At Disrupt, we constantly advocate for women involved in the built environment profession. In an industry which reflects the blue-collar, male-dominated notion, we believe women have the power to shape and transform the world through their incredible skills and persistence, and family responsibilities should not stand in the way of their professional growth. Aligning with the same mission, Michele Grace Hottel, an architect with diverse experience in the AEC industry, joined Sara Kolata, the founder of Disrupt Symposium at Arch: Talk Tank podcast to share her experiences of being a mother alongside being an architect.
The Motherhood Journey
Michele embraced motherhood in July 1994. A few weeks before the special day, she had quit her architecture job, being unsure of her return to the profession. Three weeks after the birth, one of the architects she had worked with previously offered her a consultant’s position, marking the beginning of her journey once again. She began working as a consultant for other architects and gradually began to take on projects. She never went back to work for a firm or another architect, the experience of which turned her into an entrepreneur.
Michelle lived in a small bungalow with her family at Venice Beach during her early days of motherhood. She managed projects on her own while taking care of her young daughter, which eventually proved to be challenging. Though the other residents were not particularly enthusiastic about having a baby in the complex, Michelle and her family enjoyed being a part of the small community.
Michelle remembers one occasion when she had to take her young daughter to a meeting with a former employee of Discrete Logic. The software for Terminator was developed by Discrete Logic, which at the time was a big deal. Carrying her infant backpack through the downpour, she brought her daughter to the meeting. Michelle had no chance of landing the job with her hair wet and an informal presentation. But she was eventually employed, nevertheless, to design for a tenant for the business. Michelle's use of natural wood in the design and her ability to give the space a Canadian feel was what pleased the clients.
Starting an Architecture Practice
Reflecting on her professional journey, Michelle says she is fortunate to receive referrals from people she has worked with in the past, both for projects and in consultation work. One of Michelle’s colleagues, Lewin Wertheimer, from Mark Appleton's office, started his own office named Lewin Wertheimer and Associates. Lewin along with his husband lived in Venice Beach close to Michelle’s home where they would both often work while Lewin’s husband helped take care of Michelle’s daughter. Michell also had the flexibility to work on her own time, even though it sometimes stretched up to 2 a.m.
“As a working mother, finding a quiet time to focus on work can be challenging. The scenario became more prevalent during the pandemic when all family members were confined to their homes. It is important for family and friends to understand and be more empathetic towards women working late hours, even if it makes them less pleasant to be around,” says Michelle.
Balancing Motherhood and Architecture
Balancing a demanding architectural career and motherhood often leads to feelings of “mother’s guilt”. This is because long working hours can take a toll on you and you may not be at your best for your family members. Children might not fully understand your hard day at work and expect you to be happy and available all the time. Communicating with your older children about your needs and limitations is important, and sometimes you may even have to ask for their help to find a better balance to be happier.
Asking for help can be difficult and sometimes you may not receive the support that you need. Childcare can also be a significant expense. Only a few people are privileged enough to have resources and family assistance to help with child care and other responsibilities which often leads to the emotional and financial burden of trying to do it all yourself.
The Facebook Group: Mothers In Architecture
Michelle is an active member of the Facebook group Mothers In Architecture, a supportive community comprising women who are architects, to-be mothers, and adoptive mothers. The members of the group help each other in their architectural endeavours as well as share anecdotes about their motherhood journey.
Initially, even men were interested in joining the group, which included engineers and other construction professionals. A survey was conducted among the industry stakeholders to include men in the group. The response was overwhelmingly against it as the group’s focus was addressing personal issues such as breastfeeding and post-birth experiences, workplace concerns such as disclosing pregnancy to employers and negotiating time off for childcare. The group offers a private space for women to share their personal experiences and seek input from other women. The responses are not immediate solutions but rather problem-solving approaches. The women-only space fosters intimacy and engagement, making it easier for women to discuss their unique challenges and find understanding and support.
Key Issues for Women in Architecture
The biggest challenge for women, especially mothers in architecture is work-life balance as they are the ones who take on multiple responsibilities of raising children. Michelle says there should be a significant exchange of information between the partners to ease the child's upbringing. She recalls an incident where she was away writing an exam and she received a call from her partner enquiring about the most basic thing - the paediatrician's office. This incident emphasises the need for continuous communication between partners because juggling between two full-time roles of a mother and an architect can be conflicting for women. Another issue is the division of roles in relationships when both partners are engaged in demanding careers and highlights the difficulties in collaborating especially within a husband-wife architecture team, where personal and professional endeavours are put at stake.
I’ve Never Met a Woman Architect Before
Michelle’s blog that deals with her navigating motherhood while being an architect, planning commissioner, volunteer and caregiver for her partner is called I’ve Never Met a Woman Architect Before. The blog highlights conceptual elements of motherhood and architecture, drawing parallels between designing a building and designing one’s life. For the past three years, Michelle has conducted interviews and podcasts with architects and a work-from-home series that addressed how architects managed their practices and lives amidst the pandemic. One of her podcast episodes for Mother’s Day covered three women from the Facebook group Mothers in Architecture, spanning architecture and other humorous insights like Mother’s Day gifts.
Conclusion
Becoming a mother is a transformative experience that makes one rethink life. It gives mothers a desire to take more control over one's time as both motherhood and architecture careers demand significant emotional investment. The key lies in recognising parallels between motherhood and designing one’s life and drawing on skills learned in architecture school. It is similar to the design critique process in school, in a way that one learns to design by understanding the framework of a project. In the same way, we can use design education in managing life and understanding how to navigate the challenges that come with both roles.
In an industry historically dominated by men, the journey of architect Michele Grace Hottel serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for women navigating the intersection of motherhood and architecture. However, Michele also acknowledges the systemic challenges that women, particularly mothers, continue to face in architecture. From navigating work-life balance to advocating for equal opportunities and support from partners, there is still much work to be done to level the playing field. By highlighting the parallels between designing buildings and designing lives, Michele's work challenges stereotypes and celebrates the multifaceted roles of women in architecture. As we look towards the future, it is clear that women like Michele Grace Hottel are paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable architectural profession. By championing diversity, fostering supportive communities, and advocating for change, they are reshaping the landscape of architecture, one project and one mother at a time.
Michele Grace Hottel has been practising architecture since 1994 before which, she worked as a consultant with architecture and engineering firms in Los Angeles and San Diego. Her work portfolio includes Custom Single and Multi-Family Residential projects, Health Care Consulting, and Educational, Religious, and Commercial projects. She completed her studies at Cal Poly, Pomona and the University of Copenhagen DIS. Michele constantly advocates for women architects through her podcasts and blogs on I've Never Met A Woman Architect Before... about the trials and tribulations of being a woman, a mother, a wife and an architect.
