Annabelle Surya Headshot

Annabelle Surya

Architectural Intern

Annabelle joined The Brooklyn Studio in the spring of 2023 during her final semester at The City College of New York, where she graduated with the honor of Summa Cum Laude. In the Spring of 2023, Annabelle's senior group project, In Between Heights: 'Yes in my Backyard!', proposes building affordable housing and community space within the residential blocks of Jackson Heights Queens, was featured on Dezeen. She has received merit-based scholarships from WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate, the Asian Alumni Association, the Castagna Foundation, and the Concrete Industry Foundation.

In the Fall of 2022, Annabelle studied at Universitas Udayana in Bali, Indonesia, where she learned about her home country’s vernacular architecture and sustainable building practices using bamboo. Her studio focus was combining vernacular Indonesian forms with modern building methods.

In her free time, Annabelle enjoys rendering, spending time with her two shih-tzus, watching horror movies with her family, and taking long walks.

The Proust Questionnaire

Taking inspiration from a popular nineteenth-century parlor game, we sat down with each member of our team and asked them a few questions about their inspirations and aspirations.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Skydiving on an island at sunset and eating lots of seafood when I land.

What is your greatest fear?

Worms.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Going out to eat. Every. Day.

What talent would you most like to have?

Hyper-realistic drawing.

What is your favorite color?

Pink.

What is your favorite virtue?

Generosity.

Which living architect or designer do you most admire?

Popo Danes.

Which dead architect or designer do you most admire?

Zaha Hadid.

What is the trait that you most appreciate in a building?

Natural light, open space, and having accessible rooftops with a view!

What is your favorite type of project to work on?

Resort and hospitality or residential.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Spider-Man.

Who is your favorite artist?

CJ Hendry.

What is your most treasured possession?

My journal.

Where would you like to live?

Bali.

What quality do you most admire in others?

Their humor.

Stranded on a desert island, you have two books in your possession. What are they?

Journal and a bible. (I’ll need it.)