MARIAH'S UPDATE: JUNE 2022
Mariah Hoffman
Photo: Mariah at Arcosanti, 2021
Mariah’s Update: June 2022
Hi friends,
It’s been a while since I did a free-form blog post like this. But as we near the Summer Solstice (how is it the end of June already?) I feel it’s time to share a mid year check-in on some big changes coming up. Some of you may have have seen my recent Instagram post, but if not, here’s the update.
The Update
I’ve been looking for the right words to share this announcement and the big feelings that come along with it.
I’m thrilled to be starting my Masters of Architecture at @tsoarch this Fall. The program, founded by Frank Lloyd Wright, is now currently housed at Arcosanti, Arizona. After a decade in California, ya girl is coming back to the Sonoran Desert!
I’m beyond excited to join the TSOA family and build upon my self-taught experience in construction and architecture.
The Backstory
2021 was a hard, lonely, financially challenging year after leaving a toxic job. I went inward and tried my best to reset my nervous system after years of survival mode. From that quiet came the clarity to go back to school. Not just any school, but one with desert design/ build emphasis. Synchronicities kept bringing TSOA back into focus.
In 2001 we moved from Chicago to Arizona for my Mom’s job. A lonely 10 year old city kid plopped in the desert. My mom knew I had an interest in architecture, and between her 2 jobs she took me to places like Taliesin West, Arcosanti, and Montezuma Castle. Those core memories stuck with me over the years. Although Arizona holds memories of my most intense family trauma, I finally feel ready to come back and (re)build a decade later. I’ve grown/ grounded, found my agency, and built my own tiny house along the way. After weighing out the grad school decision for many years the timing is finally right.
There’s still a LOT to sort out in the coming months as I navigate a tiny house move, coordinating things with my partner, and organizing my business. More details to come, but I’m genuinely SO EXCITED for this next phase of my journey!
My “Why”
Along with the pull that I feel to ground back to the Sonoran Desert, I sense an evolution happening in my work as well. These past 5 years of the tiny house build have taught me so much about design, fabrication, project management, community, persistence, patience, intentionality…the list goes on.
I am eager to continue this thread of accessible housing. I still love small scale residential architecture. My aim in going back to TSOA is to leverage my DIY experiences adding explorations in natural building, indigenous technologies, and sustainable pre-fab construction. Each 3rd year student is required to design + build a shelter for their thesis. I can’t wait to see how that project turns out!
What does this mean for Micro Modula?
As a a planner, I’d love to be able to say that I my business is “all figured out”, production is on auto-pilot, and that I will be able to perfectly navigate both grad school and a small business. That’s just not the case. I’m learning to let go of my own achieving expectations of this while still maintaining intentionality in my business.
Products: Any earrings that I have on hand will still be available for sale on my website. I am looking into outsourcing a trusted CNC fabricator to maintain table production or at least have a back-stock available for shipping.
Services: In the short-term, I am looking to slowly evolve my digital services via e-courses, digital downloads, and consult calls as my bandwidth will allow. In the long-term, with my Masters in Architecture, I will be able to apply for licensure. I hope to explore curated design/ build services for ADU’s, tiny homes, and small-scale sustainable homes (stay tuned!).
The Brand: I will have to navigate the best way to continue communicating with my audience. Whether that be Instagram, Newsletter updates, or finally investing energy into my YouTube page.
Thanks for reading and for joining me on this journey. Here’s to more failures, more stories, more community, more grounding, and more connecting the dots.
In community,
-Mariah
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Curious to learn more about my new school? Check out the TSOA website here:
If you’re feeling generous and would like to support my grad school startup and moving expenses, check out my GoFundMe.