The throughline

Nona’s path to architecture has been shaped by curiosity—about people, place, and what allows communities to thrive. Trained as an architect and entrepreneur, she has spent her career drawn to work where design carries real responsibility. Jackson became home as a place where care for land, community, and long-term thinking could be practiced every day, and where beauty still matters as a measure of how well we build.

What pulls her to the work

Nona believes architecture shapes more than buildings—it shapes who feels welcome, supported, and seen. She is motivated by a commitment to thoughtful, generous design and by a belief that beauty is not superficial, but essential. For her, beauty emerges when rigor, empathy, and clarity come together—and when spaces are designed to be lived in fully, not just admired.

How she shapes GYDE

As a co-founder of GYDE, Nona helps guide the firm’s vision, values, and way of working. Her focus is on holding the long view—supporting teams through complexity while protecting what gives the work meaning: integrity, care, and a deep respect for place. She brings a steady insistence that beauty and responsibility belong in the same conversation.

What she’s exploring now

How architecture can more fully support inclusion, resilience, and long-term relevance. How beauty can be a tool for connection and dignity in everyday environments. And how to build work that earns trust—not just at opening day, but decades later.

Life beyond the studio

Most grounded in the kitchen. Cooking is where Nona slows down, experiments, and connects—with family, friends, and place. She draws inspiration from food as both a creative practice and a cultural language, alongside time outdoors, writing, and conversations that stretch how we think about the world.