Adi Cohen talks about growing up in Israel and how a trip to India at age 18 changed her life trajectory and began her journey of self-exploration. Adi shares her reflections on spending over a year in India and how she returned to Israel with creative inspiration and went into architecture. She then explains how, after 7 years in the corporate world, she decided to become a full-time itinerant nomad with no base. Adi explains her concept of minimalism and shares how and why she travels the world with carry-on luggage only. She then talks about founding her nomadic architecture firm “The New Movement” as a fully-remote company. Adi shares stories about some of her projects around the world, ranging from Japan to Guatemala. She explains how she uses her nomadic lifestyle as a business advantage and how she merges it with her company brand. Adi then goes into her architectural philosophy and talks about her concepts of deciphering the memory palette, transforming the power of space and integrating technology and naturality. She then talks about what travel means to her and how she structures her nomadic lifestyle, travel cadence, and self-care routines. She also shares her productivity and stress management techniques. And finally Adi shares her favorite travel destinations, her #1 travel hack, and names her Top 4 favorite architects of all time. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT www.TheMaverickShow.com
Episode #109: Becoming a Nomad Architect and Transforming The Power of Space Around The World with Adi Cohen
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Adi Cohen
Adi Cohen is a location-independent entrepreneur, architect, and founder of “The New Movement”, an architecture studio that designs one-of-a-kind projects worldwide. Her design approach aims to fuel creativity and promote wellbeing. Her projects have included a hotel in Japan, a Yoga retreat center in Guatemala, a tropical bar in South America, a restaurant in Seattle and the list goes on. Originally from Israel, Adi is now a full-time itinerant nomad with no base and travels the world with carry-on luggage only. She uses her travels as a source of inspiration, a way to connect to ancient wisdom and learn from local communities.
What You'll Learn
- How to sustain a lifestyle as a long-term itinerant nomad with no base
- How to build a fully remote business in a space that is not traditionally virtual
- Adi’s philosophy on architectural design and sustainability
Links From the Episode
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GET A DISCOUNT ON THE DESIGN OF A SELF-SUSTAINABLE TINY HOME:
#1 BOOK THAT ADI RECOMMENDS
PERSON WITH WHOM ADI MOST WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
ADI’S TOP 4 FAVORITE ARCHITECTS
ADI’S TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKET DESTINATIONS
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Guatemala
- Himalaya Mountains
- Hong Kong
- India
- Italy
- Kyoto, Japan
- Hiroshima, Japan
- Naoshima, Japan
- Tokyo, Japan
- Costa Rica
- Cairo, Egypt
- El Salvador
- Nicaragua
- Taghazout, Morocco
- Marrakesh, Morocco
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Tangier, Morocco
- Chefchaouen, Morocco
- Moscow, Russia
- South America
LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
MORE INFO ON THE TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT
CONTACT ADI
Time Stamped Show Notes
[2:53] Developing Her Interest in Travel and Architecture
- What Adi loves about architecture
- Traveling to India at age 18
- Learning the value of solo-travel
- The start of Adi’s journey of self-exploration
[8:05] Adi’s Reflections on Spending Over a Year in India
- Adi’s top memories from India
- Her top lessons and takeaways from her time in India
- Returning to Israel with creative inspiration
[12:40] Adi’s Path to Architecture
- Her primary inspiration to becoming and architect
- Working in the traditional corporate world of architecture for 7 years
- Giving up Architecture to become a full time itinerant nomad
- Finding Architecture clients on her world travels
[19:21] Adi’s experience in Japan
- Working on a hotel design project in Nagano, Japan
- Skiing and Natural Hot Springs in Japan
- The Onsen experience
[21:35] Becoming a Full Time Itinerant Nomad with No Base
[24:22] Traveling the World with Carry-On Luggage Only
- Matt’s path to Traveling the world with Carry-on Luggage
- Adi’s tips for how to downsize and travel with carry-on luggage only
- The value of traveling the world with carry on luggage
- Reflecting on consumption and materialism
[29:00] Founding Her Nomadic Architecture Firm
- Building an Architecture Firm with a Location Independent Infrastructure
- Hiring a Fully Remote Team
- Collaborating with Local Architects On Site
- Designing projects completely remotely
[34:19] Merging Her Business Brand with Her Nomadic Lifestyle
- Positioning herself as The Nomad Architect
- Using her nomadic lifestyle as a business advantage
- Rebranding Her Company as “The New Movement”
[38:51] Adi’s Creative and Architectural Philosophy
- Deciphering the memory palette
- Transforming the power of space
- Integrating technology and naturality
[41:13] Adi’s Reflections on Her Travel Experiences
- The groundbreaking “Cacao ceremony” with a Shaman in Guatemala
- Adi’s trip Costa Rica
- How travel changed Adi’s life
- What Freedom means to Adi
[45:58] How Adi Structures Her Nomadic Lifestyle
- The primary sustainability pillars for the nomadic lifestyle
- Balancing new places with familiar places
- Self-care routines and daily anchors
- Adi’s optimal travel cadence
[50:38] Adi’s Productivity Techniques
- Structuring her day around her optimal work hours
- Creating an accountability partnership
[56:11] Adi’s Stress Management Techniques
[59:17] The Lightning Round
- #1 Book Recommendation
- #1 Travel Hack Adi Recommends
- #1 Person with whom Adi would most love to have dinner
- Top 4 Favorite Architects
- Top 3 Favorite Travel Destinations
- Top 3 Bucket List Destinations
[1:09:30] Contact Adi and Get a Discount on a Tiny House
- Designing Self-Sustainable Tiny Houses
- Discount Offer for The Maverick Show Listeners
- How to Contact Adi
