TESTIMONIALS

DREAMLAND would be honored to be considered for your project. 
These testimonials are offered as ‘witness’ to the depth of experience, service and creativity.

HUAT LIM, FOUNDING PARTNER, ZLG DESIGN, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

"I've known Nina both as a colleague at the Architectural Association in London, and as a consulting artist for a joint project located in Malaysia. I remember that her talent was incomparable even at the early stages of her career, in school. She exhibits a personal style which can only be described as authentic and original. Her work today is spiritual, theoretical and pragmatic as evidenced by the sculptural elements of her proposals to me and our client, for a contemplative park. Her capacity to speak of her work and its ideology makes her an ideal partner in community projects, and also a great teacher of architectural ideas. Nina has shared her invaluable insights and perspectives on design with me, and I know that they are rooted in her search for truth and knowledge. In her visits to our office in Kuala Lumpur, it was wonderful to engage in our many spirited conversations, and to view her personal drawings. I admire her intellect and quiet brilliance."

ANURADHA KAPOOR, DIRECTOR, SWAYAM, KOLKATA, INDIA

"Nina Freedman was appointed by Swayam, a women's rights organisation based in Kolkata, India to design a new building to house our support centre for survivors of violence, as well as our training centre. We found Nina to be an architectural designer who understood the needs of the organisation and planned the building down to the smallest details, keeping these needs in mind. We were extremely happy with the innovative design she came up with and the professional way in which she delivered the final drawings." 

MARK GACCIONE, PRESIDENT TEKTON BUILDERS LLC

It was a pleasure working with Nina on the "Once in a Lifetime" Central Synagogue project. The numerous entities pulling at her, including myself, representing the builder, was beyond comprehension. She stayed calm, focused and met everyone's needs and expectations.  There is no doubt that she was the stabilizing force on that remarkable project. The humility she exemplified was extraordinary."

MICHEL CAMPIONI, HEAD OF ARCHITECTURE, CAMPER SHOE STORE

“I had the privilege to work closely with Nina in the years 2011-13. Nina has the ability to combine the artistic side of the job with a very strong technical background. She’s attentive, sensible and very close to the client’s expectations.”

PATTY GOODWIN, WRITER/PRODUCER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OMEGA INSTITUTE, PRESIDENT - BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WOODSTOCK LAND CONSERVANCY

“Courage and fierce integrity. Creative, collaborative and generous. Keen intelligence and a subversive sense of humor. These are some of the qualities that make Nina Freedman such a valued friend and co-conspirator. Oh..And gorgeous too!”

JEAN-MARC GAUTHIER, INTERACTIVE DESIGNER, ARCHITECT + STORYTELLER,FORMER CHAIR OF SINGAPORE'S ANIMATION + DIGITAL ARTS, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, ASIA

“Nina belongs to a new generation of designers who blend ideas about life and architectural practice. She has exceptional skills and the talent to develop and produce unique ideas. Her depth as a human being enables her to think beyond just bricks and mortar––that is something that is not easy to achieve.” 

GAIL STRAUB, AUTHOR, ACTIVIST, + CO-FOUNDER, EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE

“I have had the great pleasure of knowing Nina Freedman for over fifteen years, both as a student and as a colleague. The first quality that I associate with Nina is her creativity; her refined capacity to think outside the box in whatever endeavor she is involved with. She is also an avid seeker of meaning, knowledge, and understanding  of the important questions in life. Nina has been involved in several global projects with me where she has brought forward her deep caring for our world. And finally, Nina brings a rare sense of beauty to everything she touches; whether that be something she has made, a conversation she is engaged in, or a person she relating to.” 

MICHAEL H. O'CONNOR, OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE, NEW ASPEN ART MUSEUM, PRINCIPAL, O'CONNOR CONSULTING, LLC

Acting as the Owners Representative for the New Aspen Art Museum (NAAM), located in Aspen Colorado, I was tasked with coordinating all aspects of the design and construction teams, to bring this project to fruition. If it were not for the effort, coordination abilities and calm that Nina Freedman and her team brought to this project, we would never have succeeded. Nina, was the Director of Projects for Shigeru Ban Architects, New York office. Through her oversight of the design teams' consultants and ability to "get the ear" of Shigeru Ban, we were able to progress through a myriad of design issues and challenges that required input and approval from numerous entities. Without her ability to coordinate these efforts in a calm and professional manner, we would still be building today. It was a pleasure to work with Nina on this project and the success the NAAM is experiencing today has a great deal to do with Nina's ability to get things done.” 

