American architect Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term “organic”. Organic architecture is the designing philosophy that refers to the architecture that advocates the human psyche with the natural environment. It refers to designing spaces with their natural surroundings while serving the function to their residents.
The organic building responds to the conditions and properties of its site, unfolds from the site as an organism, and provides occupants a connection to their exterior environment. Therefore, each building will be unique as conditions, time, and context will be particular to that site only. You can get an idea by recalling the design of the residence the falling water which Frank Lloyd Wright-designed.
Here is the list of 10 Architects/ Firms practicing Organic architecture:
1. Javier Senosiain | Organic Architecture
If you want to see daily-life things and creatures presented to you in a building form, then you need to see the work of Mexican architect, Javier Senosiain. You will be amazed (pun intended) and surprised! He is inspired by the organic architecture of Gaudí, Hundertwasser, and Frank Lloyd Wright, but is also influenced by the local Modernists such as Félix Candela and Juan O’Gorman. He is famous for his organic architecture for a distinct approach towards design resulting in comment and controversy. Some of his works are organic house, the snake, Peanuts housing complex, Mexican Whale, Satellite complex, and the Flower House.
2. Eric Corey Freed
Eric is an American architect, author, and educator. He is the founder and the principal architect of the architecture and consulting firm “organicARCHITECT”. He is also one of the founders of ecoTECTURE: the online journal for ecological design, which helps advocate the message and education for the people to understand ecology. Freed worked in New Mexico with a former Wright apprentice for a while, which helped him develop the Sustainable Design programs. He works on projects through his firm, along he has also written several books on green architecture.
3. Shirish Beri and Associates
Shirish Beri and Associates is founded by Shirish Beri based in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He has completed his graduation from CEPT, Ahmadabad. His architecture has been compared with pioneers and masters of organic architecture, namely Frank Lloyd Wright and Nariman Gandhi. Beri designs to achieve unity and harmony within natural and artificial elements. Some of his projects are a lake house, a villa for Mrs. Vijaymala Kadam, Shirish Beri’s cottage, a temple & meditation center for a cancer hospital, Green fingers residential, and St. Xavier’s church.
4. iStudio Architecture | Organic Architecture
iStudio architecture is a collaboration of architects based in Thane, Mumbai. The firm strives to respond contextually to the site demands of each project, inspired by the works and philosophies of architects Laurie Baker and Nariman Gandhi, that architecture must be used responsibly because it has an essential impact on every aspect of society. Among various projects, some are the brick house, Hillcrest Bungalow scheme, Mount Litera School, and the blue house.
5. Kendrick Bangs Kellogg
Kellogg is an American architect and one of the pioneers of organic architecture. Kellogg built various types of buildings which include homes, public buildings, and restaurants. He had a brief meeting with Frank Lloyd Wright that inspired his practices. Kellogg’s architecture is a kind of amalgamation of Antoni Gaudi’s style (in Spain) and the geometric lines shaped by the teachings of Wright (in America). Some of his works are the Lotus House, Wingsweep, the High Desert house, the Onion House, the Hoshino Wedding Chapel in Japan, and Charthouse restaurants.
6. James Wines
James Wines is an American architect, sculptor, and writer. He has been leading the environmental design and organic architecture. He has managed various architectural projects and research in the field. He founded a multidisciplinary organization SITE (Sculpture in the Environment) in New York. His works include the Ghost parking lot, Indeterminate facade, Tilt building, Forest building, Laurie Mallet House, Museum of Islamic Arts proposal, World ecology building, and Madison square park.
7. Bart Prince
Bart Prince is an American architect famous for his organic architecture based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His early inspiration came from the pioneers of organic architecture such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Bruce Goff. Prince worked with Bruce Goff as an associate architect on Pavilion for the Japanese Art project in Los Angeles.
His works include Dan Scherger and Suzanne KolbergResidence(New Mexico), Whitmore Residence(New Mexico), Steve Skilken Residence (Ohio), and Judy and Stuart Spencer Residence (California).
8. Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect
Robert Oshatz founded the firm Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect, which has designed many commercial and residential projects over the decade. During his earlier career years, Oshatz studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. His projects are built across the U.S and Japan.
His work is inspired by the environment of the site. He uses dynamic organic forms that respect the site and its surroundings. Some of his works are Raleigh woods apartments, Chenequa residence, Miyasaka residence, and Killian residence(Oregon).
9. Dustudio
Based in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, Dustudio is an inter-disciplinary architectural design firm. It was founded by Dharmesh Jadeja, who practices as an architect and got an education as a civil engineer. Dharmesh was greatly inspired by Laurie Baker’s work. He studied Baker’s work, approaches, and projects in Kerala. Dustudio focuses on the design and detailing processes with primary needs like strengths of local materials, culture of the place, artisans, and design principles. Each project is treated as a pure craft that engages local artisans and craftsmen.
10. Niko Architects | Organic Architecture
Niko Architects is a Russian firm that focuses on an organic approach to design with a metabolism philosophy. They consider various factors while designing such as visual contact with external surroundings, the landscaping, terraces, and the water body.
The interior spaces they design are well-connected with the exterior space, thus a mutual flow of landscape runs through the structures. Their idea of functionality is also based on the adaptation of the projects to their existing environmental conditions. Their recent famous work is an organic house in a village outside Moscow. Some of their acclaimed works include summer pavilion Istrin Riviera, Monaco Villa, and residential village “leaves” G.Ivatneevka.
