Designer Profile: Mary Maydan, Maydan Architects

Mary Maydan believes architecture should be inspirational. The principal of Palo Alto’s Maydan Architects, Maydan prides herself on contemporary minimalist designs that seamlessly blend indoors and out.

The native of Israel fell in love with architecture when she was planning her family house and then founded Maydan Architects in 2004.

She steadily built a list of clients and now her boutique firm works on residential projects throughout the Bay area.

Her portfolio includes both new construction and extensive remodels and Maydan said her firm has had a lot of requests lately for Accessory Dwelling Units.

“ADU’s are easily the biggest trend of 2020,” she said. “It’s the magic word. Clients are interested in building ADUs for their home office or entertainment area.”

She attributes the trend to the pandemic, which she believes has made people spend more time at home and think about ways to improve their residences.

Previously a journalist, Maydan switched careers to architecture in 2004. “Silicon Valley is first in innovation when it comes to technology, but in those days its architecture was more traditional,” she said.

While designing a new ultra-modern home for her and her husband and kids in Palo Alto, people started visiting the construction site, complimenting the style, and she soon began getting requests for work.

In this interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Maydan talks about her architectural style, advice she has for anyone thinking of building, and the similarities between being a journalist and being an architect.

Q: Are any skills you learned as a journalist that you’re able to use as an architect?

A: There’s actually a lot of overlap and a lot of similarity. I find it most when I sit down for an interview with my clients. It...