This summer, Grace Hopperstad joined SZ Design | Build, as a Summer Intern from Columbia University. She comes to us with enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to take on a variety of collaborative efforts. Grace’s generous spirit contributes to our positive team and client experiences throughout SZ’s Design | Build process. We’re thrilled to welcome Grace on board!
Get to know Grace through her responses to a few ‘getting to know you’ questions…
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Enjoy a sneak peek into an Architect’s new home on Mercer Island. Perched uphill from her recently built 750 SF Guest House, Suzanne Zahr’s beautiful 3,300 SF family home is organized around a featured ‘spine wall’ running North-South, paying homage to an indigenous rammed earth building methodology. A split ridge roof with clerestory windows is seated above, allowing for natural light to travel through the main living areas from dawn to dusk. Thoughtful site orientation and efficient space planning enable passive solar design to maximize heat retention and minimize energy use, which ultimately offers a general sense of ambient well-being. Taking advantage of the sloped site, the stormwater gravity flows into an on-site detention tank, minimizing the impact to municipal stormwater drainage system that flows into Lake Washington.
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The lyrics of Zeyne’s Asli Ana are a powerful exploration of decolonial themes. They challenge the Western concept of "civilization," exposing how it has historically been weaponized to oppress, displace, and erase. Zeyne confronts the long-standing colonial narrative, highlighting how it justified the theft of our lands, the erasure of our culture, and the distortion of our history.
The song doesn’t stop at critique; it pushes us to question our internalized colonial norms, even in subtle aspects like dress and self-presentation. The line, “Record, I am an Arab, and I know my origin” moved me to tears. It is a poignant reminder of the resilience required to preserve our identity after decades of diaspora and displacement.
Through poetic verses, Zeyne masterfully encapsulates the struggle to maintain our heritage while navigating a world that constantly demands assimilation.
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Photo by Flora Art Life
It was with great pleasure that we hosted Amer Zahr at SZ Gallery on October 11 for an intimate meet-and-greet, prior to his sold-out performance of “The Truth” at Town Hall Seattle. With the backdrop of Mahmoud Alhaj’s Control Anatomy exhibit at the SZ Gallery and select Posters for Gaza by various Palestinian Artists during his performance, SZ ensured Amer received a warm & artful welcome.
Amer is a Palestinian Arab American comedian, speaker, writer, academic, adjunct professor at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He draws on his experiences growing up as a child of Palestinian refugees, performing and lecturing on topics like politics, society, culture, identity, Palestine, Islam and more.
In our recent elections, Amer is one of two Arab American candidates who secure seats on Dearborn Board of Education, making an Arab American majority for first time. Way to go, Amer!
For our friends in the DC Area, grab your tickets to Amer’s upcoming show, live at The Howard Theatre on Sunday, December 1st at 6PM.
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