About: FdM:Arch; Francois de Menil

Awards: 1996 – Present

Publications: 1998 – Present

Events: Exhibitions; Lectures

Site Credits: Photography; Design

FdM:Arch

FdM:Arch, a firm built on uncompromised principles, meticulous attention to detail and novel ways of approaching residential, commercial, institutional and retail commissions.

Founded by Francois de Menil in 1991, FdM:Arch’s practice philosophy is deeply rooted in an understanding of, and appreciation for, light and space. This understanding grew out of de Menil’s early career as a filmmaker, during which he focused his lens on sculptors including Mark di Suvero, Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle. De Menil brings his storyteller’s love of narrative to all of the firm’s work, and he and his team seek out the most compelling story within each project, around which they craft their designs. For us, the dialogue is never one-sided; we view all of our clients as crucial collaborators, and do not stop until we’ve brought our united vision to life.

FdM:Arch always pays close attention to the way in which people live, move and act within their environments. Site locations weigh heavily into our designs, and the FdM:Arch team always exhibits a sensitivity to each project’s natural surroundings, often weaving organic forms into our work. De Menil’s intelligent and ecologically sensitive approach coupled with an innovative use of materials reflects a creative integration of design and technology. The firm is constantly seeking out an architecture that captures the essential qualities of people, laces and things, one that strives to enhance the human spirit.

Francois de Menil

Francois de Menil is an Award winning Architect, who has led a small design studio for 22 years.He has provided architectural and interior design services for a variety of institutional, residential, retail and corporate office projects. Mr. de Menil founded his architecture firm in 1991 after receiving his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at the Cooper Union in 1987. Prior to founding his own firm, de Menil worked in the offices of Richard Meier & Partners and Kohn Pedersen Fox.

FdM:Arch has distinguished itself by developing architectural solutions through the use of narrative. The firm’s architecture examines social, historical and cultural issues and transforms this research into a narrative related to the project. From this synthesis

emerges a signature architectural concept that informs the design.

Mr. de Menil is a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects and a LEED Accredited Professional with a Building Design and Construction specialty. He is a registered architect in three states and certified by the National Council of Architectural Review Boards.

Awards

2000
Lumen Citation for Lighting Design Excellence, International Illuminating Engineers Society, Carriage House Renovation for a Bachelor, New York, New York

1999
Honor Award for Architecture, American Institute of Architects,
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

1998
Lumen Award for Lighting Design Excellence, International Illuminating Engineers Society, Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

Engineering Excellence Award, American Consulting Engineers Council, Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

1997
New York State Excellence in Design Award, American Institute of Architects, Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

Honor Award, Texas Society of Architects,
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

Regional Award, AISC/AIA I.D.E.A.S Award,
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

Special Merit Award, Dupont Benedictus Award for Innovation in Architectural Laminated Glass, Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

Cultural Enhancement Award, The Museum District Business Alliance, Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas

1996
Honor Award, Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architects,
Bottega Veneta, Copley Place Mall, Boston, Massachusetts

1995
Citation, American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter,
Shorthand House, Houston, Texas

Citation, 42nd Annual Progressive Architecture Awards,
Byzantine Fresco Chapel, Houston, Texas

1994
Design Award, American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter,
Byzantine Fresco Chapel, Houston, Texas

Interior Architecture Award, American Institute

of Architects, New York Chapter, Esquire Magazine Offices, New York, New York

1988
Westside Waterfront Competition, Finalist

Newsstand 88 Competition, Finalist

Publications

2003
Brown Coco. American Dream: The Houses at Sagaponac, 62–65.
New York, Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., 2003.

Ojeda, Oscar Riera and Pasnik, Mark. Elements: Architecture in Details,
46-47,164-165. Massachusetts, Rockport Publishers, Inc., 2003.

Ojeda, Oscar Riera and Pasnik,Mark. Materials: Architecture in Details,
46-49 184-185, Massachusetts, Rockport Publishers, Inc., 2003.

