Team

Julia Okhlopkova

Where were you born?

Siberia, Russia

Where is your favorite travel destination?

Russia and US National Parks

What’s something you’d still love to learn?

All about personal and spiritual growth

What are some of the projects you’re working on?

I work on multiple projects currently such as Apartment complexes, Mixed Use Residential projects etc.

Describe our company culture in one word?

Trusting

What kind of projects do you want to work on (or technology you want to use) in the future?

The most interesting ones.

What do you hope to see in the future in the world of architecture and design?

Green construction

When did you know you wanted to be an architect/designer? (Or whatever you are, if you’re not an architect/designer!)

I have wanted to become an architect since high school, but I never looked for the easy way. Although an Engineering education was much more difficult than an architecture education, a nice bonus was that it was free for me. Also at university, I learned that a construction engineer can become an architectural designer without further education, but no architectural designer can become an engineer, so I saw great potential in this. Despite all the difficulties I had to face during my education and a lot of experience in the construction field after all, it gave me a unique understanding of the steps to construct a well-built building and how works building structures from inside view. Besides I am a very creative person, and I have an art school as well, I always wanted to try the architectural field, and I didn’t doubt it at all when I had this chance. Even though everyone knows that salaries are higher in the engineering field than in the architectural field, it is more important for me to do what makes me pleasure every day than just making good money, especially in such a family environment as we have in DSA.

What is something you collect?

Natural stones from traveling

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Never rush to get everything at once, everything has its time.

What is your favorite hobby?

I have a ton of hobbies and interests: Handicrafts, acrylic/watercolor/pastel painting, digital drawings, esoteric knowledge, etc.

Who inspires you the most in your field?

I am inspired by Kelly Wearstler as an interior designer because her approach to creating spaces feels very architectural. She masterfully works with scale, forms, and materials in a way that resonates with architectural principles. Her projects always feature bold geometry, unexpected combinations of textures, and a unique sense of space, which align closely with what I admire in architecture. I love how her interior designs complement architectural elements, creating a cohesive and unified spatial concept.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I explore this very often by trying something new that I have never tried before, after all, you never know until you try.

Any other interesting fact about you?

Even though I am from Siberia I still can freeze in the cold.