Leila Bijan Kuehr

Q: Where are you from?

I was born in San Francisco but went back to Iran - where my family is from - in the first year of my life and grew up there until I was 12. I moved back to the US, grew up in Marin, then headed off to NYC for a couple of years after college before moving back to San Francisco for a few years, and eventually ended up back in Marin.

Q: Where did you go to school?

I went to UC Berkeley for both my undergraduate and Master’s Degrees.

Q: Tell me about your family.

My parents live in Marin, although my dad goes back and forth between here and Iran. I have a younger brother who lives in Santa Barbara with his family. My own family is made up of my husband, Steffen, and our three kids, Theia (16 in April), Vandi (14) and Niki (12), and our dog Whiskey (4). I also have my cousins and their families, who I am very close with, in Marin and SF.

Q: What is the most interesting aspect of architecture to you?

I think the most interesting thing about architecture is the way a space can make us feel. When I was younger, I used to move the furniture in my room around regularly (by myself!) to create new spaces, and all my furniture was falling apart as a result. I loved the feeling of creating new spaces (my younger daughter shares this trait). Also, as architects, we spend a lot of time working through things that others may never notice but in the end, I believe it’s the collective harmony of those unseen things that gives a space a feeling of resolution and calm. I am also increasingly appreciative of how complex it is to make something look simple.

Q: What kinds of projects do you most enjoy working on?

I probably enjoy working on residential projects the most, because it gives me a chance to understand every aspect of the building and how it all fits together. It’s like a 3D puzzle.

Q: What are the top three things on your bucket list?

Is it weird that I don’t really have a bucket list? I would love to go to Japan one day. Other than that, it’s just whatever feels right as it comes.

Q: What are five features you would include in your dream home?

Functional and spacious kitchen (I love to cook), nice comfortable shower, lots of natural light, relaxing and food-producing garden with pool (so that my kids will hang out there with their friends), access to walks in nature and close to people at the same time.

Q: Where are you most excited to travel next?

Japan.