http://www.andrearchitecture.com/

Andre Architecture, 275 Water Street #1, New York, NY (2026)

08/07/2024

This project reflects the search for ultimate performance and minimalism. This was achieved using solid surface engineered material for the entire kitchen, in combination with microcement flooring. Seamless construction makes the apartment incredibly durable and easy to maintain; and having so few lines also assumes a sensuous visual effect. But really, the exceptional aspect of this project was the influence of the client's artistic taste – resulting in architecture that serves as a blank canvas. One that can be illuminated by controllable RGB mood lighting, customized artwork, and vibrant décor. It will get better with time as it continues to take on a life of its own.

04/25/2024

Here is the Sequoia House under construction from late last year. It is not easy overseeing construction on a remote job site for a build like this; but in this era of mobile technology, it is actually quite practical so long as the drawings are strong and the team is committed.

We will see this marvel substantially complete later this year! What a privilege to build among the Giants.

12/13/2023

Space, light, and structure were the guiding principles in designing the Broadway loft, ultimately leading to a minimal intervention of contemporary architecture set within a historic, industrial loft. Open space was organized around the existing columns with only the minimal amount of walls necessary to be added. Fundamental to our design approach, we proposed new exposed piping and open ceilings to preserve the original concrete and plasterwork. The lines would wrap around the curvature of the original detailing, highlighting the authenticity of the space and becoming a new decorative element in reference to the historic style of the loft – the Art Deco. We even embraced the character of the old wood floors, a solid maple on its last limb and full of scars. The money saved would help pay for all new, energy-efficient windows.

Designer / Architect: Andre Architecture
Builder: CReate Renovations
Photography: Virginia Carey Photography

10/13/2023

Completed photography of the Ohio House is here! The design for this new, single-family home came to be influenced by the suburban neighborhood context, primarily traditional single-story homes, also known as ranch style. We were interested in a fusion of traditional forms (i.e. barns), landscape, and simplicity to create architecture that was friendly and relatable — the hallmark being the front-facing porch, gracious in both size and proportion. The dining room, kitchen, and living room, all share the center space with high-vaulted ceilings. The heart of the home.

Photography is by Logan Ali.

08/18/2023

We are celebrating our 4th year of business and the results are finally starting to show. Our growing national practice currently has 9 projects under construction!

The Colorado House, pictured here, will be complete in October. This whole-house renovation made structural changes to how the house essentially functions with a complete reconfiguration of the main kitchen, foyer, and primary bathroom. The finish materials are especially exciting, with warm and colorful tones which give rich compliments to the breathtaking scenery of the high-alpine landscape of Breckenridge.

Please consider reaching out to us or referring our specialty design practice for your next project in need.

04/21/2023

— Focus 5 of 5
NEW NEW YORK

The era of the car has reigned 100 years. It’s time for a metamorphosis of American cities and New York City is ripe for revolution. The city may understand that we are at a moment of critical juncture. Mayor Eric Adams has proposed plans to reimagine major avenues like 5th and Broadway. While this is a positive gesture, it’s scope is neither broad or ambitious enough. In fact, the areas for improvement will mostly serve tourists as the most common New Yorker does not live on a major commercial avenue.

The reality is — we need a total, radical redesign of ALL public streets and sidewalks: prioritizing clean infrastructure, environmental action, and the pedestrian experience. Manhattan requires a smaller vehicle standard, much like old European cities, with the complete elimination of common street parking to gain back lost efficiency of public space.

Image 1 illustrates a typical street plan of a minor avenue in Manhattan, that of which only about 15% is currently dedicated to pedestrians. Image 2 is a proposed sketch of that same minor avenue reimagined — automated trash infrastructure, elimination of street parking, expansion of indoor and outdoor commercial space, and major limitations for traffic control are proposed. Image 3 renders the mayor’s proposed plan for Broadway, the inadequate planting and asphalt paving will not counterbalance the negative effects of a 4-lane street with bike lanes appearing as an afterthought. Image 4 promotes the new “Rat Czar”, an impossible job until the fundamental equation is changed. Only when trash collection is automated will the rats disappear. Image 5 headlines a new test pilot program for expansion of outdoor dining, meager planters and paint has no meaningful impact nor addresses our climate crisis. In contrast, Image 6 and 7 headlines Paris’s proposal to eliminate vehicles from the city center and plant 170,000 trees to create “urban forests”. Image 8 is an expansion of a previous focus topic — the transformation of the ground plan may be supplemented with a new city-mandated, skyscape.

03/22/2023

— Focus 4 of 5
A WASTE REVOLUTION FOR NYC

Manhattan is one of the densest and busiest places on Earth with an estimated 3.9 million daily commuters. This amount of traffic produces an enormous amount of trash, which is currently collected streetside by a robust vehicular waste collection program, costing taxpayers about $880 million dollars annually to operate. This will amount to a total cost of $50 billion dollars spent in the next 50 years. The operational cost is immense, but the loss of value and social detriment that this antiquated system produces is also noteworthy: loss of use and space is foremost in a city of immense real estate value. Public health and quality of life is also a significant issue, as trash trucks are major pollutant sources of debilitating noise and CO2 emissions. Ironically, New York City is also home to one of the largest and most comprehensive underground transit systems in the world – the subway. We are just 70 miles short of automating our refuse and recycling system in Manhattan to stop exacerbating a culture of waste.

