Kraus Fitch Architects, Inc.

I was drawing floor plans at age 8, and could amuse myself for hours at 12 imagining buildings and what it would be like to be inside of them. I took a detour into fine arts as a teenager, and studied painting, printmaking, weaving, and art history in college. I continued to think in 3 dimensions as I went through a landscape design graduate program, and after a few years in that field jumped at the opportunity to use my design and CAD skills for Kraus-Fitch Architects.

I am fascinated by the natural world, which informs and directs my design work. Ideally, I feel that architectural and landscape design should proceed simultaneously and always with an appreciation for the local, natural and historic landscape. Cohousing has interested me for years, as it seems a deeply sensible response to the travesty of our fossil fuel-driven and disparate suburban culture. I have welcomed the opportunity to work within a cohousing community, and my enthusiasm grows as I learn more about it each day.

I continue to be interested and active in the fine arts, and have recently displayed my artwork in several local galleries and juried art shows. I belong to the Shelburne Art Coop in Shelburne Falls, MA, where I sell my work, and I occasionally teach classes for children and adults. I spend as much time as possible outdoors with my dogs.

This is all made possible by the immense amount of chocolate that I consume every day.