An associate at Adjaye Associates, Pascale Sablan has dedicated her distinguished career to architectural activism, founding Beyond the Built Environment, an organization that aims to eliminate the inequities perpetuated by the profession. Newly elevated to the AIA College of Fellows, she is the youngest African American so honored.
What is your approach to architecture?
I am an architect-activist who champions women and diverse design professionals by documenting, curating, and elevating their work. The objective: to create a just profession, bring social awareness to the built environment, and empower communities through design.
What project that you’ve worked on best illustrates that approach?
My first project that crafted my approach towards architecture was the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York. This project was an example of Architecture serving as Advocate. The African Burial Ground National Monument keeps history and shares the existence of the estimated 15,000 African remains buried under City Hall and the neighboring federal buildings.
What makes the issue of diversity so important in architecture?
In underserved communities, poorly appointed architecture perpetuates inequity. These inequities more often adversely affect communities of color. As an architect, I deeply value collaborative processes of creating environments that reflect and sustain diversity and the dignity of human life. I believe representation is quintessential to achieving diversity. With my advocacy work, I aspire to inspire marginalized groups to understand the important role they can have in deciding and designing their environments.
What jobs did your parents have?
My mother is an accountant, and my dad is a pediatrician. I did not have any family members within the profession when I was introduced to it when I was 11 years old. It became a family effort to research and understand the role of architects and confirm a path for me to achieve my proclaimed life goal of becoming one.
What would you have been if not an architect?
Even as a small child I knew architecture was my future. It is such a big part of my identity that I truly can not envision any other career.
What does architectural misery mean?
“For every injustice in this world, there is an architecture that has been designed to facilitate and perpetuate it.” This quote by Bryan Lee Jr. made me reflect and take responsibility for how I have contributed to the creation of architecture that hurts and oppresses. It also inspired me to take a stance against participating in the design and construction of certain typologies. I encourage our profession to step away from designing spaces such as prisons, jails, detention centers, and police stations, and instead shift our efforts toward supporting the creation of new systems and typologies based on prison reform, alternatives to imprisonment, and restorative justice.
Which five architects, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner with?
1. J. Max Bond Jr., because although I never met him, his advocacy work inspired and changed my life. I would love the opportunity to thank him.
2. Norma Merrick Sklarek, because of her pioneering designs and projects in the profession and how they paired with her advocacy work. I would love the opportunity to get to know her more.
3. Paul R. Williams, because not only was he an incredibly talented architect, but he also understood some of the racist systems that were designed to keep people of color away from homeownership. He took action by starting a financial institution that made our profession within reach of underserved communities. I would love to hear more about that process.
4. Zaha Hadid, because of her immense design talent and the way she structured her business to continue her legacy.
5. Beverly Willis, because she challenged her clients to pledge not to hire any architecture firms that did not have any women at the partner/principal level. She recognized that another approach to pushing for change in our profession towards justice was through our clients and setting their expectations.
What’s the greatest ambition you have yet to achieve?
Dismantling and eradicating racism and oppression from the built environment and the profession.
What do you hope your legacy will be?
Strong and healthy communities, rich in diversity, make strong nations. As architects and designers, we have the power to represent more than ourselves, and representation is quintessential to achieving equitable diversity. I hope to have a legacy grounded in knowledge and knowledge sharing.
What does winning the Whitney M. Young Jr. award mean to you?
Named for civil rights leader, this award distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access. Being the 2021 recipient came with my elevation to AIA College of Fellows. I was informed by AIA Archives that I am the youngest African American to receive the honor. It amplifies my sense of responsibility to maintain my determination, drive, and relentless pursuit of justice in our profession and world.
