Vanessa attended California College of the Arts (San Francisco, CA), where she received her Bachelor of Architecture. Training at an art school exposed her to many different mediums, including interior design and fashion. Incorporating her love for textiles and fabrication into architecture allows for a unique perspective, connecting the exterior of a building with the experience and emotion of the space inside.
After college, Vanessa gained experience working in high-end residential, including additions within urban neighborhoods, full interior renovations of downtown lofts, as well as custom, ground up homes scaling up to 10,000 sf. During this experience she also became a licensed real estate agent in multiple states, allowing her to build on her knowledge of varying forms of architecture. In 2017 she left the greater New York area and decided to move down south to Chattanooga.
At Tinker Ma, Vanessa not only designs residential and commercial architecture, but is also our interiors lead. She has a continued interest in exploring the potential connection between traditional technique and the digital process. She has quickly built an impressive portfolio of projects, utilizing digital design, custom fabrication and residential construction.
“I design spaces similar to the way I dress, with an attraction for variances, color, compilation of patterns/form and fearless creativity.”
When Vanessa is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring nature or out searching for her next personal architectural revival project. She is also an active member of AIA and volunteers with the Mentors STEM school program.