Gordon, Gary. Interior Lighting, Fourth Edition, Plates 5,8; Figs.3,18, 13.7.13.27, New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2003

2002
Trulove, James Grayson. The Smart House, 122-139, New York, Harper Collins Publishers, 2002.

Kalwa, Jürgen. “Wenn Das Beste Der Normalfall Ift.” AD–Architectural Digest
Germany (October/November 2001): 132–139.

2001
Fox, Stephen. The Campus Guide: Rice University, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2001.

Vercelloni, Matteo. New American Houses 2, 24–31. Milano: Edizione L’Archivolto, 2001.

Barreneche, Raul. “Folly Ranchers—Parrish Art Museum.” Interiors
(May 2001): 64–65.

Schmertz, Mildred. “An Artful Transformation.” Architectural Digest
(July 2001): 122–127.

2000

LeBlank, Sydney. The Architecture Traveler: A Guide to 250 Key Twentieth-Century American Buildings, 235. New York, London: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.

Riley, Terence. “Det O-Privatahuset.” MAMA (January 2000): 84–85.

Whitehead, Ingrid. “Finding New Horizons.” Architectural Record (December 2000): 69–70.

1999

Brady, Kevin. “Byzantine Mystique.” Lighting Design + Application
(January 1999): 34–37.

Book, Jeff. “Bathing Beauties.” Departures Magazine (January/February 1999): 131.

Riley, Terence. The Un-Private House, 80–84. New York: Museum of Modern Art/Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1999.

Vercelloni, Matteo. New Stores in USA, 16–29. Milano: Edizioni L’Archivolto, 1999.

Fox, Stephen. Houston Architectural Guide—Second Edition. Houston: Herring Press, 1999.

Currimbhoy, Nayana. Designing Entrances for Retail and Restaurant Spaces, 13–20. Gloucester, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1999.

Editors, “American Institute of Architects Honors + Awards 1999.” Architectural Record (May 1999): 141.

1998
Vercelloni, Matteo. New Offices in USA, 64–71. Milano: Edizioni L’Archivolto, 1998.

Sedlacek, Frantisek. Award Winning Architecture 1998/99, 160. Munich: Prestel, 1998.

Jodidio, Philip. Contemporary American Architects. Volume IV, 116–122. Koln: Taschen, 1998.

Barandiaran, Ignacio. “Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, Houston, Texas.” The ARUP Journal (January 1998): 12–15.

“Die glaserne Kapelle.” Bauwelt (January 30, 1998): 220–221.

Cohen, Edie Lee. “The Shorthand House.” Interior Design (October 1998): 124–131.

Scott, Eliza. “The Private World of New York Bibliophiles.” Quest Magazine (April 1998): 52.

Cohen, Edie. “Open for Business.” Interior Design (May 1998): 250–255.

Slessor, Catherine. “Out of This World.” The Architecture Review (May 1998): 82–85.

1997
Cerver, Francisco Asensio. The Architecture of Minimalism, 156–169.

New York: Arco/Hearst Books International, 1997.

Ojeda, Oscar Riera. The New American Apartment: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction: 30 Case Studies, 172–179. New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1997.

Yiannias, Vicki James. “The Purloined Frescoes.” Odyssey (January/February 1997): 55–57.

Merkel, Jayne and Philip Nobel. “Building for Belief.” Oculus vol. 59 (6) (February 1997): 8–12.

Goldberger, Paul. “A Modern Building’s Timeless Soul.” The New York Times (February 6,1997): C15.

Holmes, Ann. “Modern Chapel Echoes Original in Subtle Touches.”

Houston Chronicle/Zest Magazine (February 9,1997): 9.

Johnson, Patricia. “Frescoes As Art.” Houston Chronicle/Zest Magazine (February 9, 1997): 8.

Giovannini, Joseph. “Modern Reliquary.” Architecture (April 1997): 68–75.

Editors. “Sacred Territory.” House & Garden (May 1997): 40.

Cohen, Edie Lee. “Status Update.” Interior Design (August 1997): 124–127.

“Bottega Veneta Stores.” Diseno Interior (1997): 103–108.

