Today we’d like to introduce you to Mette Aamodt and Andrew Plumb.
Mette and Andrew, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My father was an architect so I was introduced to architecture at a young age by spending time in his office after school. Andrew, on the other hand, found architecture on his own. As a freshman at MIT, he chose to live in a curvy brick dormitory because ‘it just felt good to be there’. That building turned out to have been designed by Alvar Aalto – the great Finnish architect and one of the giants of 20th century modern design.
Our paths first crossed at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in 1999. We had many of the same down-to earth values, much of which is based upon our shared Scandinavian heritage. I was born in Norway and Andrew’s family has roots in Finland and Sweden.
However, we also had many differences. I had already traveled widely and had lived and worked abroad. I was also fluent in three languages. Andrew’s international travels had consisted of a one-way flight from Panama to Miami and he had managed to learn exactly one language. At any rate, we’ve been partners in life and work ever since.
In school, we collaborated on many projects. Then suddenly, one week before my thesis review, I went blind in my right eye. I thought it was due to stress and Andrew helped me finish my final project. After graduation, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
It was a terrible blow to both of us as we were just getting started in our careers in a profession that is notorious for long hours. In order for me to be healthy, we had to slow down and find balance without sacrificing the work we wanted to do. This has become our most important project – designing our lives for long term health and happiness.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Aamodt and Plumb Architects story. Tell us more about the business.
We create slow spaces for busy lives. That is our approach and design philosophy.
To us, slow space is a carefully crafted physical space that creates the right atmosphere and conditions for slowing time and fostering deep meaningful experiences. The clock may or may not literally beat slower but our experience of the place will be as if it had.
Slow space allows you to slow down, reflect, be present and engage with your senses. Nature does this perfectly and that is why so many people find nature rejuvenating.
In our architecture studio we focus slow space on the home. Through carefully considered design and construction we help busy people create their own personal refuge. And by providing turnkey service we make that easy.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We have had both good luck and bad luck in our lives. In my opinion, it’s not what happens to us that matters but how we respond to it. For example, getting MS was bad luck, but it has also taught me so many beneficial life lessons that I feel grateful for having the experience.
Contact Info:
- Address: 91 Harvey Street,
Suite 2 - Website: www.aamodtplumb.com
- Phone: 6178769300
- Email: mette@aamodtplumb.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/aamodtplumb
- Facebook: facebook.com/aamodtplumb
- Twitter: twitter.com/metteaamodt
- Other: www.slowspace.org
Image Credit:
Jane Messinger
Casey Dunn
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