LAURA KAUPP JENSEN
Lake|Flato Architects
SAY IT LOUD - TEXAS Exhibitor
Texas Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I know it’s trite, but I love Frank Lloyd Wright. He created amazing spaces. The people at Lake|Flato have always inspired me with their passion and talent, and I still wonder how I got here.
LAURA KAUPP JENSEN
Bio:
The great designer, An Associate in Lake|Flato’s residential studio, Laura enjoys closely collaborating with clients in the design of thoughtful, comfortable homes that embrace their unique contextual landscape. Laura started her career working within a historical context. She continues to be inspired by vernacular forms and their response to a particular climate and place. Laura actively encourages the mentorship of young architects, as well as high school students through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
While I always was very sensitive to my surroundings, I didn’t know I wanted to be an architect until someone suggested it to me in college. After a tough first year as a biochemistry/pre-med major, I found architecture to be a much better fit!
What do you do?
At Lake|Flato, I work on our single-family houses, assist in leading our residential studio, and help manage our internal mentoring program.
What excites you in the work you do?
I love hearing how clients experience living in our work. Their joy is my reward. I also enjoy passing everything I know onto younger staff, offering stories of past successes and failures and encouraging their strengths and growth.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
I know it’s trite, but I love Frank Lloyd Wright. He created amazing spaces. The people at Lake|Flato have always inspired me with their passion and talent, and I still wonder how I got here.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
While I cannot take credit for the talented young architects that have learned from me, I’ll take some. I am also very proud of the projects we created together.
Featured Project Name:
Olmos Park Rersidence
Featured Project Location:
San Antonio, TX
Featured Project Completion Date:
2015
Role in Featured Project:
Project Manager
Featured Project Description:
The Olmos Park Residence is found on a winding road that delineates the edge of a heavily forested flood basin. The site of the house includes live oak trees, and is organized around one majestic oak. Playing off of the low historic limestone walls bounding this lot, the house was conceived as a series of handcrafted stone buildings that define internal courtyards, allowing an open, floating glass-and-steel living pavilion at the heart of the site overlooking the magnificent oak tree court.