About

The Founder

My name is DeeDee Birch. I live with my wife and rescue dog in Connecticut. And like you, I am deeply concerned about climate change. The climate-related problems we face can feel enormous, complex, disparate, and disconnected from our daily lives. But I am also an optimist. I believe in the power of good design and our collective ability to care for each other and the natural world.

I first conceived of Make Good Places as a thesis project while earning my Master of Design in Sustainable Design from The Boston Architectural College (2022). During my graduate school research, I learned how sustainable design can heal people and the planet.

I saw and studied buildings that were healthier for people. They provided occupants with natural light, clean air and water, fresh food, connections to nature, and opportunities to work, exercise, relax, and socialize effortlessly. At the same time, these buildings managed stormwater, sent very little waste to landfills, strengthened local ecosystems, encouraged sustainable methods of transportation, and were made of healthier, nontoxic materials that did not come at the expense of the environment. These buildings made good places for all living beings.

The problem was that I never saw buildings like these anywhere around me. They were not in my neighborhood, nor were they in my downtown. But I wish I did - because everyone can and should benefit from sustainable design. I looked around and saw nothing but unrealized potential for people and the planet to flourish.

That’s why I’m on a mission to help everyone make good places, starting at home.

In addition to an MDS, I hold a BFA in sculpture and a BA in English from Boston University (2018). I earned my Living Future Accreditation from the International Living Future Institute and the Healthier Materials & Sustainable Building Certificate from The New School's Healthy Materials Lab in 2023. I’ve worked in residential interior design for the past five years, and I write regularly for DesignIntelligence.

Published Writing

• DesignIntelligence: New and Old: Architecture’s Future At the Intersection Of Innovation and Ancient Wisdom
• DesignIntelligence: The Biological Paradigm in the Technological Future
• DesignIntelligence: Neuroarchitecture as Healing Design in a Changing Climate
• DesignIntelligence: Convergence: Buildings, Biology, and Symbiosis