Ámbar Margarida designs projects that inspire meaningful exchanges between people and place. A systems thinker, she embraces the interconnection of things like soil health on climate change and architectural material selection on the health of building occupants and fenceline communities. 

Her intent to improve the human experience is reflected in her expertise working with non-profit organizations. As lead designer for the SCO Family of Service's Genovese Family Life Center in Queens, she used the principles of trauma-informed design and environmental psychology to create a family support center that invokes a sense of calm, safety, and well-being. At 10 Hallets Point, a mixed-use residential development, she applied her knowledge of toxins in building materials and finishes to design interiors that promote and support human health. 

Ámbar revels in transformative, multiyear endeavors that require large teams to complete. Through her involvement with projects for the US Department of State, she has gained expertise in designing interiors that cater to multiple tenant agencies, satisfy complex government guidelines, and meet strict sustainability standards—without compromising on beauty. One such project is the US Embassy in Mexico City, the largest of its kind, due to open in 2024.  

As a member of Spacesmith's Sustainability committee, Ámbar is working to standardize a robust, actionable, long-term Sustainability Action Plan for the practice. In addition to participating in panel discussions at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, she was part of the AIANY 80x50 Task Force, which develops strategy to assist New York City in achieving its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. 

Ámbar earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design from the School of Visual Arts, where she now teaches critical thinking at the ID: Built Environments program. She is a founding member of the Latino American Commercial Real Estate Association (LACREA) and has been featured in publications such as Interior Design Magazine, Oculus, and The New York Times.  

 *The Seventh Generation Principle is based on an ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)* philosophy that the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future. 

Women Build Episode

Women Build speaks to Ámbar Margarida and Amanda Cronick about how well sustainability and wellness work together, designing for different age ranges and taking a trauma-informed design approach.