Messana O'Rorke is an American architecture and interior design firm founded by Brian Messana and Toby O'Rorke in 1996. The firm is recognized for their minimalist designs. Messana O'Rorke has earned design awards for their residential, commercial, mixed-use, hospitality and cultural projects.
Partners
Toby O'Rorke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Architecture at Oxford Polytechnic in 1985. After working with the Greater London Council Department of Architecture and apprenticing with architecture firms in Sydney, Australia, O'Rorke earned a postgraduate degree from Oxford Polytechnic and later attended postgraduate studies at Virginia Tech College of Architecture.
There, O'Rorke met California architect Brian Messana. Messana earned his masterâÂÂs degree from Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in New York in 1992. After graduation he worked for the architecture firms of Peter Marino Architect, Asymptote Architecture and Richard Meier & Partners.
In 1996, the pair formed Messana O'Rorke. The firm develops residential, commercial and institutional projects in the United States and abroad. The firm is recognized for its architecture of space, ideas and experience. Messana O'Rorke's designs are known for their use of minimalism. In 2019, the firm's Jewel Box, won the best of year award for Best Small Apartment.
Projects
- Ten Broeck Cottage
- Malin + Goetz
- Charles Street Town House
- Hans Dorsinville Apartment
- Ramza Residence, Manhattan, New York
- Phoenix House
- Skin Care Lab
- Weinstein Loft
- Storefront Loft
- 200 E 62
- Jewel Box
- Junegrass House
Awards
Exhibitions
- 2013 âÂÂThe Phoenix Houseâ Project 2013 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
- 2009 âÂÂThe Cube Houseâ Project 2009 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
- 2008 âÂÂThe Wall Houseâ Project 2008 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Galley, Tokyo, Japan.
- 2007 âÂÂThe Box Houseâ Project 2007 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Galley, Tokyo, Japan.
- 2006 StoreFront, New York City AIA Design Awards Exhibition, New York City AIA Center for Architecture, New York, USA
- 2006 Zaragoza 2008 Exposition, Water and the Sustainable Development of Cities, Proposal Exhibition, Zaragoza, Spain
- 2005 âÂÂGalahad Houseâ Project 2005 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo Japan
- 2004 Flight 93 National Memorial Competition Entrants Exhibition. Summerset, Pennsylvania, USA
- 2004 âÂÂTen Broeck Cottageâ Project 2004 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 2003 The World Trade Center International Memorial Competition Entrants Exhibition New York, New York.
- 2003 The High Line International Competition Entrants Exhibition @ Grad Central New York, New York
- 2003 Pearth Amboy High School Competition Entrants Exhibition, Pearth Amboy, New Jersey, USA
- 2003 âÂÂIsland Houseâ Project 2003 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 2002 Axis Theatre, Design Awards Exhibition, Arts Center New York, USA
- 2002 âÂÂSavage Houseâ Project 2002 Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 2001 Skin Care Lab, Design Awards Exhibition, Arts Center, New York USA
- 2001 âÂÂApple Orchard House.â Project 2001. Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 2000 âÂÂFishermanâÂÂs HouseâÂÂ, Project 2000. Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 1999 Axis Theatre, Design Awards Exhibition, Arts Center New York, USA
- 1998 â Angels Edgeâ Project 1998. Global Architecture Houses Exhibition, GA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- 1998 Jyvaskyla Music and Arts Centre. Competition Exhibition, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
- 1999 The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter 1999 Design Awards: Award for Interior Architecture for the project Axis Theatre, New York, New York.
- 1998 Jyvaskyla Music and Arts Centre International Design Competition: First Runners up Group: 1998.
References