Meet Polina Stepanova | Architectural and Computational Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Polina Stepanova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Polina, how do you think about risk?

I am a firm believer that it is impossible to grow as an individual without consistently stepping out of your comfort zone. When we stand still, our comfort zones just keep shrinking because realistically, we never stand still – life is either about ascending or descending. I have encountered individuals who were decades older than me and were so used to being comfortable that they unconsciously got into the habit of turning down any new unfamiliar initiatives. Having observed that phenomenon, I realized that I will strive to remain open-minded as much as possible.

When deciding to take a risk, it is important to tune in and evaluate whether this subsequent step will move you closer to your career goal. Assess its opportunity without giving fear any merit. Then, if the opportunity is truly beneficial to your vision, do not hesitate – just go for it. I have noticed that most people are afraid to even consider the opportunity because they think too much is on the line. However, in most cases, life remains generous and forgiving. The universe gives us opportunities and chances all the time – if one door closes, another opens. Do not be intimidated by change because it seems “too final” – just try it out, and if it doesn’t work, pivot again.

I am an architectural designer with almost a decade of experience, and in my past I worked for many large corporate architecture firms. The experience was extremely valuable, but upon graduating from my Master of Architecture program from Columbia University, I found myself longing for a place where I could feel my immediate impact more profoundly. I wanted to become something more than a designer – I wanted to lead, and organize, and learn, and teach, and create the most efficient, human-centric, and sustainable architecture possible. I joined my undergraduate classmate Michael Gonzalez Haik in his growing venture named VIMA (which is an abbreviation for Visualize and Materialize), where I could advance my practice much more than in other architectural roles I was discovering at the time. Many would say that I decided to take a risk – but in my mind, it was absolutely worth it because I was aware of my ultimate goal. As I work alongside Michael and augment my architectural and computation design knowledge, I know that I can contribute to the complete restructuring of the architectural field – unlike what we ever knew before.

My suggested bottom line is: get clear on your overarching vision, and do not be afraid to take a risk.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am an artistic and infinitely creative individual, and the way I bring my art into existence is mainly through architecture. I, however, would not call myself a traditional architectural designer by any means – my strengths lie in my interdisciplinary approach. Years ago I started researching the intersection of architecture and psychology which culminated in my undergraduate thesis on the importance of human behavior education as a critical component in the architectural curriculum. I still remain an active advocate for the incorporation of psychology courses into architect’s training. My more recent research and professional growth hinge on the pillars of architecture, computational design, and programming. I see so much potential in parametric design – an algorithmic approach to architecture which helps the creator streamline the process and iterate over a vast number of design possibilities. In short – you can create architecture through writing a code rather than drawing manually on a computer. This opens doors to an infinitely better architecture. How amazing can that be?

In my art, I am very methodical, creative, and strategic. I also always strive to think outside the box, and that is why in my pursuit of deriving the best design philosophy, I intensively research other disciplines that can compliment my art of architecture. I also firmly believe that my intertwined multidisciplinary approach mimics the human nature itself and has contributed to the international recognition of my work. Some of my most recent achievements are the 2nd place award in the Suffolk ADU design competition in New York State, the opening of my personal virtual exhibition focused on human-centric design and hosted by the International Association of Designers, and securing design contracts for large commercial objects in Russia and interiors in a historic Crown Building in Manhattan. While I see how the last decade in architecture is surely yielding the desired results, I also understand how infinitely grateful I am for the support I have on a daily basis and how I simply would not be here without all the incredibly kind individuals I met along the way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Los Angeles is an absolutely phenomenal place – it is one of my favorite cities in the world. For some, the city might be an acquired taste since the urban area is very spread out and sometimes difficult to navigate, but I also think this exact characteristic gives Los Angeles its undeniable magnetism and unparalleled charm. I grew to adore this city over a period of the last nine years – and with every year that passes by, I love LA more and more. While being slightly annoyed by it at first, I now deeply appreciate its slower pace of life and its easy-going, nonchalant attitude about pretty much everything. When the weather is so good and the surroundings so beautiful, why worry?

If I wanted to show LA to someone through my lens, I would drive them down Sunset Boulevard starting from Sunset Plaza near West Hollywood. We would make an early morning coffee/brunch stop at WeHo, then drive through Beverly Hills, then Westwood, and then slowly but surely reach my beloved Pacific Palisades. In Pacific Palisades, I absolutely adore visiting the Palisades Village for a coffee from Alfred’s and a snack from Erewhon and then doing a twenty-five-minute walk from there to Point Bluffs Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean. After we get back to the car, I would take my friend for a hike starting at Los Leones trailhead, and after the six-mile hike we would drive onto the PCH so we can head North with our car windows down inhaling the fresh ocean air and basking in the warmest sun. Our last stop would be Malibu Pier, and then a short drive to Malibu Country Mart where we would grab a smoothie from Sunlife Organics, have lunch at Taverna Tony, and then drive to the beach at Point Dume to swim and tan. While this drive shows just a tiny part of vast and beautiful Los Angeles, I think it surely covers some of my most beloved places in the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

The parenting philosophy that my family adopted from my early childhood was to grant freedom of choice to me and my siblings. Growing up  in a liberal household, I was always allowed to choose my hobbies and pursue my own interests without anyone suggesting I follow a pre-determined route. I would like to dedicate this paragraph to my parents, because the responsibility and the critical thinking skills I picked up along the way were truly priceless. I am infinitely grateful for the way my parents raised me and the values they instilled in me. I am also grateful for how they always respected my choices even if they wholeheartedly disagreed with them. My parents managed to uphold their parenting standards and treat me as a separate entity even when I was just a child so I could learn critical thinking and decision making skills through real-life experience.

I vividly remember how both of my parents disagreed on my decision to supplement my rigorous architectural education with a psychology degree. To them, the combination of these two academic disciplines failed to make sense. Despite the disagreement, my family supported me in my choice, and this art of allowing another one to pursue their path truly deserves recognition. Besides giving me freedom of choice, my father and my mother have taught me to pursue my dream vision and showed me how anything in life is possible. Because of them and their incredibly inspirational life experience as limitless successful entrepreneurs, I now know that you can have it all.

Website: https://www.realpolya.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realpolya/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realpolya/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RealPolya

Other: VIMA design: https://www.vima.space/

Image Credits
Polina’s portrait: Yana Kalina