Drawing on examples of their own instantly recognizable Minimalist-inflected designs, often evoking the work of Donald Judd, celebrated architects Messana O’Rorke demonstrate how to create a serene haven for modern living.
Founded in 1996 by Brian Messana and Toby O’Rorke in New York City, Messana O’Rorke is renowned for crafting spaces of sublime restraint and ethereal beauty. Their process utilizes a rigorously limited palette of materials orchestrated in an architectural language of distilled boxes, blocks, and containers that emphasize the qualities of space itself rather than the things that fill it. The apparent simplicity and serenity of Messana O’Rorke’s designs belie the astonishing richness and variety of the experiences they nurture.
The architects’ projects span a wide spectrum of residential and commercial assignments in multiple geographies—city, country, mountain, desert, coastal. Yet even as they adapt their fundamental design vocabulary to address differences in program and context, Messana O’Rorke’s signature remains unmistakable in the ways they carve space and light. Their designs simultaneously foster both contemplation and invigoration, repose and action. There is no straining for theatrical effect, no tortured architectural calisthenics, simply a search for order, clarity, and beauty.
"The architects’ projects span a wide spectrum of residential and commercial assignments in multiple geographies—city, country, mountain, desert, coastal. Yet even as they adapt their fundamental design vocabulary to address differences in program and context, Messana O’Rorke’s signature remains unmistakable in the ways they carve space and light. Their designs simultaneously foster both contemplation and invigoration, repose and action. There is no straining for theatrical effect, no tortured architectural calisthenics, simply a search for order, clarity, and beauty." —ARCH DAILY
"Award-winning architecture firm Messana O’Rorke was founded by Brian Messana and Toby O’Rorke in 1996. Since then, they’ve designed residential and commercial buildings across the globe from slick city homes to desert abodes. Though each project is incredibly unique, the duo’s signature style remains: quality, minimalist spaces with a refined simplicity and tranquility. It only made sense that their debut monograph Messana O’Rorke: Building Blocks, authored by Architectural Digest’s veteran west coast editor Mayer Rus, would celebrate their most distinguished projects around the world." —ROBB REPORT
New York–based architects Brian Messana and Toby O’Rorke founded Messana O’Rorke in 1996. Mayer Rus is the West Coast editor of Architectural Digest.
Drawing on examples of their own instantly recognizable Minimalist-inflected designs, often evoking the work of Donald Judd, celebrated architects Messana O’Rorke demonstrate how to create a serene haven for modern living.
Founded in 1996 by Brian Messana and Toby O’Rorke in New York City, Messana O’Rorke is renowned for crafting spaces of sublime restraint and ethereal beauty. Their process utilizes a rigorously limited palette of materials orchestrated in an architectural language of distilled boxes, blocks, and containers that emphasize the qualities of space itself rather than the things that fill it. The apparent simplicity and serenity of Messana O’Rorke’s designs belie the astonishing richness and variety of the experiences they nurture.
The architects’ projects span a wide spectrum of residential and commercial assignments in multiple geographies—city, country, mountain, desert, coastal. Yet even as they adapt their fundamental design vocabulary to address differences in program and context, Messana O’Rorke’s signature remains unmistakable in the ways they carve space and light. Their designs simultaneously foster both contemplation and invigoration, repose and action. There is no straining for theatrical effect, no tortured architectural calisthenics, simply a search for order, clarity, and beauty.
Praise
"The architects’ projects span a wide spectrum of residential and commercial assignments in multiple geographies—city, country, mountain, desert, coastal. Yet even as they adapt their fundamental design vocabulary to address differences in program and context, Messana O’Rorke’s signature remains unmistakable in the ways they carve space and light. Their designs simultaneously foster both contemplation and invigoration, repose and action. There is no straining for theatrical effect, no tortured architectural calisthenics, simply a search for order, clarity, and beauty." —ARCH DAILY
"Award-winning architecture firm Messana O’Rorke was founded by Brian Messana and Toby O’Rorke in 1996. Since then, they’ve designed residential and commercial buildings across the globe from slick city homes to desert abodes. Though each project is incredibly unique, the duo’s signature style remains: quality, minimalist spaces with a refined simplicity and tranquility. It only made sense that their debut monograph Messana O’Rorke: Building Blocks, authored by Architectural Digest’s veteran west coast editor Mayer Rus, would celebrate their most distinguished projects around the world." —ROBB REPORT
Author
New York–based architects Brian Messana and Toby O’Rorke founded Messana O’Rorke in 1996. Mayer Rus is the West Coast editor of Architectural Digest.
