MID: What is the story behind the studio name isoA/D?
isoA/D: We wanted to find a name that worked for a collective, and the origin of the word iso means equal. We like the ambiguity of the word iso and its potential meanings: the ISO of a camera controlling light, the isometric architectural drawing, and the acronym iso for “in search of.” We then added the A/D to describe our work, Architecture and Design, to include all scales and scopes of design and detailing.
MID: Do you have a philosophy and mission that shapes the studio?
isoA/D: We start each project with curiosity. We are interested in collaborating rather than imposing an assumption. We see each project as an opportunity to consider inventive ways to design specifically for that project’s needs. Our approach seeks solutions that serve multiple project goals, and we prioritize efficiency in both material and labor to achieve design clarity.
MID: How does your studio define clarity, and how is it related to efficiency?
isoA/D: Design clarity is the legibility of a design to the user. We want the intent of our work to be easily understood. Being efficient in how we use materials, how those materials are assembled, and how the form of the building is designed all lead to this process of refinement and promoting design clarity.
MID: How do you work as a team?
isoA/D: We work together on every project, with roles and responsibilities that change on a project basis. With this fluidity we avoid specializing and can continually challenge and evaluate the quality of our work. Regardless of scope and scale, we both spend time on each project, giving all work importance and attention.
MID: How does the location where you live and work (Denver) affect the kind of work you do?
isoA/D: Colorado is the place where we have both found opportunity with our particular educations, personal backgrounds, and experience. Our clients are receptive and enthusiastic, and many are also small or young businesses that we can grow a community with. We have also appreciated the connection to the current and future design and small business communities that are here in Denver.
MID: What are some of your recent projects and what are you working on now?
isoA/D: We currently have a few single-family residences and ADUs in the Denver area that are in design or under construction. We are also working with a condominium community in Vail to redesign the facades of their buildings from the early 1980s. Currently under construction we have a sports facility for youth lacrosse in Massachusetts, a residential art studio in Wash Park, and a small commercial project in Lafayette.
MID: Outside of architecture, where do you draw inspiration for your work?
isoA/D: We are inspired by how people live in their homes or interact in everyday spaces. We love to observe how people put care into their own craft/profession. We have learned from others, including clients, how building something is a slow, deliberate process. Recently we have been inspired by city mud, a ceramics studio we worked with, and the passion and growth they’ve had in the community.
MID: Whose architectural work do you admire and why?
isoA/D: We think Mary Duggan, an architect in London, does a great job with small scale spaces that are clear in their choice of material. Her models and drawings are inspiring because they abstract the design to its core ideas. Common Works in Oklahoma City is a young design practice that we admire for the ability to promote considered design in the American West. We also admire Escobedo Soliz in Mexico City for their work that includes inventive construction and the use of raw materials characterized by color and texture.
