Mara Marcu understands space as having an ineffable power over people due to an archaic 'built in' intelligence. Various projects, therefore, explore this psychological charge of architecture by looking into the symbolism and mythology of space, using as tools the technological advancements of our times.

Mara Marcu has received her Bachelor of Architecture, with honors, from the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture in 2005 and her Master of Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 2009. In 2010 Mara completed the International Master Class with Pritzker Prize winner, Mr. Glenn Murcutt in Sydney, Australia and was selected to work in 2005 with Brian MacKay-Lyons, in Nova Scotia, Canada, for Ghost Lab 7.

She has been awarded the Best in Show Design Award from the University of Houston upon graduation, which is the highest prize given by the school for design and has been nominated for the James Templeton Kelley Prize at Harvard GSD. Her professional experience resumed in New York City for Rafael Vinoly Architects, BKSK and Ed Mills and Associates and in Houston for DesignLAB Houston. She currently provides architectural, product and fashion design services under the umbrella of MM13. Beginning with summer 2009 Mara became a registered LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.

In addition to teaching at the University of Cincinnati, DAAP - School of Architecture and Interior Design, Mara Marcu has also taught at the University of Virginia, School of Architecture as a Visiting Fellow in Architecture and at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture.