interior design. 

We talk about: 

- Angie’s multiple advanced degrees and in what ways each has deepened her multidisciplinary understanding of the impacts of interior design.

- We next chat about the science of neuroaesthetics and how design can influence stress, emotional regulation, and overall human experience.

- We dive into Angie’s significant contributions to the creation of the WELL Equity Rating and how it integrates inclusive design strategies to promote health equity.

- We end by talking about Angie’s design consultancy, how she advises organizations through evidence-based strategies, and her key takeaways from 2025’s NeoCon.

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Connect with Angie:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/angelita-scott-phd-503a5041

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- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Music by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Today we’re chatting with Robin Raines. Robin brings over 30 years of architectural expertise to Rowhouse Architects, focusing on affordable housing, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation. Today she resides in Asheville, NC but is originally from Grundy, Virginia, Robin proudly calls herself “a coal miner’s daughter,” embracing her Appalachian roots.

She discovered her passion for architecture at Virginia Tech, where she earned her degree and began her mission to design spaces that truly make a difference.

We talk about: 

- Robin Raines shares her experience in Asheville during and after Hurricane Helene, including the loss of historic buildings in the River Arts District and the challenges of rebuilding.

- We discuss the architectural community’s role in recovery, from zoning changes to master planning and what are the opportunities to shape a more resilient future.

- We then talk about Robin’s work as an architect in Asheville and how context-sensitive infill projects and missing middle housing can provide more affordable, livable options.

- Robin shares how her journey to becoming majority owner at Rowhouse Architects started with a plate of spaghetti and she also shares the importance of support from her peer networks as she has risen in leadership in her career.

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Links:

Rowhouse on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rowhouse_arch/

Rowhouse Architects Website: https://rowhouse-architects.com/

Robin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-raines-b0057135/

Robin/ Asheville/ Hurricane Helene: https://styleblueprint.com/everyday/robin-raines-rowhouse-architects/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKgPRJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3NFM4UUU2dXFJOXJDeEN0AR41fSr49iojMgPPc-PbOrZqz7mFS6jVRuQwFM7FZPMyDmnF0erpDunNVTDGTQ_aem_m8BbaGQTGvWKQoh7lmKnrg

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Connect with Architectette:

- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more)

- Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architectette⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (See more)

- Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Behind the Scenes Content)

- LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Architectette Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Page and/or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Caitlin Brady⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Support Architectette:

- Leave us a rating and review!

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