About Ana Koleva Miller, RA, NCARB, Fitwel Amb.

Once upon a time, a little girl awoke by the kiss of a cool breeze and hug of sunshine streaming in on a Fall morning.

“Grandma, please close the window! It is cold and the light is too bright.” She insisted.
“Ah, the air smells so fresh. Soak up the sunlight!” Grandma responded.
“It doesn’t smell like anything - it is just air.” The little girl rebutted.

“Go bring water from the spring!” Grandma asked.
“It is far and we have water in the sink here.” The girl protested.
“The water from the pipes is not for drinking.” Grandma asserted.

The little girl returned with the heavy jug of water.
“Now we can make lutenitsa (a Bulgarian vegetable spread).
We need enough to last us through the winter. All the cousins will help - how fun?!” Rejoiced Grandma.

The kids started to cut the vegetables, freshly harvested from their garden.
Grandma got busy kneading dough for delicious bread.
She told them exhilarating stories she learned from her father, passed mouth-to-mouth for generations.

“Help Grandpa collect kindling and light the fire!” requested Grandma.
They lit the fire and mixed all ingredients in a huge copper pot.
The kids took turns stirring with a large wooden paddle then filled the lutenitsa in glass jars and sealed them.

The kids ran back home.
“Please, take the shoes off at the door!” Grandma asked them.
They ate freshly baked bread with lutenitsa and drank spring water in front of the big window.

Grandma tucked them in for the night and whispered:
“Look at the relaxing sway of the trees and enjoy the soothing sound of the crickets – a melodic symphony.”
“The crickets make me sleepy.” The little girl exclaimed.

Many years later, the little girl, now a grown woman living on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, began reflecting on how deeply the built environment and daily surroundings shape the way we live and experience our homes.

A long journey of exploration and discovery began.
She turned to the West for answers; she looked East for inspiration; and she reflected on the traditions and stories of her roots in Bulgaria.
Her fascination with the home environment grew.

The home becomes an extension of who we are.

Daylight, air quality, water systems, materials, movement, and connection to nature and community can all influence how a home is experienced in daily life.

She came to better understand the wisdom passed down through generations in her childhood.
In the home we need:
• Fresh air, pure water, and thermal comfort
• Plentiful daylight and good nourishment
• Natural materials and wholesome activities
• Closeness to community and nature

As I accepted the honor and title of an Architect, I took the oath to
“Protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.”

I made this oath my mission:

Help families thrive in a home designed for well-being