For the uninitiated in the complexity of the architectural mindset, hearing the words “passion” and “calm” as conjoined points of view might require a pause. For those who understand the intermingling of discipline and freedom that produces outstanding architecture, the combination will come as no surprise. One dynamic duo steeped in this level of the paradoxical is Alex Penna and Rex Nichols, the founders of Studio Khora. Describing minimalist design as their fascination, their most memorable projects are those that convey a mixture of excitement and serenity.
“The creative process is an exhilarating experience, akin to stepping into an unfamiliar place or admiring breathtaking scenery,” says Penna. “This feeling drives us to push the boundaries of contemporary architecture and evoke powerful emotions through it.” An example of this is a residence on La Gorce Island in Miami Beach. “We designed a house elevated above water to withstand hurricanes, giving it the appearance that it’s floating,” he explains. “The main house protects a delicate auxiliary building, which we saw as reinventing a Mies van der Rohe minimalist glass house in a contemporary way, which makes the home feel magical.”
Both Penna and Nichols have devoted themselves to expanding their creativity in powerful ways. During Penna’s career, he has been affiliated with some of the most lauded firms in history. “Collaborating with OMA [Office for Metropolitan Architecture], Foster+Partners, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and Rafael Viñoly Architects has refined my architectural sensibilities,” he says. “Those experiences instilled a deep appreciation for perfectionism, innovative design, and sustainability. Studio Khora is profoundly influenced by OMA’s boundless creativity and deconstruction philosophy. This inspiration shapes our cohesive approach, contemporary aesthetic, and architectural language.”
Penna studied at the University of Bologna, the oldest educational institution in the world. For his part, Nichols received his advanced degree in architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, a storied program where some of architecture’s greats teach, including Toshiko Mori and OMA’s Rem Koolhaas. “My experience at Harvard significantly shaped me as an architect, making me a more thoughtful professional,” says Nichols. The vision that results from the exposure they have had to their industry’s brightest thinkers, melded with their own aspirations to push beyond the predictable, shows in all their work. Twenty years of collaborations with Swedroe Architecture have resulted in built environments in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Here in the U.S., Studio Khora has been recognized as one of the top 50 coastal architectural firms in America. As Nichols puts it, it’s the drive for uniqueness that spurs them on: “Creating harmony in chaos is our primary mission.”
Story Credits:
Portrait by Manolo Doreste; Architecture photos courtesy of Studio Khora
Text by Saxon Henry
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