In this episode, Ryan sits down one on one with Olivia Fung, Principal Architect at NORR. Olivia and Ryan chat about her unique journey in architecture — from graduate school in Winnipeg, to her experiences living and working in various major cities all around the world, to her current career in Edmonton. Oliva and Ryan dive into examples of what Olivia has seen done well in the industry, the importance of having missing middle housing options, aging in place, housing tenure, and more. Listen to the full episode as Olivia shares her thoughts on Edmonton’s architectural aesthetics, what she loves most about our city, the future of design in Edmonton, and more. As well, stay tuned to the very end of the episode for an exciting podcast announcement!

Olivia Fung has always been passionately interested in our everyday social spaces. How we live, work, and play in the environment has pushed her to look for meaning in her work. Having lived and traveled in cities such as London, Hong Kong, Berlin, and Taipei, Olivia believes it is equally inspiring to question and challenge our environments in different cultural contexts. With ten years of experience in both the commercial and residential world, Olivia has been involved in working and designing a range of projects, from small interiors and mix-use spaces to high-end commercial and residential typologies. A typical day for Olivia usually involves meeting clients, negotiating contracts, creating proposals, guiding design projects, creating building plans, and mixing the best Spotify playlist! No matter the size or scale of the project, Olivia’s focus has always been to fill the space with a special narrative unique to the client and the site. Outside of design, Oliva enjoys playing the piano, boxing, rock climbing, and oil painting.