Images 1-6 exhibit the diagnosis of the current trash problem in NYC. Images 7-9 offers a solution deemed Bottomless Bins, which proposes to utilize the existing subway in combination with new pneumatic tube piping to automate our waste collection system.

This work is currently in the 3rd review tier for a cash award by the David Prize.

03/03/2023

— Focus 3 of 5
TECH: DOING MORE WITH LESS

Technology appears to be in rapid development but it’s application in the construction industry is actually quite futile and slow to implement. Approximately 1/3 of the total material required for new construction of a given building is simply wasted byproduct. We require real innovation in material science and means of construction in order to raise standards while also reducing output of emissions and waste. Foremost, the weight of new buildings must substantially lower in order to reduce the size of the associated structural support, which is typically the most energy-intensive component of a building. Creative structural designs such as fractal framework or catenary curves may offer added efficiency with an outcome of reduced weight. Synthetic and natural polymers like wool, rubber, cellulose, and plastics can be engineered to decrease the overall weight of a building while simultaneously increasing performance. Simple established techniques like modular design and additional pre-planning can be applied to reduce construction waste byproduct.

Image 1 is a sketchbook entry exploring the idea (page left) of plastic sheet membrane facades in use in high-rise, residential construction. Page right represents the concept of a bioroom as a regenerative living room. Images 2-3 are AI-generated with and further illustrate the concept previously noted. Images 4-6 demonstrate the construction sequence of prebuilt modular housing in wood, designed for transport on a standard flat bed truck and crane assembly. Images 7-8 apply the concept of modular housing to multi-family construction with the roof of each module serving as a terrace for the unit above. Image 9 is a modular precast concrete project. 24-parts are assembled for a complete shell in just 3 weeks without any additional interior or exterior envelope finish work. This last project was engineered and permitted in 2018.

02/10/2023

— Focus 2 of 5
PUBLIC TOOLS FOR ENERGY AND EDUCATION

Public art has the power to shift the paradigm towards a more empowered society. Investment in public art must increase enormously with development of large-scale environmental designs made to inspire and engage the public in a meaningful way. Public art may be made more useful by expanding the definition to include public infrastructure (i.e. transit, trash, manufacturing and food). We can change our urban environment in a cost-effective way by infusing art into already established capital improvement programs. Successful public art programs will encourage people to actively contribute to their society, thus creating a culture of productivity and self-sustaining life ecosystem.

Images 1-4 convey the award-winning design, deemed “The Collectors” for the organization at — an art pavilion providing water, power and shelter. Images 5-7 illustrate a vertical community garden in the Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego. Image 8 is the new Living and Learning Neighborhood for UC San Diego, designed by Andre Gomez (principal at Andre Architecture) with Safdie Rabines Architects and many other talented people and companies including HKS, the Office of James Burnett, and Clark Construction . Image 9 is an anaerobic digester (also of the project previously mentioned), used to turn food waste into biofuel.

Photography is courtesy of

01/27/2023

— Focus 1 of 5
NO BUILDING IN ISOLATION / SKYZONING

Development of a typical city lot currently provides public amenities only along the street-facing right of way (aka the sidewalk). That leaves other faces underutilized and left to the complete determination of private interest. With SKYZONING, we propose the roof of each building be made a part of the public domain. A rooftop is the greatest untapped land-use potential due to the fact that it is the largest, level open surface area available — independent of a building’s internal function and sky-facing for renewable energy production (water, wind, and solar energy).

The unique rooftop amenities of one building shall be physically connected and shared with those adjacent, together making a new public skyscape. With skyzoning, each building’s rooftop is viewed as an asset and opportunity for all. No building exists in isolation.

Images 1-5 are hand sketches exploring ideas of building mass and daylight access, traffic and circulation networks (bridges, plazas, roof terraces, and aerial transportation). Images 5-8 are AI-generated images made with , exploring unprecedented urban connectivity and landscaping with private and public distinction blurred. Images 9 is also AI-generated, and indicates unique forms of aerial connectivity, giving new identity to the city.

#2050

01/02/2023

Optimist in Action was hosted on December 3rd, 2022 in New York City to present design ideas for the transformation of cities. Here are some photos from that night. The reception was outstanding! We will share more details of the work that was presented over the next couple of weeks. Thank you to all who came out in support.

10/12/2022

Construction has begun on the Sequoia House, a unique residence deep within the high mountain forest of a Giant Sequoia tree grove. The house cascades with the steep terrain, creating an expansive glass wall with adjoining outdoor terrace at nearly 7000' elevation for breathtaking views of the mountain valley. The house is finished in dark, natural materials to compliment the deep colors of the forest. Charred timber and stone cladding provide long-term façade durability with minimal maintenance required.

Andre Architecture

08/07/2024

04/25/2024

12/13/2023

10/13/2023

08/18/2023

04/21/2023

03/22/2023

03/03/2023

02/10/2023

01/27/2023

01/02/2023

10/12/2022

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