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Amanda Martocchio Talks the Rockies, a Risom Stool + More
When Amanda Martocchio was 11 years old, and on a family outing to a museum, she began to sketch a work by Spanish Baroque painter Murillo when a crowd quickly gathered to watch her. “It was then that I realized that my artistic ability was the source of all the attention, and I liked it,” she says.
By the time Martocchio entered college she had already decided on her chosen field, and went on to earn both a bachelor’s and graduate degree in architecture. Early in her career she settled in New York City, where her slate of projects included a mix of large-scale cultural venues and commercial buildings.
She founded her firm, Amanda Martocchio Architecture (AMA), in Connecticut, inspired by its local legacy of mid-century modern design. With sustainability at the forefront, Martocchio strives to create living environments that are not only beautiful but also foster a sense of wellness for the occupants.
One of Martocchio’s most treasured possessions is her well-worn sketchbook. She carried it everywhere when she toured the Greek Islands as a Cornell University student. When she glances at the pages now she remembers the youthful optimism of those summer days.
Martocchio doesn’t automatically turn to her mobile phone to capture a concept. She prefers to put pen to paper instead. “I love index cards, they are part of my bedtime routine,” she notes. “I’ll jot down an incomplete idea, which allows me to return to sleep. When I awake in the morning I am typically happy to see what I have produced.”
Today, Amanda Martocchio joins us for Friday Five!
1. Hawthorne Orchard
When we first moved from NYC to CT, we planted an orchard of Hawthorne trees. Now, 20 years later, the diagonal grid of trees and mown paths brings me delight in all seasons: red berries in winter, white blossoms in spring, abundant shade foliage in summer, and fragile yellow leaves in fall. I am inspired by their generous gift throughout the year and knowing that we nurtured them from tiny saplings.
2. My Jens Risom Stool
I was honored to be a friend and collaborator of Danish furniture designer, Jens Risom. Jens designed the table for the dining room in one of the homes I designed. He told colorful stories of his early days: meeting FLW, launching the first line of furniture for Knoll, and introducing enduring design values of simplicity and craftsmanship. In appreciation of our friendship, he gifted me his spinning drafting stool, a prized possession, before he died at the age of 100.
3. Julia
My Julia puts everything into perspective. Born with medical and developmental challenges, she keeps us laughing with her silly sense of humor and ensures that we don’t take life too seriously. Thanks to her teaching, our world is one of celebrating differences and empathizing with everyone’s challenges.
4. Painting by Joan Snyder
I had never been fully bowled over by a painting until entering a gallery at the Harvard Art Museum and seeing Joan Snyder’s “Summer Orange”. It literally took my breath away. The painting still hangs in the gallery, but I am lucky to have one of her more recent works, “Summer Becomes a Room,” hanging on my wall, which inspires me every day.
5.Rockies
Having grown up in the Rocky Mountain West, my childhood was centered around family hiking, campfires, skiing, and fly fishing. Our favorite hike was to the summit of the Maroon Bells, above the tree line. Nature offered adventure and beauty. While vast natural expanses and majestic mountains are less ubiquitous in my suburban Connecticut life, I pursue every opportunity I have, as an architect, to celebrate and protect the natural world and to bring it into our daily lives through architecture.
Works by Amanda Martocchio Architecture:
Photo: Michael Biondo
1. Greenwich Harbor House – Entry
Caption: Every material at our Greenwich Harbor House was selected for long-term durability, thermal performance, and minimal maintenance, from panelized cladding to triple-glazed windows and four inches of continuous exterior insulation. Deep overhangs manage solar exposure while louvers create a trellis for creeping vines that soften the exterior and filter light on the interior. A Zen garden of raked shells surrounds organic shapes filled with mounds of Irish moss and rocks from the site and a topiary tree.
2. Sailor’s Retreat
The massing strategy at Sailor’s Retreat in Newport follows the curve of the driveway’s approach and the waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. The home’s pinwheel form was generated by the site. Floodplain regulations pushed the living spaces well above grade, making the stone plinth both a structural and compositional anchor. Pre-weathered cedar, aluminum-clad windows, and bird-friendly glazing complete a palette calibrated to the coastal context and the neighboring bird sanctuary.
Photo: Michael Moran
3. Rye Waterfront – Interior + Stair
At this Rye, NY, waterfront home, the entry stair, with open risers cantilevered from the curved wall and suspended from floor-to-ceiling steel rods, leads to the stair landing, which features a glass guardrail overlooking a double-height volume on both sides. Upon entry, your eye is drawn straight through the living space to the Long Island Sound. The renovation reconfigured the existing home’s layout to open it toward the water, pairing an energy-efficient thermal envelope with a serene, carefully curated interior palette, developed by AMA and Gary Cruz, that seamlessly integrates with the architectural environment. The project received a Design Award Citation from the AIA of Westchester + Hudson Valley.
Photo: Michael Biondo
4. Coves End – Kitchen/Dining/Living
Reclaimed wood beams, a dark kitchen island, and a white quartz counter hold their own against the wall of French doors linking this kitchen to the waterfront patio at Coves End in Darien, CT. Moving the constantly active food prep to the center of the home was the organizing move of the renovation, unifying the living space and making the river views visible from nearly every angle. Interiors, including custom furniture, lighting, and contemporary art, were curated by AMA and Gray Cruz to enhance the architectural vision.
Photo: Michael Biondo
5. White Oak Farm – Exterior Façade at Dusk
Set atop a wooded hillside in Dutchess County, White Oak Farm is rooted in the clients’ lifelong connection to this land, a 150-acre retired farm they envisioned restoring ecologically. The 7,500 SF house sits at the forest edge, settled into the hill among mature oaks, its reclaimed stone and pre-weathered siding blending quietly into the landscape.
6. Greenwich Modern – Front Façade
The street-facing facade of Greenwich Modern reads as a composition of contrasts: dark zinc-clad volumes set against light panel cladding, a cantilevered entry overhang, and a warm wood pivot door that signals the crafted interior within. Clerestory glazing wraps the roofline, drawing daylight deep into the single-level plan while maintaining privacy from the street.
