VICTORIA LEE VIA
Potrait courtesy of Victoria Via.
Victoria Via is a Designer and Technology Lead at OJK Architecture + Planning. She is based out of Portland, OR. Victoria leads the OJK team in technology and BIM and has experience modeling complex building systems. Her portfolio includes multi-family affordable housing, custom ground-up residential, high-end residential interiors, and commercial fitouts. She has worked on projects in California, Washington state, and the New York City metropolitan area. Victoria is in the process of gaining licensure in New York State and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University. Victoria is interested in technology, equity, workers’ rights, and building and supporting communities. She also enjoys rock climbing, being outside, and dabbling in ceramics.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Northern Virginia.
What is your favorite dish?
Vegan chocolate chip cookies.
Three additional fun facts
My grandmother was born in Havana, Cuba.
As a child, I had dim sum with my parents almost every weekend. If we weren’t at dim sum, we were probably at Applebee’s.
I’ve been vegan for a few years and have veganized many of my favorite Chinese dishes. My grandfather and father were both chefs; hopefully, they’d be proud and not too horrified by my alterations!
Strengthening Communities Through Affordable, Sustainable Housing
What inspired you to study architecture?
I come from a family of artists and entrepreneurs, and my creativity was really well-supported as a child. I have so many great memories of doing art projects with my mom. I loved the tactile, free-flowing nature of drawing, collaging, and building models with her. Drawing skills came naturally to me, and art class was always my favorite.
As a teenager, I also grew up on the fringes of the DC punk scene, where I was inspired by the power of activism and community organizing. I came across the book Design Like You Give a Damn, which showcases a number of humanitarian architecture projects. It expanded my understanding of architecture and introduced me to the idea of design as a means of advancing social justice.
Orchard. Affordable housing development in Sunnyvale, CA. Designed by OJK Architecture + Planning. Image courtesy of Victoria Via.
Name a woman architect (preferably Asian or Pacific Islander) who most influenced you? Why or How did they?
When I was considering different career paths in high school, I read about Maya Lin and her winning competition entry for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I was so impressed by her. In response to winning the competition, she was met with horrifying racism and sexism. How do you respond to that and defend these things you can’t change? It shows how incredibly tenacious and strong she is, even back when she was a student. I’m inspired by her perseverance, thoughtfulness, and acute attention to environmental issues. Also, her land art is just spectacular.
Ceramics by Victoria. Image courtesy of Victoria Via.
Name a favorite project completed by a Woman Architect (preferably Asian or Pacific Islander). Why is it your favorite?
I love Atelier Bow-Wow’s urban research and drawing methodology. The Nora House is one of my favorite projects. The form is so playful and sculptural, further emphasized by the sparse, practical material palette. Momoyo Kajima is profoundly talented, and I love her personal motto: “Passion without knowledge is a runaway horse.”
I have to highlight another: I really admire Yutaka Sho and the whole team at GA Collaborative. The Masoro Health Center is stunning in its integration of interior and exterior, its elegant programmatic arrangement, and its thoughtful, inclusive approach to community engagement. Their work is beautiful and impactful.
Victoria and her father at her parents’ Chinese restaurant. Image courtesy of Victoria Via.
How does your culture/ethnicity affect your studies and the way you design?
I’m a second generation Asian American. I grew up running around my dad’s Chinese restaurant, reading and playing games with the waitresses. My parents worked so hard to provide me with a safe, comfortable life, and I am forever grateful.
I was raised in an area dense with many different ethnic communities, and it was extremely diverse in terms of race, income, and socioeconomic status. I think this exposure to a range of human experiences started to help me understand the challenges that our communities face. It feels like so many different forms of oppression—racism, sexism, neoliberalism, unbridled capitalism, lack of access to physical/mental healthcare, etc.—compound to make life difficult for so many people.
On top of that, the for-profit housing market traps people in a system that’s really difficult to break free from. Rising rents and unaffordable mortgages force people to work to the bone and sacrifice necessities. I would love to see a fundamental rethinking of what housing means to our country. Residential architecture has become less of a means to provide basic shelter, instead turning into a commodity to own and profit from. I think we could take inspiration from other countries, where social housing is much more common.
Ultimately, I’m interested in designing housing that is affordable, safe, beautiful, resilient, sustainable, and inclusive. I’m grateful to be part of a truly brilliant team at OJK Architecture and Planning. OJK is women-led and 100% virtual. Our projects range from multi-family affordable housing to tiny ADUs, all in the interest of tackling the housing crisis and strengthening our communities. I’ve worked on a range of residential projects over the years, but this work and this specific focus feels critical now.
Affordable housing development in San Jose, CA. Designed by OJK Architecture + Planning. Image courtesy of Victoria Via.
What is your favorite memory in architecture school or work? Why?
More recently, one of my favorite memories is when my husband and I left NYC to travel full-time on the road. I was able to find remote work with a couple different companies, EVIA Studio and BIM Cubed. It was truly such a relief to find flexible, enjoyable, well-paying remote work in our industry. It made me optimistic that our industry might allow more flexibility for architecture workers, a critical component for employee mental health--especially for those with families. Fully virtual work with OJK has continued to be a really successful experience.
Victoria and her husband embarking on full-time life on the road. Image courtesy of Victoria Via.
Are there any organizations that helped you grow in architecture? How did they help you grow?
In architecture school, I loved being part of the Syracuse AIAS Freedom by Design organization. It was great to participate in a collaborative design process within my community and to participate hands-on in the construction process. This was my first experience in how things actually get built. I have a distinct memory of 19 year-old Victoria realizing that the design just wasn’t going to work the way I modeled it in Rhino.
As a professional, I’ve really appreciated the dedicated, ongoing work by the Architecture Lobby.
Victoria and her husband rock climbing in Squamish, BC. Image courtesy of Victoria Via.
If you were able to talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Life is short. Make time for life outside of work, and set clear boundaries. Even if you love your job, future-you will not regret spending that extra time with family and friends and enjoying hobbies. Climb more and travel more!
The OJK Architecture team. Image courtesy of Victoria Via.
What would you want to say to the next generation of aspiring Asian and Pacific Islander women architects/designers?
As a woman and a minority, you feel like you always have to work harder to prove yourself. Especially as an entry-level designer, without credentials and qualifications, without job experience, and without a developed professional network, architecture can feel really difficult and isolating. Unfortunately, at many firms in the industry, there’s also an expectation of what an Asian American woman should be: quiet, complaisant, and pleasant.
Give yourself permission to be honest, and find a space and a team where you can be true to yourself. With rising costs of living, it feels really privileged to suggest that you shouldn’t accept the first job offer you receive. But you can always be on the lookout for better opportunities, new directions, and important mentors. It’s critical to find a team that supports you and treats you as an individual. I feel very lucky to be employed by a company that is supportive and compassionate, and whose values align with mine.
The industry is also rapidly expanding into a range of expertises. It’s unrealistic to expect that you’ll be good at every aspect of “architecture.” Take the time to discover your niche and the work you enjoy most.
In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wish would happen and it did not? This can be in an educational or work atmosphere.
This crazy year has produced some good internal conversations about housing policy, and I’d love to see that continue and go further. We need a policy that prioritizes human needs and equal economic and political power for all.
Generally, I would love to see more examples of architects and designers advocating for issues that matter to them, especially at the local level. It would be so powerful to see more designers showing up, as professionals, at city council meetings, community stakeholder meetings, and neighborhood association meetings, advocating for better housing, transportation, and environmental policy. Advocating against the proposed highway overpass in your community might be just as important as your office’s next project. Architects should leverage their hard-earned professional authority to advocate for responsible, ethical change.
