francois levy || design studio

My goal is not only to create buildings my clients are thrilled with, but also to involve the client in the very process of creation. I am especially interested in designing projects which represent a profound union between the client and the site. My work is thus phenomological in that it is place-specific.

'Placehood' might be confused with mimicry of historical or regional 'styles', but as I see it placehood is far more meaningful. A style is a set of aesthetic rules which are applied arbitrarily to a building, without necessary regard for the building's owner, user, site, or physical and cultural context. Without consideration of these factors, such applications of mere style are bound to ring hollow and quickly grow stale.

On the other hand, I am committed to community-based, humane architecture. I design private projects which reflect their cultural and geographical context, and hope for our clients' projects to be accessible and comprehensible to the user, relevant to their surroundings, and contribute to a sense of place rather than obeying a preconceived architectural agenda. Ultimately, my purpose is to facilitate living the best life possible.

Inherent in that attitude is the involvement of the client and, whenever feasible, the builder as integral members of the design team. The client becomes as intimately involved in the design process as possible, confident that the rewards are well worth the effort.

Finally, my work's heavily site-specific orientation raises issues of environmentalism, energy-efficiency, and good stewardship of the land. In designing for a given site, topography, vegetation, solar orientation, prevailing winds, land forms, water, and desirable views are all carefully considered. In applying those considerations to a design, it is inevitable that issues such as 'green' building materials, small footprint design (the recently popularized 'not so big house'), and passive cooling and heating be considered.

I am highly committed to using alternative materials and techniques (almost all my major projects have incorporated one or more 'green' materials or techniques). At the same time, one should carefully weigh costs against benefits, and select such alternatives judiciously, considering availability, climate, the client's needs, and the project's budget. Often a building's thoughtful relationship to the site can go a long way towards making it a responsible project.

Born in Paris, France and raised in the United States, I received my Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1987. In 1989 I enrolled in the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin, where I received a Master of Architecture degree in 1993, as well as serving as a teaching assistant. I have travelled extensively to Europe and Australia, where I worked as an architectural intern for six months.

Since completing my architectural studies I have worked for noted Austin architects Dick Clark and Mell Lawrence, as well as having worked briefly in Paris in 1995 on the multi-million dollar Météor Project, a new subway line for the Paris Métro. Mark Winford and I founded the former Studio Mosaic in 1997, and in 2002 I established my own design practice. I have been an adjunct lecturer at the University of Texas School of Architecture and was a Board Member of American Youthworks for five years, where I was involved on the Real Estate Committee and affordable housing programs.