Women in Design: Suzanne Allen-Guerra

THE CRAFTSWOMAN: Suzanne Allen-Guerra, Architect, Allen-Guerra Design-Build, Breckenridge, CO

You’re known in the industry for craftsmanship and attention to detail. Why are the details so important to you?
In the mid-1990s, the American Institute of Architects gave me a grant to research American architect Mary Coulter. During my research I came across a photo of her that has really stuck with me. This tiny 80-year-old woman is standing next to a rock wall of her design and making the masons rip the stone off because it wasn’t quite right. For me, it was an inspiration. Architecture is in the details. Without attention to detail, architecture is void of depth. Details allow you to extend architecture through the entire project. Small-scale things like doorknobs, those are the things people touch and experience and can recall. The average person appreciates those details much more than the overall composition.  

What’s the most inspiring thing you’ve seen lately?
There’s a trio of Seattle-based architects who started a design firm called Graypants (graypants.com); I think they’re just awesome. I love the fact that these guys are recycling cardboard, plywood scraps and shipping pallets and creating the coolest pieces of furniture. For the right project, I might consider using some of the same materials for my custom furniture designs.  

What sustainable design elements should be incorporated into every new home?
I’m a proponent of super-insulated ceilings, walls and floor systems. Insulating the rafter system is most important, because hot air rises. Walls are next, especially in areas that experience lots of wind. There are so many options on the market these days and, if it’s done at the outset, there’s not much additional cost—especially when you consider how much money that extra efficiency will save in the long run. But there is one caveat: a super-insulated building can be very airtight, so you must install an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) system to exchange indoor air with fresh outdoor air. 

Tell us one of your secret design resources.
I love using a natural clay wall finish as a substitute for paint. It has a neat stucco-like texture, it comes in many great natural colors and it makes a real difference in terms of sound absorption. I used it in my own house and it created such a wonderful feeling. If you’re remodeling it’s an easy update; apply it and you don’t have to worry about painting—or harmful VOCs. Try American Clay (americanclay.com); it’s one of my favorites.