Designer Video

Principals Eric Bunge and Mimi Hoang founded nARCHITECTS in 1999 with the aim of addressing contemporary issues in architecture through conceptually driven, socially engaging and technologically innovative work. The letter ‘n’ represents a variable, indicating our interest in designing for a dynamic variety of experiences within a cohesive approach. In this spirit, we embrace challenges and scales of work ranging from buildings to public spaces to interiors, and across cultural, residential and commercial uses.

nARCHITECTS has been listed in the top 10 firms in design in the US by Architect Magazine for the past three consecutive years. In 2012, World Architecture News named nARCHITECTS “part of a select group crowned to lead the next generation of designers in the 21st century.” National and international recognition includes an American Academy of Arts and Letters in Architecture Award, an AIA National Institute Honor Award, AIA NY Design Honor and Merit Awards, a New York City Public Design Commission Award, The Architectural League of New York’s Emerging Voices, the Canadian Professional Rome Prize, Architectural Record’s Design Vanguard and two New York Foundation for the Arts grants. 

nARCHITECTS' design approach is characterized by four inter-related issues:

Economy: Our primary goal is that our designs should achieve a maximum effect with a minimum of conceptual and material means. Throughout the design process, we ask ourselves: what is the most clear and essential architectural expression of a project’s goals? We leverage this apparent simplicity towards a richness of experience.

Resilience: nARCHITECTS approaches sustainability by designing for environmental and social resilience. Our commitment to sustainability starts by considering positive relationships between buildings and their sites, the impact of fundamental design issues such as building organization on energy consumption, and value relative to investment. When addressing ecological and social questions, nARCHITECTS identifies design opportunities that contribute to the broader goals of the project. 

Technology: Whether during the design, documentation or construction process, nARCHITECTS balances innovation and new technologies with tried and tested techniques. The incorporation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) within a spectrum of digital and physical design tools allows us to integrate engineering and specialty systems. Materials are carefully considered for beauty and performance, while new construction techniques are embraced when these further a project’s goals.

Interaction: We design for multiple publics. Within clear yet open ended frameworks, nARCHITECTS’ designs provide freedom in how our architecture is inhabited. Rather than dictate their use, we aim to create buildings and public spaces that enable social interaction. Beyond providing clients and future users with flexibility, we aspire to build projects that evolve along with the everyday lives and extraordinary events of their multiple publics.