“I believe that beautiful spaces are healing spaces.” — Mary Ann Gabriele Schicketanz— Mary Ann Gabriele Schicketanz, Studio Schicketanz
Born in Austria, Mary Ann Gabriele Schicketanz’s architectural journey began in the embrace of a multigenerational family home on the town square of Neumarkt-Kalham. Surrounded by artisans — her grandfather and uncle were blacksmiths and owned the local forge — she learned early about craftsmanship, space, and light through the simple beauty of terrazzo floors, wide-plank wood, and stucco ceilings that defined her childhood environment. This sensory-rich upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for how spaces shape human experience.
Schicketanz spent a formative year traveling throughout India and the Middle East, where she was introduced to architecture as a passion and potential career. After completing studies at the Technical University in Vienna followed by a master’s program at the Technical University of Stuttgart, she launched her career working on large-scale commercial projects across Europe: factories, mixed-use buildings, and golf course developments throughout the continent. Her trajectory shifted dramatically when she relocated to California in 1987, adapting from urban European contexts to designing single-family homes along the Monterey Peninsula.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Photography by Joe Fletcher