ICAA Book Club The Power of Collaboration: A Conversation with Ferguson & Shamamian Architects

Moderated by Margaret Russell

By ICAA

January 25, 2022

For more than thirty years, Ferguson & Shamamian Architects has been one of the country’s leading residential architecture firms, renowned for the design of custom homes that embody a mastery of traditional architectural vocabularies, an unmatched dedication to craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of the dynamic collaboration between clients, architecture, interiors, landscape, and construction. As illustrated in their new book COLLABORATIONS: Architecture Interiors Landscapes—which features an extensive body of work across the country—Ferguson & Shamamian’s approach to architectural design seamlessly harmonizes timeless, understated classical character, proportion and detail with a keen understanding of their clients’ tastes, desires, and necessities for modern life.

For the firm's first event in honor of their new book, firm partners Damian Samora and Scott Sottile, and principal Andrew Oyen, spoke with design journalist Margaret Russell to discuss their unique process of collaboration and how their creative approach allows them to design truly one-of-a-kind residences that reflect the lives and personalities of their clients.

If you are interested in ordering this book, please visit the Rizzoli website here.

Growing up in Virginia surrounded by historic buildings and classical American architectural influences, Scott J. Sottile was determined to have a career in architecture. He earned his Bachelor of Architectural History with a minor in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia and during an intensive two-year internship with Office of the Architect for the Academical Village, was proud to be involved in the hands-on restoration work of Jefferson’s Lawn Buildings. He received his Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and came to Ferguson & Shamamian in 2005. Some of Scott’s most recent projects include a new waterfront family compound in Maine, the restoration of an iconic, historic estate in East Hampton, and new houses in California and Florida. Active in community service, he was a member of the Restoration Committee that oversaw a two-year renovation of the historic Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan, a project that won the 2011 Lucy G. Moses Award from The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the 2011 Victorian Society Award. He is also an avid gardener, and spends most weekends with his partner and their two whippets in Sag Harbor.

Originally from Colorado, Damian Samora received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and started his career in London at Demetri Porphyrios & Associates. At the encouragement of his University of Notre Dame schoolmates and fellow partners, Stephen Chrisman and Tom McManus, he joined Ferguson & Shamamian in 1999. Raised in the Rockies, educated in the Midwest and having practiced in London and New York, Damian has been exposed to a diverse range of building traditions and lifestyles. He brings this experience to each of his projects, which range from mountain retreats in Telluride, Vail and Aspen to historic Manhattan apartment buildings and family houses in New York and Connecticut. A Fellow Emeritus of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, Damian is also Chair of the office Practice Committee. In this role, he helps to ensure the firm best utilizes its assets for design, documentation and resources, while also fostering an environment of learning and mentorship for the firm’s young architects. Damian and his family live in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood and enjoy holidays with family in Colorado and Lake Michigan.

Andrew Oyen began his career as an architect within an interior design firm, and since joining Ferguson & Shamamian architects in 1996, his early experience has informed everything from his first meeting with a client and helping them to envision how they will live in their residence, through the development of plans, finishes, and details. Andrew received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia, with a focus in Architectural History and Urbanism, and attended The Bartlett School at the University of London, where he studied Architecture, Preservation and Conservation. His work includes projects in some of New York’s most iconic buildings and residences in Long Island, Connecticut, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Malibu, among others. He lives with his partner in the Jackson Heights historic district of New York City and spends weekends at their cottage, an accessory building on a former estate near the Delaware River.

ICAA Book Club The Power of Collaboration: A Conversation with Ferguson & Shamamian Architects

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