#444 - MORRIS ADJMI, Founder and Principal of Morris Adjmi Architects
SUMMARY
This week David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design are joined by Morris Adjmi, founder and principal of Morris Adjmi Architects. The three discussed Morris’s childhood, architecture education and experiences; modern & historical architecture expressions; early career and working with Aldo Rossi; the Scholastic Building; Morris Adjmi office founding & operations; analog vs digital in architecture; and more. Enjoy!
ABOUT MORRIS
As the founder and principal of MA, Morris Adjmi, FAIA is dedicated to understanding the history and complex forces that shape cities to create buildings that are contextual but unmistakably contemporary. Adjmi’s passion for contextual architecture was formed by the cast-iron French Quarter balconies and crumbling Creole cottages in his hometown of New Orleans and refined in New York and Milan during a 13-year collaboration with Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Aldo Rossi.
Morris established MA in 1997 following his collaboration with Rossi, and on that strong foundation, built a multidisciplinary design practice known for its thoughtful engagement with history, distinct interpretation of industrial forms, and creative expression of innovative materials. The resulting work has become a favorite of both forward-thinking developers and history-minded preservationists.
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Morris' childhood & early education.
(06:29) Architecture education & experiences.
“Architecture is a great entry point if you're concerned about the environment, sustainability, or any of those issues. Through architecture, you can really make a difference by providing housing or helping to reduce our fossil fuel consumption. That is different from the idea of architects just creating beautiful things, which obviously we want to do as well.” (10:55)
(13:01) Institute for Architecture & Urban Studies.
(23:19) Continuity of modern & historical architecture.
“Every building wants to be the star and shout as loud as it can for attention. I think great cities are made of great buildings that can be background buildings. It doesn't mean that every building should be a background building, but there needs to be a balance and one where buildings can contribute to the overall average, but not necessarily overpower each other and vying for attention.” (25:27)
(30:51) Expressing architecture through primary elements.
(31:55) Scholastic Building.
“We changed the entire façade [of the Scholastic building], and it was approved on the same day we presented it at the hearing, which is not typical. It was a ten-story building that was filling a gap tooth between two very tall buildings. Those are the kinds of things that you learn working with a master that cannot be taught. The idea is that it's never too late to do the right thing, to do the right thing when you know something's not right, and to not accept mediocrity and really work to realize vision. I learned a tremendous amount from Aldo Rossi about architecture, certainly, but the most valuable lessons I learned from him were really about conviction, dealing with difficult situations or clients, and really sticking to your convictions.” (37:43)
(38:52) Early Career & Working with Aldo Rossi.
(44:13) Morris Adjmi office founding & operations.
(53:20) Analogue vs digital in architecture.
“Clients and the general public are much more connected to hand drawings or sketches than super photo-realistic renderings because I think the craft shows in a drawing. I think it depends on the client or the point of the presentation, but a lot of times you can show a sketch, watercolor, or whatever, and that evokes more of a feeling, a mood, and a direction than something that's totally worked out. It takes so much more time to get renderings right, and you can't get it right early.” (56:23)
(59:19) Projects that Morris would like to do.
(01:04:39) Translating design philosophy throughout the office.
(01:09:02) Morris' favorite building.
