Kim Holden is a registered architect, certified advanced birth and postpartum doula, certified lactation counselor, educator, and design consultant whose work lies at the intersection of women’s health and design. She is the founder of Doula x Design (“doula by design”) and was a founding principal of the internationally recognized architecture firm SHoP. Her current practice investigates how the built environment shapes birth experiences, disparities, and maternal mortality—with the goal of increasing awareness, improving outcomes, and transforming maternal healthcare systems.

Kim is a board member of The Birthing Place Foundation, a Bronx-based nonprofit providing culturally responsive reproductive and perinatal care to underserved communities; and Architalx, a Portland, Maine nonprofit that sparks creative thinking about architecture and design through public lectures and events. Kim is also a founder of the New York–based Mobilize Maternal Health Coalition and a member of both the American and New York State Birth Center Associations (AABC, NYSBCA). For the 2025–2026 academic year, Kim is serving as a Shaw Innovation Fellow Advisor at the University of New England, guiding research on Designing Supportive Birth Environments.

Kim moved to Portland, Maine in 2021, after thirty years in New York. Her typical day includes designing, advocating, mentoring, learning, meeting with clients and organizations, enjoying time with friends and family — and always the sea.

7:30am: I am usually woken up by my sweet dog, Clover, who has no apparent skills other than affection, signaling that it’s time for breakfast and a walk. Once back, I have coffee or tea while checking email and preparing for the day.

9:00am: On Mondays and Thursdays, I usually take a ballet class nearby, and on other days go for a power walk around Back Cove, a tidal basin, two blocks away.

11:00am: Zoom with The Motherhood Center of New York located on Lexington and 32nd Street. I am working on an expansion of The Center, which provides a full spectrum of services to support the emotional well-being of mothers before, during, and after pregnancy.

12:00pm: Doula client prenatal meeting via Zoom. Much of my doula work involves education—helping clients — both the birthing person and partner — understand the anatomical and physiological design of birth, advocate for themselves, and navigate the medical complex, with the goal of having a healthy, positive, and empowered experience, no matter the provider or setting.

1:00pm: Quick lunch at Rose Foods, where the Lower East Side and Maine converge to deliver the best bagels in town. My go-to is the closed Classic Nova with the works, on a plain bagel, not toasted, cut in half.

1:30pm: Site visit with Megan Chusid, Owner’s Rep and Principal of Urban Projects Collaborative (UPC), at the Portland Museum of Art’s expansion project by Lever Architecture. Megan and I met at a Madame Architect event years ago and bonded instantly over our shared love for NYC and Maine.

2:00pm: Architalx Board Meeting to kick off the 2026 season. Excited for our April series, which includes none other than our own Julia Gamolina!

3:00pm: Zoom with my colleague, Myla, founder of The Birthing Place Foundation (and a CNN 2025 Champion for Change!). We discuss expanding birth options and access in New York City and New York State, upcoming Mobilize Maternal Health Coalition initiatives, and collaborative programming with the Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births exhibition, opening October 4 at the Museum of Arts and Design. Run, don’t walk—the show will be on view through March 15, 2026.

4:00pm: Program Committee Planning Zoom for 2025 AIA Maine Annual Conference, to be held at the Shim Sutcliffe designed Congregation Bet Ha’am in South Portland on December 4th. We are way farther along than we were last year at this time!

5:00pm: Feed and walk Clover. She’s a big fan of chicken for dinner.

Designing Motherhood opening with Kim’s younger daughter, Emilia, and her doula and good friend, Amy Brown. Photo by Amanda Ramos.

5:30pm: AIA NY Public Architecture Committee Meeting. I am working with co-chairs, Yuri Birchwood-Fuentes, AIA, and Michael Plottel, FAIA, on a spring 2026 panel conversation focused on birth centers.

6:45pm: Ferry to Great Diamond Island for a late-season swim with my sisters.

9:00pm: Work on slides for upcoming fall presentations at Cal Poly, School of Visual Arts, and the Transforming Birthspace: A Global Colloquium in Toronto.

10:30pm: Facetime with my daughters, Vanessa who is twenty-two and Emilia who is eighteen — the highlight of my day.

11:00pm: Heading to NYC tomorrow – emails to confirm plans and meet ups.

11:30pm: Lights out, feeling abundant gratitude for this chapter of my life, and for all the people in it.

This piece has been edited and condensed for clarity.

A Day in Portland, Maine with Doula x Design’s Kim Holden