The Second Studio Design and Architecture Show #436 - Walter Hood, Creative Director & Founder of HOOD Design Studio
Mar 4, 2025
Walter Hood, Creative Director and Founder of HOOD Design Studio, shares insights from his journey in landscape architecture and art. He reflects on his childhood and diverse career paths, emphasizing the interplay between art and architecture. The discussion highlights the importance of embracing imperfection in design, alongside the evolving nature of architectural practice influenced by technology. Hood also explores the challenges of client demands and advocates for a flexible approach to foster creativity, all while maintaining a deep connection to culture and personal growth.
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Drafting Discovery
- Walter Hood discovered drafting in high school, preferring it over shop class.
- This led him to study architecture, then landscape architecture at North Carolina A&T, an HBCU.
Fontainebleau Memories
- As a child, Walter Hood lived in Fontainebleau, France, and has fond memories of the forest and carnivals.
- He was gifted a bike by a French man, a memento he kept for years.
Mentorship with Eckbo
- At Berkeley, Walter Hood initially studied landscape architecture and worked for Garrett Eckbo.
- Eckbo, a prominent modernist landscape architect, mentored Hood and provided him with books and discussions.