Justine Flora is a Master of Architecture candidate at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture and a recipient of the Center for Architecture’s 2025 Common Bond Scholarship. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Barnard College, her early career drafting for the luxury retail sector taught her the nuances of construction documents, code, and spatial layouts. Yet the rapid turnover of projects and use of rare materials left her questioning how design could engage more meaningfully with public life and environmental responsibility.

Her explorations into landscape architecture, graphic design, illustration, yoga education, and food activism deepened her belief in the primacy of space and community. Teaching showed her that play can spark curiosity and make learning joyful, a principle that continues to shape her design practice. Her drawing practice, informed by early drafting, remains the medium that unites Flora’s pursuits. All experiences remind her that, from the kitchen to the classroom, design has the power to strengthen collective networks.