Julia Bartmanska | Emerging Professional | Vancouver
Born into a multicultural family with a Polish-Ukrainian-Lithuanian background, I was happily exposed to the history and traditions of those countries that I still keep deeply in my heart, and I definitely can’t live without pierogi!
Growing up, most members of my family were always spread around the world, so travelling was not only our hobby but an intentional necessity that helped me to learn that no matter where people live, we are all connected in some way through love stories, comfort meals, and music. Later in life, curiosity and my childhood passion for exploring brought me to Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada where I am currently enjoying the unique climate of the Pacific Ocean—and the culinary wonders of poutine.
In my free time, I’m trying to stop myself from buying or cultivating new baby plants. I love exploring hidden gems of the city, trying new food and strolling around Stanley Park, where somehow every time you can discover a new shade of sunset.
Why do you think DE&I is an important part of our practices?
As a Designer, I believe in the possibility of architecture and research combined to strengthen our community and improve the urban and architectural landscape. One architectural initiative I’ve always admired is a community outside Vienna, Austria, planned entirely by women architects in a collective called the Frauenburo (which literally translates to city women’s office). The project was meant to redesign a city to demonstrate how gender-sensitive design could be applied in practice. The goal was to make the daily life of women easier, to understand their everyday needs and patterns, and incorporate them into an urban network of Vienna. Since the 1990s, the project has given life to multiple additional initiatives, such as the renaming of the streets after women, improving housing standards to accommodate the needs of different female age groups, and creating a comfortable and safe living environment.
Gordon Lee | Senior Associate | Dallas
When things closed down during the pandemic, my favorite way to get out and explore was by visiting grocery stores in various communities—stores that stocked Korean, African, Vietnamese, Indian, and Japanese staples, to name a few. It was fascinating to peruse the different spices, ingredients, glassware, and silverware that linked to specific geographical areas and their weather, religions, and cultures. As a new immigrant from Taiwan, this experience enhanced my appreciation of the importance of diversity and equality.
Why do you think DE&I is an important part of our practices?
The hospitality industry is all about experiential design and storytelling. It’s a shared belief that we can craft a better story around both staff and guests’ experiences when we truly understand our audience. When our team starts a new hotel on the other side of the world, diversity helps us integrate into the region. It is critical for our audience to embrace and anchor our vision.
Yucel Guven | Associate | Los Angeles
My name is Yücel. I’m originally from Turkey. I moved to the States almost 10 years ago for college and have been with Perkins Eastman in LA for the past five years. When I’m here, the thing I miss about Turkey is not places or food, but people, culture, and mindsets. Funnily enough, when I stay in Turkey longer than a few weeks, I miss the same thing about the US! I think the dichotomy is now ingrained in me and I really appreciate the differences. Besides, as someone who loves cooking as much as he does dining, I’m not one to shy away from trying to cook foods from back home if I miss them. Sometimes with bonus ingredients, I’ve picked up while living here that wouldn’t traditionally be in a recipe.
Why do you think DE&I is an important part of our practices?
When joining the LA studio, I was very excited by the diversity of my colleagues—everyone brought different perspectives stemming from their upbringing, culture, and life experience. Since then, I’ve been quite appreciative of how this diversity gets celebrated and every individual gets equal opportunities within the Perkins Eastman framework. If, as a designer, I can help craft buildings and spaces that allow for the same kind of inclusion that I get to enjoy in my work life, I will feel fulfilled in my career path.
My desire has always been to work on projects that many people get to experience. The best way to do that would be to make every one of those people feel welcome. As the discourse on DE&I evolves, I would like to be a part of it to learn what I can implement into my work.