Messana O'Rorke Building Blocks

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 describe their particular brand of minimalist modernism as “pragmatism,” with their approach to design capturing as much usable square footage as possible, rigorously limiting the number of interior elements, and extracting maximum impact from the chosen interventions. This distinctive approach extends to their entire material vocabulary: white walls stripped of moldings, with recessed lighting at their perimeter; honey-toned oak floors; highly polished stainless steel railings and hardware; and marble fixtures and countertops and dark limestone flooring in the bathrooms and kitchen.
 
With their masterful manipulation of space and judicious selection of materials—oak flooring wire-brushed and lightly limed to contrast white walls but also to bring out its vivid grain, simultaneously conveying the woodworker’s craft and the rawness of nature; statuary marble in a kitchen chosen for the painterly quality of the veining; architectural photography and ceramic objects adding sophisticated drama—Messana O’Rorke create complete environments of simplicity and serenity.

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.