Hagood, Jonathan. “A Spiritual Display.” Texas Architect (September 1997): 74–75.

1996
Shillingburg, Donald. “Bottega Veneta.” Architectural Record (May 1996): 108–109.

“Esquire Magazine.” Abitare (October 1996): 150–152.

Warda, Arlene. “Una cappella bizantina a Houston/Mediazione, meditazione.” Chiesa Oggi (November/December 1996): 24–28.

Editors. AIA New York Annals 1996–1997. “The Shorthand House.”

Project Citation. (1996–1997): 43.

1995
Ellis, Estelle and Seebohm, Caroline. At Home With Books: How Book Lovers Live with and Care For Their Libraries, 8. New York, Clarkson Potter, 1995

“Fresco Chapel Citation.” Progressive Architecture (January 1995): 100–101.

1994
Cohen, Edie Lee. “Francois deMenil, Esquire Magazine Offices.”

Interior Design (September 1994): 196–201.

Nakamura, Toshio. “Francois deMenil, Esquire Magazine Offices.”
A+U, vol. 287 (August 1994): 38–47.

Editors. AIA New York Annals 1994. “Esquire Magazine Offices.”

Interior Design Award. “Byzantine Fresco Chapel.” Award project.
(1994 Volume 1); 50, 57.

1993
Cohen, Edie Lee. “Renovation on New York’s Upper East Side.”

Interior Design (July 1993): 148–149.

Editors. “New York Apartment Renovation.” Space Design. (Special Issue #26, 1993): 144–147

Bussel, Abby and David Gruber. “Young Architects.” Progressive Architecture (July 1993): 87.

1992
Nakamura, Toshio. “Renovation of an Apartment, NY.” A+U, vol. 258 (March 1992): 44–51.

Schmertz, Mildred. “Domesticating Art.” HG, (March 1992): 92–99.

Cohen, Edie Lee. “deMenil’s Debut.” Interior Design (April 1992): 132–139.

1988
“Glass New Kiosk.” Newsstand 88: A Design Competition. New York: NYC/AIA—The City of New York—Knoll Corporation, 1988.

Exhibitions

2001
Follies: Fantasy in the Landscape, The Parrish Art Museum, Southampton,
New York, May 20–July 22, 2001

Snap Shot: Current Houston Design on View, Rice Design Alliance, Houston, Texas, May 4–June 9, 2001

1999
Un-Private House, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York, June 1999

1996
Votive: The Byzantine Fresco Chapel, Rice University School of Architecture, Farish Gallery, Houston, Texas, February 16–March 16, 1996

Mediation/Meditation: The Byzantine Fresco Chapel, Pratt Institute,
Schafler Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, April 12–May 8, 1996

The Byzantine Fresco Chapel, Kansas State University, Chang Gallery, Manhattan, Kansas, September 23–October 18, 1996

Lectures

2004
Up to Now, Temple University–School of Architecture, Philadelphia, PA
April, 2004

1998
Emerging Voices 1998, The Architectural League of New York, March 5, 1998

1997
Mediation/Meditation, Body/Soul: Defining The Sacred in Architecture,
The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., June 24, 1997

Point of View, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Architecture, Atlanta, Georgia, October 29, 1997

1996
Spaces for Reflection and Contemplation, The

Architectural League of New York,
Lecture with John Cook, James Cutler, and Michael Singer, February 20, 1996

Photography

Paul Warchol Photography
224 Centre Street
New York, New York 10013

Michael Moran Studio
98 4th Street, #205
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Design

Pentagram, NY

E-mail: info@fdmarch.com

Phone: T. + 212 779 3400

Address: New York, New York
Houston, Texas

Connect with Us

Residential

Shorthand House

Project Information

An abbreviated form of handwriting served as a conceptual springboard for FdM:Arch’s design of this Houston home. Our client’s knowledge of shorthand, which she utilized throughout her professional career, inspired our team to translate the spatial diversity of a larger residence into a more condensed expression on a small suburban site.