about

hi, my name is olivia.

I am the architect behind StudioWideman

my work is grounded in exploring the ideas, theories, and principles that shape thoughtful design. I’m drawn to quiet details, typologies, and the visual languages that define place and give meaning to form.

i believe in theory.

I’ve always been drawn to design. Not just how something looks, but how it feels to exist within a space. For the past six years, I’ve studied architecture, theory, and the intention behind the built environment. Through that work, I’ve begun shaping a practice that bridges the gap between architectural theory and successful, expressive design.

I believe in vernacular.

Vernacular
/vərˈnæk.jə.lər/
The typologies and characteristics that make a place feel like itself.

A home should respond to its environment: the landscape, the climate, the culture, and the quiet rhythms of daily life. Vernacular architecture is honest. It is the most authentic response to context, shaped over time by place rather than trend.

and I believe in reciprocity.

reciprocity
/res-uh-pros-i-tee/
the practice of creating a mutual relationship between the built environment and the natural world.

in my theory, sustainability grows from that relationship, drawing on vernacular knowledge and bringing strategies and systems together in response to place.

education matters to me. ethics, clarity, and discipline guide how i approach design. through studio notes, i share what i’ve learned, question the ideas and methods behind my practice, and allow that process to inform more thoughtful, responsible design decisions.