In Fairleigh, a triangular kitchen island invites interaction between the cook and guests sitting or standing at the counter. Photo by Doublespace Photography
While most practices believe in the power of collaboration, the singular vision of founders almost always results in a hierarchical assignment of creative, practical and intellectual power. To combat that tendency, StudioAC has conscientiously done away with a traditional org chart, breaking down barriers to expression and communication. Their full name?Studio for Architecture and Collaboration?commits the six-year-old firm to this philosophy, and to a shared trust between skilled individuals with varied backgrounds and levels of experience.
Plywood built-ins give a contemporary identity to the Annex Hotel that balances with the building?s industrial history. Photo by Jeremie Warshafsky ?Designing the studio has been our most critical and ongoing project,? writes the team. ?Our goal was to create a model that moved away from a figurehead and toward a collaborative atmosphere that was defined by the work created by the team, rather than by any individual.?
The influence of multiple voices gives StudioAC?s private and public works humanity and intimacy. The firm?s skilled organization of interior spaces, combination of linearity and openness in residences, and thoughtful solutions to small public spaces results from a deep understanding of what people require from their surroundings. They carefully study the functional...