SHEA GILLIGAN, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER + EDITOR OF THE BLOG SUBTEXXT

“A graceful, commanding presence. She’s a leader that everyone recognizes as such. In every situation she has a calm, relaxed manner even while navigating stormy or uncharted waters. She commands respect. It's not what she’s aiming for, but what she achieves effortlessly. Architecture––not with a capital A––is how I would describe Nina's approach to design. The thematic glue linking her ideas is much more expansive, inclusive and integrative than any other method I am familiar with. It's a very timely response to the current state of disconnection in the field; inherently healing and possessing a timelessness evoking transcendent wisdom.” 

CARLA KLEVAN, ARTIST

“Nina is brilliant in so many aspects…good personal relations, fabulous listener, incredible aesthetic and design sense, poetry to her work.” 

CAROL ADAMS, MINDFUL EDUCATOR

“When paired with her one-on-one you feel her full presence and are totally heard by her; nothing clutters her thinking. I always see her with an eye on the horizon––how do we create powerful spaces......” 

DEBBIE FRIEDLAND, WRITER

“I've known Nina since our student days in London. She is a philosopher, writer, artist and listener...the most creative person I know, with no ego involved. Commitment, integrity and high ethical standards are the values Nina lives by and these are woven seamlessly across her personal and professional life - always with gentle humour. Marooned on a desert island you would want Nina with you, to build a fabulous house with whatever is lying around, appreciate the sunset and debate the meaning of life”

GREG KINGSLEY, PRESIDENT + CEO, KL&A INC., STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS + BUILDERS

“I had the pleasure of working with Nina on the Aspen Art Museum while she was with Shigeru Ban Architects. As the structural engineer on a project which required very close coordination of many disciplines, I was very grateful for the manner in which she gracefully managed the interplay between the often competing objectives of the different members of the team, while keeping us focused on the magic we were collectively trying to create. The end result speaks well of her success." 

KAYLA GLUCK, COLLABORATING DESIGNER 

“Working with Nina Freedman for many years, I have been excited again and again by her vision of the role architects and architecture play in the world. Moving well beyond creativity, Nina speaks to the need for architecture to help create community, bridge past and future, nurture talent and use design to inspire.” 

VALERIE COHEN, CORPORATE DIRECTOR, MICHILLI CONSTRUCTION + CONSULTING 

“Recently we were awarded the challenge of constructing a multifaceted project (Camper) in Soho with Nina and her associates. Throughout the design process, we found Nina to be a pleasure to work with in all respects. She was insightful, creative and proactive. We would welcome the opportunity to work with Nina again."

JOY ORTIZ, CORNELL UNIVERSITY, BACHELOR'S OF ARCHITECTURE 2016

"Nina Freedman is an incredible professor and mentor. I had the privilege of being her student in NYC where she taught my Professional Training course. The experience helped me to consider my personal values with my professional goals. I also interned with Ms. Freedman at Dreamland during the semester. Passionate about her projects, she encouraged creativity and guided me to explore new ideas. I was highly motivated to work, because the projects were interesting and I was very involved in their development. I looked forward to every day that I worked with her.  The combination of her passion, abilities, intelligence and brilliant ideas are what make her a Renaissance women and a truly inspiring person.”

KIRA SCIBERRAS, DREAMLAND INTERN, ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION RIBA PART I GRADUATE

"I had the pleasure of working for Nina during my Professional Practice year after having completed my RIBA Part I degree at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.  During this period with Dreamland, I can say that thanks to Nina, I have grown both academically and personally. Nina has shown me the true spirit of being innovative whilst grounded within the parameters of what is required of a professional architect. She is creative and inspiring and has the ability to get the best out of all those on her team no matter how small their role in the project may be. Nina was not only generous with her time but also with her knowledge and experience which is extensive to say the least. I feel I have been very privileged to work with Nina and when I leave to complete the RIBA Part II at the AA School in London I will take with me her knowledge, her wisdom but above all her friendship.
Thank you Nina."